New Cultural Center to Be Named for Harvey Gantt, the Former Charlotte Mayor Who Was the First Black Student at Clemson University

The city of Charlotte is currently constructing a $127 million cultural complex that will include museums, a theater, and an Afro-American cultural center. It was recently announced that the cultural center will be named to honor Harvey Gantt.

Gantt, who served as mayor of Charlotte, was the first black student at South Carolina’s Clemson University. He earned his bachelor’s degree at Clemson in 1965. He went on to receive a master’s degree in city planning at MIT. He established a successful architectural firm in Charlotte before beginning his political career. In both 1990 and 1996, Gantt ran against segregationist U.S. Senator Jesse Helms.

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