Jewish American Heritage Month

May is Jewish American Heritage Month, which began in 2006 and celebrates the achievements of Jewish Americans

This month we are highlighting the life and works of Harry Golden. He was born in 1902 in the Austro-Hungarian empire, but moved to New York City with his family as a young boy. He grew up with a voracious appetite for reading, but it was not until later in life that he became known for his writing. Instead, he worked as a stockbroker until 1929 when his firm declared bankruptcy.

It wasn’t until 1941 that he arrived in Charlotte, NC and began his career as a writer and journalist. He became an outspoken advocate for civil rights and began his own paper, the Carolina Israelite. It endured constant criticism and a fire that destroyed their subscription list, but survived, according to Golden, due to his use of satire, which he used to combat issues of desegregation and unionization.

In 1958 Golden became a best-selling author with Only in America, a collection of humorous essays. He went on to publish over a dozen books, many of which center on the Jewish American experience, such as Jewish Roots in the Carolinas. For those who enjoy satire and biting social commentary, find his books at your local bookstore or library. His papers can be found at J. Murrey Atkins Special Collections and Archives at UNC Charlotte.