Changing the Game, Changing Charlotte: From the Shrine Bowl to a Civil Rights Legacy

Changing the Game, Changing Charlotte: From the Shrine Bowl to a Civil Rights Legacy Learn more at https://www.meckbar.org/?pg=MCBCalendar&evAction=showDetail&eid=356443 Description: This free program is Co-Hosted with the Kirkpatrick Foundation and the Levine Museum of the New South. Registration is free. Visit bit.ly/changeCLT2026 for more information or to register.  Agenda 5:30 p.m. Reception 6:15 p.m. Program Begins Location Levine Museum of the New South 1800 South Blvd, Charlotte NC 28203 Program Overview What happens when one young athlete is denied an opportunity simply because of the color of his skin? In Charlotte in 1965, that question sparked a legal battle that would become part of a much larger story – one involving civil rights, courage, community, and lasting change. This program brings together the people who lived that history and those who helped shape what came next. Jimmie Lee Kirkpatrick and De Kirkpatrick will reflect on the events of 1965 and 1966, including the Shrine Bowl controversy, the resulting lawsuit, and the bombings that followed, with former Charlotte Observer editor Gary Schwab facilitating the conversation. Rich Rosen, co-author of Julius Chambers’ biography and retired UNC law professor, will explore Chambers’ groundbreaking approach to the lawsuit and how it helped pave the way for future civil rights victories. Former Chambers law partner and politician Mel Watt will discuss Chambers’ lasting impact on Charlotte’s Black community, leadership, and civil rights landscape. Darnell Ivory will share both a personal and family perspective on this history: her brother, Titus Ivory, played in the 1966 Shrine Bowl, the first year the game was integrated, and Darnell, the niece of Reginald Hawkins, was 15 years old and living just a block away when the bombings occurred. Former Shrine Bowl player and attorney Mike Bennett, along with other beneficiaries of the opportunities created by these changes, will share how the Shrine Bowl experience influenced their lives and careers. The program will conclude with a brief audience Q&A and an opportunity to reflect on how one pivotal moment, and the legal advocacy that followed, helped change Charlotte. The views and opinions of MBA CLEs are not necessarily those of the Mecklenburg Bar Association/26th Judicial District Bar. Schedule: Thursday, November 19, 2026 Location: Levine Museum of the New South