Patrick, Wendel, Henkin, Aaron, and Hilliard, Emily
Subject:
Racism, African American religious leaders, Charleston (W. Va.), African Americans--Appalachian Region, School integration, African Americans--History, Segregation in education, Urban renewal, and Police brutality--United States
Transcript of oral history of Rev. Matthew J. Watts
Date:
2019-11-22
Creator:
Watts, Matthew J.
Contributor:
Henkin, Aaron, Patrick, Wendel, and Hilliard, Emily
Subject:
African Americans--History, African American religious leaders, Racism, Segregation in education, Urban renewal, School integration, Police brutality--United States, Charleston (W. Va.), and African Americans--Appalachian Region
![["John Butterworth has been a neighborhood planner with the City of Charleston Planning Dept. for about four years. In this interview, he speaks about the history of Charlestons West Side in terms of how the citys plans and redlining impacted the neighborhood, the West Side of the present, and the citys plans for the future of the neighborhood. He also shared his personal approach to city planning.Butterworth was interviewed by producer Aaron Henkin with Emily Hilliard as part of the Out of the Blocks podcasts two episodes on Charlestons West Side. Learn more: https://wvfolklife.org/2020/01/17/out-of-the-blocks-podcast-highlights-charlestons-west-side-west-virginia-folklife-hosts-listening-party-february-12/"]](/thumb/4224ButterworthJohnIntTranscript112219 "Transcript of oral history of John Butterworth")
![["Levi Phillips, 68 at the time of the interview, is a former basketball player from Charleston, West Virginia. He grew up in public housing in the Triangle District neighborhood and currently lives on Charlestons West Side. Levi was on the first all-Black integrated basketball team at West Virginia University, and played professional basketball with the Baltimore Bullets and the Philadelphia 76ers (his teammates were Wes Unseld and Julius Erving).Justin Phillips, 39, is Levis son, who was also a high school basketball player in West Virginia. He owns Fun Fitness and lives in the South Hills neighborhood of Charleston, WV. Justins son was a high school state champion West Virginia basketball player like his grandfather.Levi and Justin Phillips were interviewed by producer Aaron Henkin with Emily Hilliard as part of the Out of the Blocks podcasts two episodes on Charlestons West Side. Learn more: https://wvfolklife.org/2020/01/17/out-of-the-blocks-podcast-highlights-charlestons-west-side-west-virginia-folklife-hosts-listening-party-february-12/Learn more about Levi Phillips career at WVU:https://wvusports.com/news/2020/12/1/mens-basketball-phillips-basket-a-part-of-wvu-coliseums-golden-history.aspxhttps://wvusports.com/sports/mens-basketball/roster/levi-phillips/12290"]](/thumb/4224PhillipsJustinPhillipsLeviIntTranscript112219 "Transcript of oral history of Levi Phillips and Justin Phillips")
![["Rev. Matthew J. Watts is the Senior Pastor of Grace Bible Church on Charlestons West Side. He was born outside of Mt. Hope, West Virginia in Fayette County and is an alumni of West Virginia Institute of Technology. In this interview he speaks about the West Sides history as the former site of five slave plantations, his congregation and church neighborhood, the West Side Community Development Plan and Charleston Urban Renewals plans for the West Side, police brutality in Charleston, and the dismantling and destruction of the Triangle District in Charleston. Rev. Watts was interviewed by producer Aaron Henkin with Emily Hilliard and Wendel Patrick as part of the Out of the Blocks podcasts two episodes on Charlestons West Side. Learn more: https://wvfolklife.org/2020/01/17/out-of-the-blocks-podcast-highlights-charlestons-west-side-west-virginia-folklife-hosts-listening-party-february-12/"]](/thumb/4224WattsMatthewIntTranscript112219 "Transcript of oral history of Rev. Matthew J. Watts")