Greensboro Sit-In: This Date in History

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They’ve been doing so since at least 1968. Going on 58+ years.
Link: Jim Gardner (politician) - Wikipedia

Jim Gardner was the first Republican politician I was aware of who ran on the hard-right, racist platform that has become emblematic of today's GOP. I had an uncle who was from Connecticut, was a dyed in the wool Republican, and moved to Wilmington. It troubled him greatly to see the NC Republican Party transition from a pro-business group looking to advance North Carolina through better jobs, beyond farming and textiles, into the bastion of racism and prejudice that it morphed into from the late 1960's to the early 1980's, and remains as such today.
 
Link: Jim Gardner (politician) - Wikipedia

Jim Gardner was the first Republican politician I was aware of who ran on the hard-right, racist platform that has become emblematic of today's GOP. I had an uncle who was from Connecticut, was a dyed in the wool Republican, and moved to Wilmington. It troubled him greatly to see the NC Republican Party transition from a pro-business group looking to advance North Carolina through better jobs, beyond farming and textiles, into the bastion of racism and prejudice that it morphed into from the late 1960's to the early 1980's, and remains as such today.
Did he move to NC before or after Jesse Helms first ran in 1972?
 
Did he move to NC before or after Jesse Helms first ran in 1972?
Before. He assumed Jesse was some sort of joke/protest candidate based on Jesse's "editorials" on the Tobacco Radio Network & WRAL-TV. Ever hear the story of how Jesse got his stake in WRAL? When Jesse was an administrative aide to Sen. Willis Smith, Jesse used his influence to pressure the FCC to grant a TV broadcast license to the WRAL radio station instead of WPTF. In exchange for this legislative courtesy, Jesse was "given" a significant chunk of stock in WRAL and the ability to spew his poison from the public airways. Wiilis Smith was the candidate who defeated Frank Porter Graham largely by screaming the "N" word in every speech.
 
Before. He assumed Jesse was some sort of joke/protest candidate based on on Jesse's "editorials" on the Tobacco Radio Network & WRAL-TV. Ever hear the story of how Jesse got his stake in WRAL? When Jesse was an administrative aide to Sen. Willis Smith, Jesse used his influence to pressure the FCC to grant a TV broadcast license to the WRAL radio station instead of WPTF. In exchange for this legislative courtesy, Jesse was "given" a significant chunk of stock in WRAL and the ability to spew his poison from the public airways. Wiilis Smith was the candidate who defeated Frank Porter Graham largely by screaming the "N" word in every speech.
And, Jesse and Tom Ellis doctored up a photo to show Mrs. Frank Porter Graham dancing with a black man.

Wonderful men. Right-wing bigoted Democrats who became right-wing bigoted Republicans after the Civil Rights Act became law.
 
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Note that one of the cars bombed #OTD in 1965 in New Bern was that of Julius Chambers. Ten months later his house would be firebombed in Charlotte. In 1970 his law office was set afire. Meanwhile his father's auto repair shop in Mt. Gilead was also set on fire twice. Chambers went on to become the head of the New York City NAACP Legal Defense and Education Fund and then in 1993 became Chancellor of his alma mater, North Carolina Central University.
 
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#OnThisDay (January 26) in 1932 Thomas Wolfe "decided not to go to Connecticut with his oh-so-patient editor Max Perkins. But instead of just declining Perkins’ invitation to go to his weekend home, Wolfe opted to board the train and then change his mind at the last moment. He jumped from a moving train on this day in 1932 and landed onto the Grand Central Station platform. But the clumsy 6’5 writer did not make it onto level ground without injuring himself. He severed a vein in his left arm after falling on the concrete platform. Both the writer and his editor had been drinking heavily and had made their way unsteadily to the train. Seeing Wolfe prostrate on the platform, Perkins described the scene as similar to viewing a beached whale on Cape Cod. Onlookers pulled emergency stop wires and a crowd gathered around Wolfe. Of course, Wolfe himself eventually went into a very long description of what he was thinking: shame that he had injured himself and had broken his arm 'uselessly, horribly, stupidly and wastefully.'”


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On this day, January 27, 1986, the Flat Duo Jets filmed their legendary segment for the iconic documentary Athens, GA/Inside-Out at the Sigma Alpha Epsilon Fraternity at UGA!
We are thrilled to share that the documentary by produced by Bill Cody and directed by Tony Gayton is being digitally restored by The UGA Special Collections Libraries for this years 40th anniversary! Stay tuned for more info. In the meantime check out the clip of the performance in the comments.
Thanks Mike Cook!

 
#OTD in 1901 US Representative George White (NC 2nd) left Congress w/the prediction, “Phoenix-like he (the negro) will rise up some day and come again (to Congress).” White Supremacists had retaken power in The South & suppression of Black voting rights became the rule-No AFAM would be elected to national office from NC until ‘92. George H. White Delivers “Phoenix” Address
 
We tend to know about the Greensboro Four & the February 1, 1960 Sit-In. There is a second set of four stories to the Greensboro Sit-In—about workers caught between providing & protesting. I suspect the ‘caught’ nature of matters extended the entire duration of the February 1 — July 25 period that we recognize today & beyond. Indeed, they, like so many workers of color fought daily battles against both white supremacy & class hierarchies. On the flip side, so very many of those white people who stood against the brave actions of the local college students in Greensboro & other places to desegregate were themselves precariously perched workers. Scan the faces of the people who staged counter-protests, profile the KKK who threatened violence on the action by their presence & the historical narrative they brought to bear, & you will find working class folk. Keeping them from recognizing the economic ties that bound them to African American laborers has long been the strategy of those who rule, hire, manage, pay, & dismiss. Don’t forget the working folk. Class solidarity is key.

#OTD (February 1) in 1960 African American customers asked to be served at the Woolworth’s lunch counter in downtown #Greensboro. Sit-Ins, protests, & negotiations had been initiated on February 1 by the four NC A&T University students. On July 25 Woolworth’s employees Geneva Tisdale, Susie Morrison, Anetha Jones & Charles Bess, were the first served by invitation of the store. Bess is the worker in this famous photo of the second day of the sit-in. Sit-in Victory in Greensboro, 1960

AND: The Man Behind the Counter — THE BITTER SOUTHERNER
 
February One - The Story of the Greensboro Four is a great DVD that was produced by someone who supported my run for Congress back in the day. I have the DVD; I'm not sure if it is available today but perhaps it can accessed with one of those new fangled streaming on line do hickies😜

But for those interested/curious in learning about this landmark civil rights movement event(s), I encourage you to track it down. It is well worth the watch.

My as white woman my grandmother was a charter member of the Greensboro NAACP, and she took me to this event when I was a young boy. My grandmother is to blame for making me the liberal I am today😎
 
February One - The Story of the Greensboro Four is a great DVD that was produced by someone who supported my run for Congress back in the day. I have the DVD; I'm not sure if it is available today but perhaps it can accessed with one of those new fangled streaming on line do hickies😜

But for those interested/curious in learning about this landmark civil rights movement event(s), I encourage you to track it down. It is well worth the watch.

My as white woman my grandmother was a charter member of the Greensboro NAACP, and she took me to this event when I was a young boy. My grandmother is to blame for making me the liberal I am today😎

CSPAN appears to have it.

"February 1, 2003

American History TV​

February One: The Story of the Greensboro Four

On February 1, 1960, four college students - Ezell Blair, Jr. (now Jibreel Khazan), David Richmond, Franklin McCain and Joseph McNeil - sat down at a "whites only" Woolworth's lunch counter in Greensboro, North Carolina. Joined by black and white allies and enduring daily harassment and threats, the sit-ins continued for months. This award-winning 2003 film documents the non-violent sit-in protest with extensive interviews with three of the Greensboro Four, dramatizations, and archival footage."
 
CSPAN appears to have it.

"February 1, 2003

American History TV​

February One: The Story of the Greensboro Four

On February 1, 1960, four college students - Ezell Blair, Jr. (now Jibreel Khazan), David Richmond, Franklin McCain and Joseph McNeil - sat down at a "whites only" Woolworth's lunch counter in Greensboro, North Carolina. Joined by black and white allies and enduring daily harassment and threats, the sit-ins continued for months. This award-winning 2003 film documents the non-violent sit-in protest with extensive interviews with three of the Greensboro Four, dramatizations, and archival footage."
You are the best, Don !

Thank you for finding this. There is a video in the doc that shows an older white woman approaching the four sitting at the counter to offer her comfort and support. I can't say for sure, but I believe that was my grandmother.

I especially hope that our under 50yo posters will watch it.
 
You are the best, Don !

Thank you for finding this. There is a video in the doc that shows an older white woman approaching the four sitting at the counter to offer her comfort and support. I can't say for sure, but I believe that was my grandmother.

I especially hope that our under 50yo posters will watch it.

I had seen it and have shown it to students back when DVDs were a classroom thing. I'm glad to make this 'find' (which was hardly that difficult) and will make use of it later this semester most likely.
 
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