Oral history of Rev. Matthew J. Watts

Identifier:

4224.WattsMatthew.AudioInt.11.22.19

Title:

Oral history of Rev. Matthew J. Watts

Date:

2019-11-22

Creator:

Watts, Matthew J.

Contributor:

Patrick, Wendel, Henkin, Aaron, Hilliard, Emily

Description:

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/

Subject:

Racism, African Americans--History, Urban renewal, Police brutality--United States, Segregation in education, School integration, African Americans--Appalachian Region, African American religious leaders, Charleston (W. Va.)

Rights:

In Copyright - Educational Use Permitted

Location:

Charleston (W. Va.)

Format:

audio/wav

Language:

English

Source:

A&M 4224, West Virginia Folklife Program Collection