The Greensboro sit-ins at a Woolworth's lunch counter in Greensboro, North Carolina, began on February 1, 1960. Four students from North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University began the peaceful protest, which grew in size there as well as all over North Carolina and elsewhere. Eisenhower was still president, and by March, he supported the sit-ins, too. The issue was segregation, Whites Only areas vs. integrated areas. The sit-ins were a complete success.
I took the above photo a few years ago and am happy to report that just yesterday, on the 50th anniversary of the protests, the The International Civil Rights Center and Museum opened its doors on site. Family members living in the area will check it out and report back in the near future, I suspect. Here's a link: http://www.sitinmovement.org/
My Mom and I were lucky enough to see and hear Barack Obama and Joe Biden speak in Greensboro in 2008 at a very energetic -- and fun -- rally before the November presidential election.
Here's Merry Clayton's 1970 rendition of "Gimme Shelter" with period montage via a fan's YouTube homage:
6 comments:
Erik, That is the BEST version of that song. The montage is touching..
It was an interesting period of history and one that we too soon forgot the lessons of. Look at us now, polarized by ideologies that are more personal profit driven than driven towards freedom.
Good to hear about the museum. I'll have to try for a visit.
Very cool!
I miss Woolworths!
I just showed the documentary: "Fighting Back (1957 - 1962)" for my prison class. All my young students either slept through it or asked if they could leave. Sad state of affairs. Now if were a rap video, they'd've paid attention. --JR
What a great resource!
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