Today was Day 1 of the Civil Rights Trip. Getting on the bus at 5:30 am and beginning our journey to Greensboro, NC. I was excited, anticipated with what was to come on this day.
Eventually around 11ish near 12 in the afternoon we arrived in Greensboro, while we were close we watched a documentary of the Greensboro 4 aka the A & T 4. They were four black males who sparked change in a nation where white supremacy was a norm. The four young males planned a sit-in at the Woolworth restaurant due to the inequality and hypocrisy the Woolworth franchise represented. For example, people of color could buy school supplies, clothes, and other utilities, however, if you wanted to eat at the same location, you couldn't because they don't serve "negroes." The Greensboro 4 were riled up and began a movement of nonviolence by peacefully sitting at the lunch counters waiting patiently to be served, but they were only denied. However, as I mentioned before this sparked a movement, other neighboring universities, and high schools began to protest and rotate sitting in which either resulted with Woolworth serving people of color or going bankrupt. He opted for the other and it resulted in a Woolworth shutting down.
All this new information I did not know and after going to the International Civil Rights Center and Museum, where we got a tour and got to visit the lunch counter where the Greensboro 4 had step foot in, who had sat at that counter, and where peaceful protesters were beaten for what they believed in, I found this experience profound, an honor, and eye opening. To know that what the Greensboro 4 thought was an idea, an action, it became a fire that sparked the hearts of people everywhere and brought fear to those that didn't want to change.
Overall I had a great day, I learned so much more about the origins of the sit-ins, the Greensboro 4, and more that I look forward to our new experiences tomorrow and throughout this week.
-Jessica Marquez Membreno
Baltimore City College
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