Kathy Atwater

"...informed me to take this letter home to your mama ‘Cause you are going to Chapel High School next year.’ And I said, ‘No, I’m not’. And they said, ‘Yes you are.’ Cause they hand-picked the Blacks that they would send to Chapel Hill High School."

- Mae McLendon

In this oral history, Ms. Mae and Ms. Kathy share their experiences growing up in the Northside and Pine Knolls communities. They provide an incredibly nuanced understanding of the social impacts of the education system as they grew up during the transition from voluntary to mandatory integration. Both women provide especially salient insights into teen pregnancy, the importance of community and family, and the discrepancies between the way they were raised to the standards today. Both women remember the very strong stance their families took in shielding them and the other children in the community from some of the harsher realities of the time they were living in, to allow them a chance at a normal childhood. Especially, how this has impacted them as adults and how grateful they are for their parents' protection. Without it, they would have had to learn about critical historical events such as Ruby Bridges attending a white school, the Civil Rights Movement, etc. from media that was not kind to Black people or their stories. This transitions especially well into the discussion regarding media today and the importance of seeing people in nuanced ways. While communities today are generally more open-minded, there is a push to categorize people, professions, etc. For the sake of social and political gain, Ms. Mae and Ms. Kathy advise against that. They end the interview by discussing the importance of being open-minded, learning from elders, and embracing the communities that we are a part of.

This interview mainly focuses on Wanda Weaver’s mother and father/Kathy Atwater’s aunt and uncle, as well as the past and present dynamics of the Northside community. Ms. Wanda and Ms. Kathy show pictures of their mother and father/aunt and uncle, as well as discuss what they did for the community. Both parents were heavily involved in the community and had a giving spirit to everyone. They looked out and gave a helping hand to whomever needed it. Ms. Wanda and Ms. Kathy then discuss their contributions during the civil rights movement. They were only elementary aged during the time so they did not participate. They did not recognize race as a problem due to them being shielded and protected by those who loved them. The latter part of the interview primarily discusses current youth involvement in Northside, as well as changes in the neighborhood and community members’ participation in decisions regarding those changes. Ms. Weaver discusses ways that churches are currently trying to involve youth in the Northside community through outreach programs. Ms. Atwater also talks about programs such as Learning Across Generations through which the community is partnering with the school system to increase awareness of Northside history and community participation amongst the youth. The interview then transitions into conversation about the increased number of students and city-like buildings in and around the community. Ms. Weaver and Ms. Atwater both stress that it is important for community members to voice their opinions about these changes and work together to formulate a community-based response. The interview ends with Ms. Weaver and Ms. Atwater sharing the impact that the Northside community has had on their lives.

To learn more about Wanda Weaver's search for her mother's music, click here to read the article, "The Search For Susie Weaver's 'Freedom In Chapel Hill'," from WUNC.

Ms. Atwater gives an overview of food access in the community when she was growing up and how her family’s attitudes toward food have developed over the course of her life. Starting with a discussion of her mother’s kitchen and garden, she describes the role of food in her family and in the neighborhood community, and highlights the importance of food as a centerpiece for social gatherings and celebrations. She discusses how she learned some cooking techniques from her mother and her uncle, and how she is still learning and changing her methods. She recalls the different restaurants, grocery stores and local markets in the neighborhood, such as the Country Junction, Bill’s Barbecue, Hollywood Grill, Mama Dip’s, Dillard’s Barbecue, Pan-Pan Restaurant, Cliff’s Meat Market, Weaver Store on Brooks Street, Mason’s Store, Fowler’s, and A&P.

Kathy Atwater: Everybody was just family. I mean even in the neighborhood with the families that were in the neighborhood we all looked after one another- nobody was left to themselves. If I did something wrong, of course the neighbors would, you know, tell me “Kathy you shouldn’t do that,” and then of course my mom would find out later and then we’d take of that. But it was good, it was good- you felt safe. You felt safe because you had people looking out for you, which is a little change now because of the number of people coming into Chapel Hill now. It’s not the same climate--

Alexa Lytle: Okay.

KA: -- as when I was growing up. I know that change happens, growth happens, that’s inevitable, because if something doesn’t grow, then it dies. So, I know that it needs to happen, but I like the fact that you’re wanting to incorporate student life with neighborhood life, you know, to get to know the community and the history behind it. And I think that’s where most of the hurt comes from, from those who are still here- that they remember how it used to be and how they felt like they had something whereas now it seems like everything around you is changing and you feel like you’re being pushed out, to make room for the university, to make room for everybody else instead of the ones who were here originally.

In the beginning of the interview, Ms. Atwater describes the history of her home, growing up in her neighborhood, and the significance of keeping her home in the family in order to continue an ongoing legacy. To Ms. Atwater, a home is more than a place of residence; it is a memorial, it is the material representation of a legacy. Throughout the interview, Ms. Atwater discusses why she chose to remain in Chapel Hill and the change she’s witnessed over the years. She describes how gentrification of the Northside community is a disgrace to those community members whose ancestors built the University. And she also discusses the importance of communication within the community between residents and students to make everyone feel safe, like she did growing up when everyone knew their neighbors. To Ms. Atwater, life is about serving others, especially her family and those within the community and she believes that we should all engage in our community like Jesus Christ did. Key components of Ms. Atwater’s life include her family, faith, and home, and while she’s preparing herself for the change to come to the Northside community, she thinks that with community engagement, change can and needs to happen in favor of those who built it.