"50 years after launching the historic lunch counter sitins in Greensboro, NC, the remaining Greensboro Four speak at the AFL-CIO MLK Observance weekend in Greensboro, January 14-18, 2010."
The first organized lunch-counter sit-in for the purpose of integrating segregated establishments began in July 1958 in Wichita, Kansas at Dockum Drugs, a store in the old Rexall chain. In early August the drugstore became integrated. A few weeks later on August 19, 1958 in Oklahoma City a nationally recognized sit-in at the Katz Drug Store lunch counter occurred.
Yes, indeed. It is acknowledged that there were previous sit-ins. Greensboro does not claim to be the first nor should the attention to what happened in Greensboro diminish what others did elsewhere.
For whatever reasons though, as your link notes, the sit-ins in Greensboro started a wave of sit-ins across the south. The Greensboro Four were instrumental in raising awareness of segregation to a new level.
I understand from reading Taylor Branch's excellent account of the civil rights movement that a group of students in Nashville under the guidance of James Lawson were preparing to use nonviolent tactics to challenge segregation. When the Greensboro sit-ins began, they felt they had to act immediately to capitalize on the momentum. Also, the Rev. Fred Shuttlesworth, one of King's allies from Birmingham, visited High Point and observed copycat sit-ins within one or two weeks of Feb. 1, and reported excitedly to others in the movement what was occurring. Roch is exactly right.
Over the years local activists and other "leaders" have expanded it's significance far out of proportion. But, when you're Greensboro, you have to take the little things and make them into really big things in order to feel good about yourself, I guess. And, don't forget, if making a bigger deal out of this gets you about $15 million or so with which you can buy political influence....err, I mean rebuild an old Woolworth's...then you'll work even harder to make it more significant.
It seems to me, Jaycee, that you've grown fond of belittling the the achievements of others lately. What's the matter, is there something you've done that isn't getting proper attention or are you just resentful that the world is passing you by?
Not belittling anything, Roch. I'm sure to the participants it was a grand adventure. I'm not sure it was as grand to the rest of the world as it was to the local politicians who've lined their pockets by beating us over the head with the race card ever since. Witness about $15 million poured into The Money Pit On Elm Street. Not too long ago "Greensboro" was the answer to a Jeopardy question. Nobody got it. Says volumes about how important it is outside our little 'burg.
The first organized lunch-counter sit-in for the purpose of integrating segregated establishments began in July 1958 in Wichita, Kansas at Dockum Drugs, a store in the old Rexall chain. In early August the drugstore became integrated. A few weeks later on August 19, 1958 in Oklahoma City a nationally recognized sit-in at the Katz Drug Store lunch counter occurred.
ReplyDeletehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sit-in
Yes, indeed. It is acknowledged that there were previous sit-ins. Greensboro does not claim to be the first nor should the attention to what happened in Greensboro diminish what others did elsewhere.
ReplyDeleteFor whatever reasons though, as your link notes, the sit-ins in Greensboro started a wave of sit-ins across the south. The Greensboro Four were instrumental in raising awareness of segregation to a new level.
I understand from reading Taylor Branch's excellent account of the civil rights movement that a group of students in Nashville under the guidance of James Lawson were preparing to use nonviolent tactics to challenge segregation. When the Greensboro sit-ins began, they felt they had to act immediately to capitalize on the momentum. Also, the Rev. Fred Shuttlesworth, one of King's allies from Birmingham, visited High Point and observed copycat sit-ins within one or two weeks of Feb. 1, and reported excitedly to others in the movement what was occurring. Roch is exactly right.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Jordan. That answers a bit of the "for whatever reason" gap in my knowledge.
ReplyDeleteOver the years local activists and other "leaders" have expanded it's significance far out of proportion.
ReplyDeleteBut, when you're Greensboro, you have to take the little things and make them into really big things in order to feel good about yourself, I guess. And, don't forget, if making a bigger deal out of this gets you about $15 million or so with which you can buy political influence....err, I mean rebuild an old Woolworth's...then you'll work even harder to make it more significant.
It seems to me, Jaycee, that you've grown fond of belittling the the achievements of others lately. What's the matter, is there something you've done that isn't getting proper attention or are you just resentful that the world is passing you by?
ReplyDeleteNot belittling anything, Roch. I'm sure to the participants it was a grand adventure.
ReplyDeleteI'm not sure it was as grand to the rest of the world as it was to the local politicians who've lined their pockets by beating us over the head with the race card ever since. Witness about $15 million poured into The Money Pit On Elm Street.
Not too long ago "Greensboro" was the answer to a Jeopardy question. Nobody got it. Says volumes about how important it is outside our little 'burg.