Celebrating Black History Month in Greensboro, North Carolina

Greensboro, North Carolina -- Black History month in Greensboro is a much-celebrated event and includes a wide variety of events designed to celebrate achievement and educate Greensboro's youth on the role of this community in the struggle for equality.

It is interesting that the month of February was selected as Black History month as the people of Greensboro have celebrated Black achievement every February for the past 48 years, beginning with the nation's first Sit In on February 1, 1960.

It was on this day that four freshmen attending North Carolina Agricultural and Technical College, in Greensboro decided to take a stand against segregation in the city. It is said they had been inspired by the courage of Black students in Arkansas and in Alabama as they integrated previously all white public schools.

These four young men, Franklin Mc Cain, Joseph McNeil, Ezell Blair and David Richmond walked some 4 miles from the college campus to downtown Greensboro to the busy Woolworth Department store. There they entered through the "Colored Only" entrance and took stairs up to the segregated lunch counter, where they took four available seats and waited to be served. When the lunch counter was closed rather than to serve them the four continued to sit at the counter and vowed to stay until served.

On subsequent days the four were joined by dozens of supporting students and as news spread around the country similar sit ins were held throughout the south. This bold move by four teenage students was marked as the beginning of the sit in movement in the Nation.

The actions of "The Greensboro Four" as they were to named, had a profound effect, as similar movements around the nation were successful in calling attention to and bringing an end to segregation of public facilities throughout the south and the nation.

It follows that a major part of the celebration of Black History month in Greensboro focuses on this world famous event.

As part of the celebration I joined a small group on a self-guided walking tour, (named The Walk of History) which followed the route taken by the GreensboroFour. Six historical markers lining the route from the college to the downtown site of the sit in summarize significant historical events in the life of Afro-American the contribution these made to the city of Greensboro.

The walk begins on the college campus of North Carolina A&T. Here a life-sized, bronze statue of the four young men as they walk side by side from the campus to their place in history gives any observer a sense of the determination and pride of these young men as they strike out against injustice.

Along the route another historical marker designates the railroad track, which officially recognized or not served to divide White Greensboro from Black Greensboro. In an ironic twist of fate the marker tells of how on this spot a rail car containing President Jefferson Davis and his cabinet stopped here to meet as they fled from Richmond at the end of the Civil War.

A second marker near the railroad tracks documents the arrival of the first slave arriving via the Underground Railroad, which under the direction of abolitionist, Levi Coffin, helped hundreds of escaped slaves reach safety in slave free territories.

At Center City Park the life of Thomas Settle, a Greensboro native who became the first Afro-American State Supreme Court Justice, is documented.

A few city blocks from the railroad crossing the tour arrives at February One Place, the city street named to commemorate the sit in event. Here one finds the original Woolworth building in which four months of sit ins continued until eventually the segregated lunch counter was closed. A bronze plaque depicting the faces of the Greensboro Four is found here.

The Woolworth store, long since closed, has been purchased as a historical site and is being developed as an International Civil Rights Museum. Several Black history month events are being held in support of funding for the museum.

Perhaps the most popular event in support of Black History Month in Greensboro was the International Civil Rights Museum Gala, which is held annually at the Koury Convention Center.

In addition to raising funds for construction of the museum the Gala presents awards of achievement and in recognition those active in the Civil Rights movement.

During this year's Gala, which marked the 48^th anniversary of the Greensboro sit in, the three surviving members of The A&T Four, Franklin Mc Cain, Joseph Mc Neil and Jibreed Khazan (formerly Ezell Blair) received recognition and a standing ovation form all in attendance. The family of David Richmond, the forth, (deceasesed) member, was also recognized.

Cicely Tyson, the world famous film star received the International Civil and Human Rights Award for her portrayal of the young black woman struggling for freedom and equality in many films including Roots and the Autobiography of Jane Pittman.

Also in attendance, and receiving the Unsung Hero Award was Captain Harvey Alexander, representing the Tuskegee Airmen of WWII fame.

Captain Alexander also conducted a series of lectures and film showings depicting the travails of the Tuskegee Airmen during WWII. This presentation was made at the Greensboro Historical Museum.

The Founder's Appreciation Award was given to Fantasia Barrio, from nearby High Point. Ms. Barrio was the winner of the American Idol show and later, using herself as an example, brought attention to the literacy problem in America.

The Gala was a spectacular event showcasing Hollywood stars, American Idol winners, War heroes, and the brave survivors and activists of the 1960's sit in....All are to be commended and admired. But, the one person in attendance who made the biggest impression on me was not any of the above, but was the quiet, smiling Afro American woman who spent most of the night in the shadows of and listening to the accomplishments of others. Her name is Yvonne Johnson. Mrs. Johnson received the Trailblazer Award for being the first Afro-American woman elected to public office in Greensboro. As a city council member she has put together an outstanding record of accomplishment and just this year was elected as Greensboro's first Afro-American Mayor. During the Social Hour I overheard Mayor Johnson tell a her companion, "It seems only a few years back that I was arrested and jailed by the city of Greensboro for demonstrating for Civil Rights, and tonight I am here representing the city not as a prisoner, but as the Mayor....Yes, I'd say times have changed."

Yes, Yvonne, they have, thank goodness.