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!