Last weekend I had the pleasure of touring the 4th Ward, a historically Black neighborhood southwest of downtown Raleigh. According to Raleigh native and 4th Ward resident Rosa Rand, “It was a village, mostly a family, and the friends that were interspersed in between the houses, they were like family too.”
We visited key places still remaining in the 4th Ward like Shaw University, Washington Elementary School, and Mt. Hope Cemetery. We heard stories from residents who grew up there and know first-hand its importance to Raleigh’s history. The neighborhood bordered Saunders St. to the west, Wilmington St. to the east, Cabarrus St. to the North, and runs as far south as Mt. Hope Cemetery.
The 4th Ward is one of hundreds of neighborhoods that was redeveloped through urban renewal via the American Housing Act in the late 1960s and early 1970s. In many cases, neighborhoods identified for redevelopment were historically Black, leading to the destruction of these communities across the United States.
Despite the profound impacts that urban renewal had on homes and independent businesses located in the Fourth Ward, its former residents have maintained a strong sense of community, organizing around the 4th Ward Neighborhood Association. Initially begun as part of regular reunions for residents, the Association now plays a key role in preserving the neighborhood’s history and advocating for its recognition as a historic site in Raleigh. Thank you to everyone who keeps this history alive!
Get educated here: https://www.fourthwardhistory.org/virtual-tour