Editing Charlottesville, Virginia (section)

=== Destruction of Vinegar Hill ===
In 1965, the city government razed the downtown African American neighborhood [[Vinegar Hill (Charlottesville, Virginia)|Vinegar Hill]] as an [[urban renewal]] project, after the city council passed a law stating that "unsanitary and unsafe" properties could be taken over by a [[housing authority]].<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://timeline.com/charlottesville-vinegar-hill-demolished-ba27b6ea69e1|title=In 1965, the city of Charlottesville demolished a black neighborhood slum|date=2017-08-15|work=Timeline|access-date=2018-08-19}}</ref> Vinegar Hill had served the needs of the black community while the city remained [[Racial segregation in the United States|segregated]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.cvilletomorrow.org/news/article/30442-vinegar-hill-park-process-to-start-this-summer/|title=Vinegar Hill Park process to start this summer ⋅ Charlottesville Tomorrow|website=Charlottesville Tomorrow|access-date=2018-09-01}}</ref> One hundred thirty homes, five Black-owned businesses, and a church were destroyed.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.charlottesville.org/departments-and-services/departments-h-z/neighborhood-development-services/historic-preservation-and-design-review/historic-resources-committee/local-markers/vinegar-hill|title=Vinegar Hill {{!}} City of Charlottesville|website=www.charlottesville.org|language=en|access-date=2024-04-11}}</ref> Many displaced community members moved into the Westhaven public housing project. The land was not redeveloped until the late 1970s.

Despite razing this small area comprising about 20 acres abutting West Main Street in the city's commercial downtown area, Charlottesville maintained its vibrant black community spanning the much larger and still extant Ridge Street and Fifeville neighborhoods to the south, and the Tenth & Page and Rose Hill neighborhoods to the north. Neighborhood civic associations, social clubs, and church groups sponsored activities for its residents.<ref>{{Cite news|title=Charlottesville Society|date=15 April 1971|work=Charlottesville-Albemarle Tribune}}</ref> The Blue Mints Social Club met at the home of Mrs. Reva Shelton on December 1, 1974. At this meeting, the group planned their annual "Baskets of Cheer", and hosted a Cabaret Dance on New Year's Eve at Carver Recreation Center, with the Randolph Brothers performing.<ref>{{Cite news|title=Mrs. Reva Shelton Entertains the Blue Mints|date=December 12, 1974|work=Charlottesville-Albemarle Tribune}}</ref> In 1974, other social clubs listed are the Bethune Art and Literary Club, The Lucky Twenty Club, and the Les Amies Club.<ref>{{Cite news|title=Mrs. Fortune Hostess to the Bethune Art and Literary Club|date=December 12, 1974|work=Charlottesville-Albemarle Tribune}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|title=Mrs. Witcher Entertains the Lucky 20 Club|date=December 12, 1974|work=Charlottesville-Albemarle Tribune}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|title=Mrs. Garrett Hostess To Les Amies Club|date=December 12, 1974|work=Charlottesville-Albemarle Tribune}}</ref>[[File:Robert Edward Lee sculpture covered in tarp.jpg|thumb|upright|Lee sculpture covered in black tarp following the [[Unite the Right rally]] of 2017 (now removed by the city)]]
[[Image:Court Square.jpg|thumb|right|Court Square and Confederate statue (now removed by the city)]]