JOAN, MY VIEWS.

Saturday, October 18, 2025

Greensboro, N. Carolina

Greensboro looks like an ordinary sleepy American city, but it is anything but that.

For it played an unforgettable and critical role during the Civil Rights Movement, which led to the freedoms we enjoy today.

So naturally, when we visited the city for a recent wedding, we had to remind ourselves of its role, by taking in the Civil Rights Museum there.

Greensboro was the site of the first sit in. That was in 1960 at a Woolworths lunch counter.

It all took place in this building, which actually houses the museum today.

The reception area of the building today.

However, in 1960, Woolworths was a popular department store and the only one that had a luncheonette inside.

But only whites could eat there!

However, four courageous young men decided in 1960, that it was time for a change, so they visited the cafeteria, sat down and ordered coffee.

But of course they were refused service and ordered to leave.

In short, they refused to leave, remained there all day and returned every day for months on end.

When other conscious, young people from both black and white colleges and high schools heard about it, they joined in, prepared to be arrested.

As money is always the main driving force, and the thousands of defiant protesters who spilled into the streets affected all businesses in the city, Woolworth and many others were forced to close.

That movement forced the hands of the authorities in Greensboro, so the successful strategy of sit-ins spread like wild fire throughout the racist USA.

Hence we can enter any business place today and be served!

The story of that successful strategy to force desegregation is well told at the Civil Rights Museum.

That was how desegregation was forced on the majority whites to change policies in schools, medicine, voting etc, all the areas that we participate in equally today.

Some of whom excelled in sports after desegregation.

A Nigerian king donated his crown to the museum.

A klansman costume.

Statue of a young Thurgod Marshall.

The actual lunch counter as it was in 1960.

To appreciate where we are coming from, everyone should visit that museum.

Interestingly, when we took the tour, the vast majority of visitors were white.

I hope that trend continues, as the history presented there is really graffic and stark!

Thursday, October 16, 2025

Charlotte, N. Carolina.

Charlotte, aka the Queen City, is the largest city in N. Carolina. It was named after Queen Charlotte, (1744), wife of Charles 111 but her greatest claim to fame seems to have been that she had 15 children!

However, although the so-called founding fathers claimed to be anti-royalty, they named the city after a woman who had never even visited the area.

Quite a curious situation I would say🥴.

On our recent trip to nearby Greensboro, we just passed through this city.

It was quite pleasant and has interesting murals and artistic exhibits.

Michele who has never seen a piano she could resist, did test out those Uptown, but as they had been battered by the elements, they were all out of tune.😊.

Statue of Queen Charlotte sits in front of Wake Forrest' buildings.

Of course some people I know couldn't resist the stores😁.

Saturday, October 11, 2025

Hispanic music

My little city Tamarac Florida, abuts the cities of Sunrise and Coral Springs. We are the smallest city though: Tamarac's population is around 75,000, Sunrise 100,000 and Coral Springs 141,000. (Approximates all).

However, because we have an activist music-loving mayor, Michelle Gomez, we tend to have many fun events which attract persons from those neighboring cities.

Especially to our regular concerts in the parks.

We took in the Latin concert in Sunrise.

On the other hand, before last night, I had only found one event in Sunrise which I felt was worth joining in.

That was a day trip to Key West.

(https://joan-myviews.blogspot.com/2025/03/that-key-west-trek.html?m=1).

However, I have never attended an actual event in Coral Springs, although, I do walk at their Three Mountains Park on Saturdays.

The name is a joke though as Broward County has no hills much less mountains.😅

However in Coral Springs, they did dredge a canal once and dump the dirt nearby to make 3 little hills, which is what was turned into that small park with the auspicious name 😁.

As my muscles can never improve if I only walk in flat areas, I must not be disparaging, as I have gratefully adopted that area for a weekly trek🙏.

JOAN, MY VIEWS.: A hill at last!

Yes, I know I am rambling! It's only because I attended the Hispanic Heritage concert in Sunrise and was just reflecting on what the adjoining cities offer in comparison to mine😊.

You see, like Tamarac, (JOAN, MY VIEWS.: ICE, culturally disruptive), Sunrise also had a Hispanic Heritage Concert during their celebration of Historic Heritage Month.

It was held on the 10th October in their fairly new, beautiful amphitheatre.

The attendance was low in the beginning as it had rained all day and I imagine the ICE monster hadn't helped.

The rain stayed away in the late afternoon though and it was actually a nice night. So the crowd grew slightly later and appeared to almost double.

Everyone was in high spirits throughout.

I love Latin music.

Latin music is so energetic and lively. One reason for this is it's pulsating beat as the rhythms are often built around throbbing African drums.

For the first hour at Sunrise, music was provided by DJ Genesis and the selections were good, as he played popular hits from every Latin American country, identifying them as he went along.

Venezuelan dancers do their thing.

Then the live band La Nota took over and kept the vibes soaring throughout.

They had a half hour break during which Venezuela dancers, even mere babies entertained.