Sometimes on our strolls up and down Elm Street, we see people hard at work. Such was the case the other day at the International Civil Rights Center and Museum. Wandering past the south 100 block of Elm, we noticed this man washing windows. This scene looks so different from the street-level view where the bright red sign with the bold gold letters that reads F.W. WOOLWORTH dominates the view. The upper half of the building has a muted teal and ivory glow, a little more like something from a Martha Stewart Living magazine.
If you are local, you likely know that this is the location of the original lunch counter where the Greensboro (NC A&T) Four famously sat on February 1, 1960. To protest segregation, they demanded to be served a cup of coffee. Portions of the original lunch counter are also displayed at the Smithsonian Institution in Washington D.C. Contrary to recent press, the lunch counter section continues to be on display in D.C. As for Greensboro, we can't imagine the lunch counter seats ever not being on display. Meanwhile, this lone gentleman continues his job of getting those second floor windows to sparkle so that the museum will be beautiful from top to the basement- where the lunch counter remains on view.
If you need ideas for summer staycation activities and places to take out-of-town guests, visiting the International Civil Rights Center and Museum is a good one. Oh, and be sure to notice those clean windows.
Happy Tuesday!