“Say it LOUD ... I’m Black and I’m PROUD!”
Today is February 1st. Do you know what that means? I think the title gave it away but just in case it didn’t, I’ll tell you...it’s the first day of Black History Month!!! *cue praise break* If you know even a tiny piece of the story(ies) of Black people, you know that God deserves all the glory! No way we could have overcome and thrived without Him. Hallelujah!
Since February is the shortest month of the year, we have to cram a whole lot of storytelling into 28 days. Though, any day is a great day to celebrate Black Excellence, we have the nation’s attention now. Heyyyy, America!
I plan to do my part by creating a crossover series on the podcast and website talking about Black History, Black Present, and Black Future. *cue second praise break* This post is my first entry. Let’s get to the facts!
On this very day 60 years ago, Joseph McNeil, Franklin McCain, William Smith, and Clarence Henderson (pictured above) from North Carolina A&T staged the Greensboro Sit-In at Woolworth’s dining counter in Greensboro, NC. The lunch counter was reserved solely for white patrons while Black patrons were only offered a standing only dining area. They were protesting the unequal, racist treatment that Black people were forced to endure.
As the Greensboro Four peaceably sat at the counter, they were denied service and had the cops called on them. Thankfully, they had already alerted the media about their plan. The powerful visuals spread around the nation and led to many more sit-ins across the South. When the G-Four returned the next day, more than twenty of their fellow students joined them. After a few days of their continued action, the dining room was filled to overflowing with protesters. By June 1960, the Woolworth’s counter was open to Black patrons. The brave actions of four young men (along with a bevy of supporters) provided a guide to organizing successful non-violent protests. A guide that was employed repeatedly during the Civil Rights Movement. *cue final praise break, I know your feet are aching*
Think about it like this: The initial goal of those four students was desegregating a lunch counter...just one. Incredibly, their courageous persistence spread like wildfire and led to The Movement that would forever change our nation. Let this Black History fact remind you that no action is too small. You can change the world ... You already are.
Stay ColorFull,
CC
*Featured picture from online source: https://www.britannica.com/event/Greensboro-sit-in
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