When it comes to Black cultural hubs, cities like Atlanta, D.C., New Orleans, and New York City usually dominate the narrative. But I say don’t sleep on Charlotte, North Carolina —a city with a rich history, thriving Black-owned spaces, and deep cultural roots made by and for us.
I first moved from New York to Charlotte eight years ago with my husband, our toddler between us, and a belief that the good life we had been building for ourselves was just as possible in the not-as-new-as-it-used-to-be New South. Whether you buy into Charles Blow’s thesis about Black families building an economic powerhouse by moving back to the South, or you are looking past traditional powerhouses like Atlanta and Nashville, Charlotte is a city brimming with real possibility.
Today, I sell real estate in the area. While the city proper moves fast, there are plenty of surrounding areas that offer incredible value, too. Trust me, I spend a lot of my time trying to convince Black families to take a chance on the Queen City, as I did. Here is the pitch.
Cultural Experiences
With 300,000 of us, Charlotte’s population is growing to be one-third Black, and we’re thriving with plenty of cultural hotspots. Take, for instance, the Harvey B. Gantt Center for African-American Arts + Culture—named after Charlotte’s first Black mayor, Harvey Bernard Gantt—features incredible exhibitions, programs, and activities, many of which are free.
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The foundation of the center rests in Brooklyn, a historic Black neighborhood that thrived as a vibrant African American community before it was bulldozed in the 1960s during urban renewal. It’s also located near Romare Bearden Park, built to honor the iconic Charlotte-born artist, just a couple of blocks from where he was born.
Local Schools
When it comes to schooling, there is a notable lack of diversity in districts like South Charlotte, but don’t let that deter you, because there are Black organizations there to help students across private and public schools build a stronger sense of community in the city. There are also a ton of magnet programs, including French, Chinese, Spanish, and German immersion and International Baccalaureate (IB) programs.
However, my favorite options are the local private schools, most of which are religious, such as Charlotte Catholic and Charlotte Christian, the school Steph and Seth Curry attended in high school. They also attended Charlotte Preparatory School, which used to be Charlotte Montessori.
Culinary Highlights
Then there’s the food—Mert’s Heart and Soul, owned by husband-and-wife team James and Renee Bazelle. The pair has been serving Gullah dishes in Uptown since 1998 and is a local favorite. I also have to mention Mr. Charles Chicken and Fish, which has been serving up generous plates of soul food since 2005.
Cuzzo’s Cuisine is another staple in the area, though it’s newer, having been around for only a decade since being founded in 2016 by cousins Andarrio Johnson and Anglee Brown. The restaurant has become famous for its signature lobster mac and cheese. Other popular spots include Sol’ Delish, which pours the most fabulous cocktails and has baked turkey wings that are to die for. You’ll never get enough of them.
Black Economy in Charlotte
The leaders here look like us, too. Vi Lyles, who served nearly nine years as the city’s first Black woman mayor, just stepped down this year. But beyond City Hall, the money and opportunity here are very real.
Black professionals have been thriving across the region in tech, banking, and corporate headquarters for decades. Marvin Ellison—the only Black CEO ever to run two Fortune 500 companies—runs the Lowe’s headquarters just twenty minutes north in Mooresville.
Our entrepreneurs aren’t waiting for permission either. Local businessman Brandon Barnes recently started the Black Tech Initiative (BTI) to create clear career pathways by connecting Black workers with the education and experience needed to secure positions in the tech sector.
There’s also NASCAR, which has several Black executive women who hold influential positions within the lucrative racing industry, such as Melissa Harville-LeBron, the first Black woman to own a NASCAR-licensed national-level racing team outright.
Neighborhood Demographics
While Charlotte’s population is roughly one-third Black, most Black residents live in Uptown. However, Black communities like my family and I still exist well beyond those central hubs.
Black families and professionals reside throughout the region, including higher-income enclaves like Davidson in North Charlotte—where NBA superstar Steph Curry once lived—and Providence Plantation in South Charlotte.
Regional Travel and Local Attractions
There is even more to explore beyond the city limits. Asheville and Greenville are both within a two-hour drive of Charlotte, and I love visiting them often. Greenville, South Carolina, has recently gone viral on TikTok as a “cute” trendy destination drawing in waves of northern transplants—so much so that the locals’ unofficial motto has become “Don’t come here, we’re full!” The city’s food scene has exploded; you definitely need reservations ahead of time, especially for standout spots like Camp that serve NYC-worthy cuisine. Asheville is equally rewarding, known for its historic sites highlighting Black and Native American history, as well as the famous Biltmore Estate. If you want to venture even further afield, I highly recommend Blackberry Farm—a luxury resort tucked into the Tennessee mountains about four hours from Charlotte, complete with a Michelin-starred restaurant.
The Charlotte Douglas International Airport is also a major hub for American Airlines, offering direct flights to New York and Europe via American Airlines and Delta Air Lines. Inside the airport, more Black businesses are growing; two sisters, Yolanda and Rolanda, inherited four storefronts and are well known to us locals.
We have smart city planners, too, so while traffic and footfall increase as our population grows, traffic flow continues to improve. Most recently, an extra express and general lane were added to I-485 to help reduce commute times and have really helped to decrease traffic levels, making travel easier. The city features a compact, circular layout that makes navigating the metro area straightforward. For residents living within Mecklenburg County, most destinations, neighborhoods, and venues across the city are reachable in 30 minutes or less.
Real Estate Market
Finally, you might be wondering what the local real estate market looks like—and, more importantly, whether it’s a good time to buy. In my opinion, it’s always a great time to buy. But here’s why it’s particularly great now.
The median home price in Charlotte is approximately $460,000, offering a significantly more affordable entry point than in major cities like Washington, D.C., where it is around $650,000.
Interest rates are also high at the moment, which might sound off-putting at first, but elevated rates can actually benefit buyers by cooling off competition, meaning you can secure your home while beating the rates. With fewer buyers flooding the market, you have a prime window to find your dream home while beating rates, and your dream home might just be in Charlotte.
