Greensboro Daily Photo

G is for Green

Happy Leap Year (Day)!

Today, we're going green with a seafoam-green scooter in front of UNCG's Brown Building on Tate Street. On nice days, this perky, Buddy 50 scooter is spotted out and about in Greensboro. For driving around town, running errands, coffee-shop meet-ups, or heading to class, this little-engine-that-can is very practical.  The top speed is 30 MPH and it can get up to 100 miles to a gallon of gas, making it very environmentally friendly. If you calculate your carbon footprint (here), and can factor a scooter into the equation, your annual emission will likely be low!

One definition of carbon footprint is "the total set of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions caused by an organization, event, product, or person".* There are carbon footprint reduction programs (see this one, for example) and at least one Greensboro business has achieved certification for reducing its carbon footprint-- BounceU. Wouldn't it be nice to get more local businesses working actively on reducing their carbon footprint. It is ABC Wednesday and "G" is for going green! We think we'll run over to Scooter Nerds on Battleground and test drive a Buddy 50!

* reference

Floral Art on Elm Street

Elm Street is abloom, too!

This weekend while we were out photographing redbud blooms in the Greensboro Hebrew Cemetery, "Kang" was busy securing glossy magazine photos of flowers onto a lamp post in front of the Green Bean Coffee Shop. The metal pole is covered from base to top with lovely, springlike pictures. From a distance, it almost looks as if butterflies have landed on Elm Street.

One of the barristas at the Green Bean said an artist who calls himself "Kang" worked on the pole for two days. It is such a fun, uplifting work of temporary street art. A harsh rain or extreme wind will be the demise of this masterpiece. However, if you head to Elm Street soon, you will see this lovely piece that took hours and hours to cut and paste! It looks much better in person, as a 15 foot pole is hard to capture and retain the details available in a close-up.

If you know more about this installation or the elusive "Kang", who is not jumping out on a google search, please let us know! We have a hunch there is a story behind this project. Could it be that ELSEWHERE Collaborative is priming us for their annual spring reopening?

In the meantime, we're enjoying every photo we took of this project-- from every angle.

Cherry Trees in Bloom!

Saturday (2/25/12) was the first day that we noticed cherry trees in bloom. Other than daffodils, hyacinth, and the other bulbs, cherry trees, redbuds and forsythia, are the earliest bloomers in Greensboro.  The above cherry trees are located at the top of the hill in the Jewish cemetery on High Point Road. They looked so beautiful, yet it was so ironic to see the first signs of life springing forth inside a place that symbolizes death. You can see the majestic tree in the left-hand corner still in in the middle of its winter nap-- but not those eager trees with the red blossoms. It is not uncommon in Greensboro to have an ice storm in March. Let's hope that either spring arrives early and stays or that it will get cold enough to keep more plants from blooming prematurely. February 25th is a little early to expect winter to be completely over.

On GDP, we try to capture a photo of early bloomers every  year. Here is a redbud photo from 2010. We've picked up quite a few followers who like the flora pictures. Please feel free to add comments if you know some facts about the above tree. Happy Monday, dear readers.

Note: We've changed this post after learning that the trees were likely cherry trees and not redbuds! Thanks Mike, Jane, and others!

Digital Gothic Gate

Today's post takes us to Holy Trinity Episcopal Church in Downtown Greensboro. We're not sure when Holy Trinity was constructed; however, the Episcopal Church came into being after the American Revolution when America was breaking away from England. Its constitution was established in 1789.

In the above photo, the metal gate is a piece of sculpture by Greensboro's very talented Jim Gallucci. According to the plaque to the right, it was given to the glory of God in loving memory of: Mary Lee Copeland, Tullross Fleming, Katie Fleming, Margaret Welch Lambeth, Mary Adair Phifer, Edward William Phifer,Jr.,  Lucille Woolfolk Wells, and Henry Herbert Wells, Jr. For the brief moment that we were photographing Gallucci's gate, the sun's rays began glowing in all their glory.

We try to feature something spiritual and worthy of reflection each Sunday. Holy Trinity's labyrinth was featured previously as one of our Sunday selections. Wherever you live or whatever you believe, may these warm rays of light shine when you need them most.

Moye's Barber Shop

Saturday is the day to do ordinary things, wash your car, get a haircut, go to the grocery store. Here we are in front of Moye's BARBER SHOP on MLK Drive in the Asheboro Community. Stand-alone barber shops remind us of old-time, Mayberry days and Andy Griffith ways. They are getting harder and harder to come by. Notice that every vehicle in the parking lot is a truck. The iconic barber shop is a place for guys to go and get their look refreshed as well as catch up on neighborhood news. Likely the man who owns the red truck is as particular about his own appearance as he is about the way his truck shines from top to bottom!

What kind of ordinary things are on your 'to do' list today?  We're planning on taking some photos and getting a jump start on next week's posts. Happy Saturday and Happy Weekend Reflections.

Bridge on Bessemer Avenue

Greensboro started the week with a snow event, had a sunny Thursday, and  rain is predicted for today. At any rate, it is still a good weekend to get out and enjoy our city. Here we see a car heading west over the Bessemer Bridge at Church Street. The above bridge connects Fisher Park with the Aycock Historic District. 

Nearby, is a walking bridge that allows pedestrian traffic to move back and forth. It is known as the Hendrix Street Pedestrian Bridge. It was rebuilt in 1997 and named after Max Thompson, who, while alive, worked tirelessly to make the refurbished pedestrian bridge a reality. We need to try to get a picture of the pedestrian walkway before the leaves return to hide it. It helps minimize foot traffic on the above bridge.

Notice the nice job they did of keeping the vintage, early-20th century look on the Bessemer Bridge. The low street lights are reminiscent of the gas lamps of yesteryear. Today, Bessemer is not nearly as busy as it was in previous decades when it was the principal east/west artery before Wendover was constructed. It is, however, incredibly convenient to use in getting from the east side of town to North Eugene Street, the First Presbyterian Church, Latham Park, Moses Cone Hospital and everything in between.

This is our contribution to Skywatch Friday.

Prickly Pear Cactus

Time for a dose of flora on Greensboro Daily Photo......

The prickly pear cactus, opuntia humifusa, is a species native to North Carolina and plentiful around Greensboro. It is the most common of our State's three native cacti and is the most ornamental. Its bright yellow flowers transform into beautiful, red fruits (see above). Cactus fruit can be eaten once the spines are removed (more here). Like our native muscadine grapes and persimmon, seeds can be bothersome on this plant; yes, you have to work hard to enjoy the fruit! With the move to "eat local", we're betting the above delicacy will be showing up on  menus and become available in more than Greensboro's ethnic grocery stores. 

We at GDP have such fond memories of riding through the North Carolina countryside, driving to the beach, and seeing discarded tires filled with sand and cacti-- especially popular in the Sandhills. Prickly pear cacti plants thrive in full sun.

While we've seen the above plant near Greensboro College, we cheated a little bit and captured this photo at the North Carolina zoo in the desert exhibit. The NC Zoo in Asheboro is a perfect place to spend the day taking photos.

F is for Fitness

Above we see a photo of Workout Anytime, located between Cook-out, Krispy Kreme, and Maxie B's on Battleground Avenue. Workout Anytime is one of those stores catering to the latest fitness trend of working out anytime; that's 24/7-- 365 days a year. Regardless of what time you go to or leave work, you can stop and exercise. On their website, this franchise doesn't say how long they have been in business, but they do mention their owners have a combined 40 years of experience in the industry.

According to the state data on death rates from heart disease, Guilford County fares pretty well. The state rate is 439 deaths annually related to heart disease per 100,000 people; the county rate is 368-411 per 100,000. Except for neighboring Caswell County, counties in the Piedmont/triad/triangle area are heart healthier than the North Carolinians living in the he coastal region. Perhaps we are more diligent about exercising; perhaps we eat less fried foods. At any rate, we seem to be doing something right.

Today is ABC Wednesday and for this round, we're featuring causes. Today's cause is F, for fitness. If you want a non-profit related to fitness, there is always the option to join the YMCA. Additionally, on Saturday, March 31, 2012, Greensboro will have a great health and fitness event, a 5K charity walk/run where participants get to raise money for their favorite charity. You get to work on your heart health at the Human Race event while your favorite non-profit gets a little money for their coffer. How do you keep your heart healthy? What do you do to help others stay healthy? Remember, February is National Heart Health month and F is for fitness!

Snow Day

Sunday night's snow in Greensboro resulted in the first weather event of the winter. School was cancelled yesterday due to the snow. The northern end of the county had more snow than downtown or the southern part of the county. Given that our county and city school systems merged about 20 years ago, the Guilford County Schools must check that it is safe for busses to transport children through every nook and cranny of the county. Especially in the more rural areas, it can take a while for the roads to clear.

While snow days can delight students and teachers, especially at a time when there is approximately two months without a scheduled holiday/work day, teacher work days come at a cost. The cost for yesterday will be extending the school year by a day in June. At any rate, a little weather event or two makes it seem like winter. Yesterday's dose was sufficient (and proves the groundhog right). 

We're only 52 days into 2012 and already dreaming of spring!

GCS Magnet Fair

This past Saturday, Guilford County Schools held their annual magnet fair at the Pavilion beside the Greensboro Coliseum. All of the district's schools of choice (magnet schools) had booths, brochures, and representatives to answer questions for the public looking for educational opportunities. For over two decades, our local system has made a commitment to the magnet school model. Elementary, middle, and high school students can either attend their attendance-zone school or they can apply for the lottery for one of the themed schools. The district offers science and technology, performing arts, global studies, health care, Spanish immersion-- and more. Opting into a program helps increase student engagement and motivation, brings students together with peers who have common interests, and adds to the demographic diversity of the schools. Our district has a high graduation rate; likely attributable to their many options.

Today was to have been a "Magnet Monday" which means families are able to visit the schools they are considering.  However, the weather intervened and gave the school students a day off; allowing them to celebrate 'Presidents Day' after all.

As the above photo shows, Saturday's Magnet Fair was quite popular. From the beginning to the end, the event was a sea of people and an ocean of information! If the above crowd is any indication, upcoming Magnet Mondays will be busy.

Grace Community Church

Grace Community Church, located on West Lee Street, is a dynamic non-denominational church housed in the former McIver School. In Greensboro , the name McIver has long been associated with providing a quality education for special needs students. Initially (1953), The Special School was started in a space provided by Greensboro College. The Special School was much needed and multiple growth spurts and by 1969, it moved into the above facility- then known as McIver School. In 1974, the program moved to its current site, the former Proximity Junior High School, and in 1994, changed its name to McIver Education Center.

With the school long gone from Lee Street and the building available, Grace Community Church opened its doors in 1995, always making it clear that people of all ethnicities and socioeconomic levels are welcome. The church was actually organized earlier, in the summer of 1987. As part of their local outreach, Grace Community is involved in helping Greensboro's homeless individuals receive hot meals. As part of their global mission, GCC gives a percentage of their budget to Faith Promise Pledges. Currently, they have 24 international missionaries in the church.  They'd love to have you stop by. Dress is casual. 

Today's post is part of our interfaith Sunday series. See more here.

H on South Elm Street

Visiting Elm Street yesterday afternoon, we ran into H while he was waiting for friends at the Green Bean coffee shop. Unfortunately for H, the Green Bean was closing at 5:00 pm yesterday and so he had to wait for his friends outside. This was fortunate for GDP because we got to meet another person from Greensboro. H seems to be an eclectic soul who is a music fan and is involved in the industry himself. We didn't do a formal interview; however, we did chat long enough to find out that his great tye dye T-shirt was made by Julie Hardy of H20 Tye Dyes of Winston-Salem. One of H's friends says he is "high profile". We'd have to agree; we knew at first glance he would be fun to meet and photograph. H's H20 T-shirt is a camera magnet for sure. This image begs the question, "Where's the Sartorialist when you need him?". Here's to fresh coffee, good friends, and great tye dye all rolled into one.

We're sharing this photo with our friends at Weekend Reflections where everyone loves a mirror image. Enjoy your weekend readers. 

Old Greensborough

From the time of its founding in 1808, to 1895, Greensboro was spelled Greensborough. From the Revolutionary War era to the Civil War to The Textile Era to the Civil Rights Movement, to today, Greensboro has remained a city with great character. We owe much of the success and growth to our early Quaker founders, our many institutions of higher education, our Jewish community, our dynamic African American community and the way all interacted with the population-at-large. If you are interested in learning more about the history of Greensborough, the Wikipedia entry is a good place to start. As people add to it, the entry gets better and better (here).

The expansive blue sky opens up over Old Greensboro at the corner of Lee and South Elm Streets. This is the southern entrance into our great, Gate City. Between the two traffic lights in the center, you can see the Jefferson Standard/Pilot/Lincoln Financial building peeking out. We've added it to Skywatch Friday. Have a great weekend, dear readers. See you on Elm Street!

Koury Hospitality Careers Center

Greensboro is lucky to have a vibrant community college network with a wide range of options at their five campuses. One of those options is the opportunity to pursue a career in the hospitality industry. The Koury Hospitality Careers Center is named for local builder, developer, and businessman, Joseph S. Koury, of Koury Convention Center fame. The above center is located at 601 High Point Road on the Jamestown campus of the Greensboro Technical Community Center. The programs offered include: culinary arts, and hospitality management. The building, one of 21 on this campus, includes an auditorium, fire arts theatre, and culinary dining room. 

Once we interviewed a student in the program. He was very impressed with the quality of instruction. We were very impressed with his ability to carve. See one of his humorous watermelon carvings here. Not his most intricate work but FUN!

E is for the Environment

The vacant 1.3 acre lot at the corner of East Lee and Arlington Streets is a diamond in the rough, waiting to become a park under the dutiful watch of the Piedmont Land Conservancy. Musikgarten founders, Lorna and Herman Heyge donated the land to Greensboro's Parks and Recreation Department. You see the Musikgarten building peeking out in the upper right corner. An easement to Piedmont Land Conservancy will ensure that the park remains a natural setting with paths, benches, and a children's garden with a water feature. 

While the land looks a little scruffy in its "limbo" state, at least it has been cleared and is ready to be converted into a park. If you are local, perhaps you recall the time an old gas station was located here. D.H. Griffin helped clear the land by hauling away 80 dump-truck loads of old concrete and road material from the property (for free!). We hope the park will become a reality soon. Perhaps the pink survey strips surrounding the property are a sign that something is about to be done with the property. When this property becomes a park, the entrance into Ole Asheboro will have quite a facelift and the environment will be improved aesthetically and conserved in a way that benefits all of Greensboro's citizens. 

Today is ABC Wednesday and E is for Environment and an organization helping with that effort if the Piedmont Land Conservancy.

Birds in Hand

Today's photo exemplifies the proverb, "A bird in the hand in worth two in the bush" and evokes tender love on Valentine's Day. The affection and interdependence of these two baby parakeets is obvious and proof that every living thing deserves at least one good friend, sibling, or partner....... someone to enjoy on Valentines Day-- and every other day of the year. The birds were bred and raised at Stephie's Birds on North Battleground Avenue (across from Wal-Mart). Stephanie, a local bird breeder working out of Greensboro, supplies much of the east coast with birds. 

The proverb "a bird in the hand is worth two in the bush" harkens back to falconry, where the falcon was the "bird in hand", and the prey were the "two in bush". While the phrase was first published in 1670 in England, it was believed to have been in use even before that date. We can't help but wonder, if a bird in the hand is worth two in the bush, what are two birds in hand worth?

Have a great Valentine's Day dear readers and may you have someone to share it with-- even if it is a feathered friend... or two!

 

Burlington Road at Whitsett

One of our favorite weekend activities is to drive along Burlington Road (Highway 70 out East Wendover). Practically every house and piece of undeveloped land has a for sale sign, including a tobacco field we featured last fall (here). This weekend, we stopped at Whitsett, a small town east of Greensboro in the eastern end of Guilford County. July 2009 data reveal that the population of Whitsett is 735. We're betting the town of 2.8 square miles has grown in population since then. Whitsett was named for UNC history professor, Dr. William Thorton Whitsett, PhD (1866-1934), who founded Whitsett Academy in Alamance County, N.C.

At one time, the above Whitsett property was a splendid farm property. Today, it is waiting for that special person to turn it into a dollar store or a cul-de-sac. The transformation is happening before our eyes. In the case of the above barn, nature has beat the bulldozer to it. You really owe yourself a drive to Burlington to see everything that is for sale and under construction. In addition to seeing the changes, you can read highway signs and search church cornerstones and enjoy a little history sleuthing. With smart phones and iPads, you can research while you are walking, looking, and photographing. If you go, let us know what you find.

 

Girl Scout Cookie Time

Well, it seems winter is upon us in Greensboro as is Girl Scout Cookie time! These girls from Troop 41157, marching in the MLK parade advertising  cookies, are absolutely precious! 2012 is a special year for Girl Scouting in the United States; the organization celebrating its 100th anniversary this year-- and 95 years of selling cookies. On the day of the parade, these young scouts were spending their holiday promoting the Girl Scout organization, building a sense of community among their troop, doing community service, and making every effort to sell cookies along the way.

If you get a chance, buy some Girl Scout cookies this year. If you pre ordered, your scout should be notifying you soon that your cookies are in. If you didn't get a chance to pre-order, stop by the Harris Teeter at Pisgah Church or the one at Battleground/Horse Pen Creek from 11:00- 5:00 today to purchase Girl Scout cookies. Make standing in freezing temperatures worthwhile for these dedicated scouts! While the young ladies at Harris Teeter aren't the ones in the above photo, they are equally dedicated to their very worthwhile organization and have the same great cookies. If we hear of other booths, we'll let you know.

We're posting this on Sunday as one of our religious/spiritual posts, since the Girl Scout organization encourages members to have a belief in a spiritual principle.

Western High School Art... Polaroid Mural

Western HIgh School, located between Friendly Avenue* and West Market Street, is one of Greensboro's directional schools.** The student body consists of approximately 1,300 students. The above photo is a series of several photos painted on the hallway walls. The Polaroid paintings of clouds rest in front of recognizable tourist spots. The above photo covers the Statue of Liberty. Butterflies anchor the Polaroid to the wall. As the butterflies morph from egg to larvae to pupae and adults, so do the high school students..... freshman, sophomore, junior, senior..... when both are ready to fly away and forge a new life. 

Art in public schools is so inspiring and hopeful. The Polaroid mural is the kind of art that allows you to notice something new every time you look at it. Is there inspiring art at your alma mater. It is the weekend so we're out in search of more art.

*Thank you, Jane, for catching this error. We meant Friendly Avenue, NOT Center.

** We also have Northwest, Northern, Northeast, Eastern, Southeast, Southern, and Southwest. Taking the last point on the compass rose, Northern High was the last of the directional schools to be built.

Dudley's Panther and Tyca Clowning Around

Tyca the clown and the Dudley Senior High School panther-mascot were out entertaining children during the MLK parade in January. Tyca the Clown was incorporated in 2007. He is frequently seen around town twisting balloons into all kinds of shapes for children to enjoy. Children know him by name and respond gleefully to his rainbow hair, outfits, expressive face paint, as well as to his animated persona in general. His address is listed online as 4425 South Danby Castle Road, Greensboro NC, 27407. Unfortunately, we didn't see a website or phone number. However, SOMEBODY must know how to get in touch with Tyca as he is seen working everywhere!

The suited panther, represents the royal blue and gold Dudley High School off of East Lee Street. Children enjoy waving and interacting with that furry larger-than-life creature. When you see him, you can be pretty sure that the Dudley band or sports team is somewhere nearby!

Happy Friday folks. Also, happy Skywatch Friday. We're sharing this photo with the rest of the sky-loving world.

Groundhog Day 2012

Groundhog Day 2012 has come and gone this week. Do you know the origin of the holiday? Do you follow the results? According to the predictions of both Punxsutawney Phil in Pennsylvania AND Sir Walter Wally's in North Carolina, there will be six more weeks of winter. Ironically, good weather on any given February 2nd, Groundhog Day, indicates winter will linger. In the USA, we have been maintaining this tradition for over 125 years. Pennsylvania's early settlers brought the following saying from Europe: "For as the sun shines on Candlemas Day, so far will the snow swirl in May..."* Candlemas is the 40th day after Christmas. So, historically, Groundhog Day is linked to Christianity.

Information related to North Carolina's groundhog-predictor is archived through the State Climate Office of North Carolina. Check here on March 15th, if you want to follow up on the accuracy of Sir Walter Wally's 2012 prediction. On the same website, archived through NC State University, you can check the groundhog's record in previous years.  Last time we checked, the Greensboro's own Natural Science Center had "Woody" the Groundhog on the prediction circuit, too.

As for the above groundhog, also known as a woodchuck, whistle-pig, and land-beaver,  he was seen frequently in our yard in Greensboro this summer. We're guessing he'll be back...... sometime after March 15th. As far as we can tell, he's never poked his head out on February 2nd. Care to name him?

 *Huffington Post reference here.

D is for Dogs, People and Paws for Hope

In the above photo, we see the building that formerly housed the Central Carolina Convalescent Hospital at 710 Huffine Mill Road, between Summit and Bessemer Avenues. We drove by this weekend to see the former hospital again because there was a question about its location during Eugene Pfaff's recent book talk about the Civil Rights Movement in Greensboro. During the sit-ins, the above facility served as a place to detain protestors. However, it was initially built in 1948 to quarantine and treat polio victims.* One woman vividly remembered it was "somewhere out off of East Market Street" said when her parents drove her past this facility, she held her breath for fear of catching polio. 

This facility is so important to the history of Greensboro, the Civil Rights Movement, and the Great Mid-Century Polio Epidemic. It is always larger in our memory than it is when we actually visit it in person.** Surprisingly, nobody has pursued getting it on an historic registry. While, a few years ago, it appeared to be abandoned and deteriorating, there is hope for its upkeep, however.

On Sunday's visit, we learned that the facility currently houses People and Paws for Hope. This non-profit organization helps youth between the ages of 5-18 with Animal Assisted Therapies and Activities. They also help dogs be socialized with humans so that they can be adopted into forever homes. So, as serendipity would have it, our trip to the polio hospital brings us in a round about way to today's ABC Wednesday cause: D is for dogs, our canine companions. As People and Paws for Hope reminds us, we need dogs and dogs need us! Good luck to this organization. Good luck to 710 Huffine Mill Road!

*read an interesting article about the polio hospital (here).

**Last time we were there it was painted blue. 

Green Hill Center for North Carolina Art

Green Hill Center for North Carolina Art is located in the Cultural Arts Center on Davie Street. Since 1974, they have been showcasing great art in the Triad. Approximately 175 North Carolina artists a year either show their art, share their knowledge through workshops and events, or sell artwork through Green Hill. The center also has an extensive community outreach program and an interactive gallery for children, ArtQuest.  Currently, they are featuring an exhibit of four artists, entitled, Word Maps. If you are looking for something to do, head on over and immerse yourself in art*

In the above photo, the double doors on the right lead to the gallery, the art in the front is available for purchase in the gift shop. The table and chairs in the foreground are for the public to come and relax and are also used during special events. The man on the left is trying to get a couple of minutes of alone time while his children were at a birthday party held at ArtQuest. Fun was had by all and visual stimulation was everywhere.

*For hours of operation, directions, and other details, access Green Hill's website here.

Meadowood Street

Here we see a photo of a construction site at the intersection of Meadowood Street and Cox Place-- a stone's throw from Costco. There is no signage indicating who is building what; however, from the looks of the structure in the distance, this will be an apartment complex. We've noticed several construction sites in Greensboro as of late. Seeing new construction is an indication that the local economy is improving. Construction taking place in already developed areas usually causes little controversy. This project seems to be going up almost unnoticed near a block full of single family homes that have been constructed within the last two years.

Greensboro is in the heart of a clay belt. Here you can see the red menace in all of its glory. Imagine being a farmer having to work fields of clay. Imagine being the person who has to try to get clay stains out of work clothes! Clay actually has nutrients that are good for plants. However, it is dense and creates drainage problems. No problem here as, soon, this clay will be sporting a top coat of asphalt. Happy Monday all!

Shiloh Baptist Church

Here we see a view of Shiloh Baptist Church located at 1210 South Eugene Street, near where the street turns into Elm-Eugene.  According to the News and Record's archives, Shiloh Baptist has been experiencing internal strife for the last fifteen years as evidenced by their frequent turnover in leadership. However, Shiloh Baptist, located in the Warnersville community, has a rich history and held a legendary place in the civil right struggles of the 1960's (reference and here). It would be great if the church would develop a website and post their history and share photos from their archives.

Shiloh Baptist has such an interesting roofline and adds to this view of a sunny Greensboro sky full of fluffy clouds. Have a great Sunday everyone. 

International Civil Rights Center and Museum

Black History Month is in full gear and what better place to stop and reflect on the past and hope for a harmonious future than the International Civil Rights Center and Museum? The museum, located in the former F.W. Woolworth Company on South Elm Street, houses permanent exhibits and sponsors events all year long. Today, story hour begins at 11am featuring, When Marian Anderson Sang: The True Recital of Marian Anderson. The 2012 Gala is happening today at the Koury Convention Center Imperial Ballroom and the museum's website indicates the topic is Today's Sit-in: Economic Justice (more here).

We're sharing this post with the Weekend Reflections meme; the participants will love all of the reflections on the windows. Note the iconic, seemingly ubiqutous, Jefferson Standard/Jefferson Pilot/Lincoln Financial Group building peeking out from behind the leafless tree.

In Their Own Words.......

Last night, Eugene E. Pfaff, Jr. spoke at the local Barnes and Noble about the Civil Rights Movement in Greensboro. He was adamant that Greensboro deserves more credit for its impact and the involvement of its citizens in the movement-at-large. To that end, he assembled and published an oral history of the Greensboro Civil Rights Movement entitled, "Keep on Walking' Keep on Talking' ". Pfaff likens the role of the interviewees in his book to master chefs in the kitchen; the readers to the gourmets at the table; he sees himself as the waiter, merely delivering the feast. 

Pfaff attributes some of the power of Greensboro's civil rights history to the fact that there was significant interaction and cooperation between the black and white communities; interaction between students and adults; there was multi-generational representation; and many well educated, highly accomplished, local African Americans took place in the movement. Pfaff's knowledge of the issues, laws, people, places and events of the movement make him the perfect person to conduct interviews and document our civil rights history. That this retired librarian is the son of a history professor adds to his credibility!

In the above photo, Pfaff is signing a book for one of his former teachers from the Curry School on the campus of the Woman's college of the University of North Carolina.

Taylor Art Gallery at NC A&T, The Student Show

In the above photo: Twas the night before February 1st at the Taylor Art Gallery at Dudley University Galleries on the campus of NC A&T University. Students and staff alike were working diligently to have the Annual Student Art Exhibition ready for viewing the following day. February 1st is an extremely important day on the NC A&T campus.  Yesterday, the three living members of the Greensboro Four* and the son of David Richmond** were on campus for a breakfast and presentation. University students, faculty and staff; public school students; and community members alike had an opportunity to be part of this great event. Given all of the visitors and media attention regarding the remembering of the NC A&T community's contributions to the Civil Rights Movement, it was a day for the campus to look its very best.

Hopefully, visitors on campus, not only yesterday but for the duration of the visit, will have a chance to stop by Taylor Art Gallery.  The student artists put considerable effort into their pieces. Visual art is a window into the mind of an artist; and time will tell, out of this generation, who will become the heroes and what will be the artifacts to be revered in future decades.

*Jibreel Khazan [formerly Ezell Blair, Jr.], Franklin McCain, and Joseph McNeil

**Mr. Richmond died of cancer in 1990.

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.