C is for Civil Rights... February 1st

Today is February 1st, the start of African American History Month. Greensboro is has much to celebrate with respect to civil rights. First, we have the International Civil Rights Museum on Elm Street. We have two historically black institutions of higher education. One of our crowning contributions to the civil rights movement in the 1960's was the Greensboro Sit-ins, which took place at the lunch counter at Woolworth's Department Store, downtown on Elm Street. Fifty-two years today, four freshmen at North Carolina Agricultural and Technical College in Greensboro sat down and asked for a cup of coffee at the lunch counter at the Woolworth's Department Store. These four African-American college students, featured above in this order-- David Richmond, Franklin McCain, Ezell Blair, Jr., and Joseph McNeal-- refused to leave the "whites-only" lunch counter. Their peaceful, but tenacious, actions helped spark a movement that spread to other southern cities (read more here).

We feature this statue/monument at least once a year; however, one needs only to step foot on the NCA&T campus and look at this statue to realize the importance of the actions of these men.  From this vantage point, the four figures are imposing and make us realize just how small we are in comparison to their contribution of making the United States a more just and civil place. 

Today is ABC Wednesday and our cause for this round is civil rights. "C" is for CIVIL RIGHTS.

Comments

[Roger Green]

I was a child in the North, but the events in Greensboro (and Little Rock, Selma, et al) were seared in my mind.

Great tribute to the CAUSE of justice.

ROG, ABC Wednesday team

[chubskulit]

Perfect Timing for C.

Crystal Palace & Carousel
Chubskulit, ABC Wednesday Team

[Leslie]

Excellent post - something we Canadians don't think about too often, although we're aware of what goes on in the USA.

Leslie
abcw team

[Jack]

Excellent post.

[Oakland Daily Photo]

Impressive and moving sculpture. It's important to remember and honor these young men and their bravery.