News-Record.com

I grew up in Greensboro and moved away thirty years ago--to Charlotte.
I loved Greensboro and still do but job growth was sluggish and opportunities were largely confined to textiles and other dying manufacturing companies. Now even many of those employers are gone. In order to retain young people and attract new ones, Greensboro has to 1)Keep its reputation as a good place to raise a family (decent schools and low crime) AND 2) Establish a reputation for opportunity. You dont have 2) now--at least there is no buzz that suggests you do. Focus MOST community resources on Job Growth, Job Growth, Job Growth. There is no substitute for "there's a bright future here" when it comes to youth. Not rocket science.

Not sure what "healing" would be, how one could measure or assess it, or what sort of critical mass would have to be reached for G'boro to be declared "healed." Yes, there are divisions in this city, as with every place where people from different backgrounds live together. And yes, there is a painful history here, just as there is everywhere else on the planet. "Healing," in the broad sense, never really happens. We can only hope that time eventually washes all the painful memories away, even though some will always harbor resentments rooted in the past. In the meantime, we can each of us endeavor to treat others with respect and dignity, and to earn that treatment by our own words and actions. Even so, it's likely to be an enduring tug-of-war between accusation and distrust.

I think ES Stokes makes very good points on the second issue, keeping young professionals here. The downtown revitalization will certainly help; Greensboro has a deserved reputation as a good city for families, but it's continually finishing near the bottom of lists for best cities for singles to live in. Economic opportunity is always the linchpin, particularly in "knowledge industries" to attract and retain young professionals.

One trend that bears watching in both regards is the recent bump in homicides. If gang activity gathers a sufficient head of steam here, expect racial division to increase and young professionals to leave, or steer clear in the first place.

It's disturbing that the Civil Rights Museum project has never gotten off the ground -- and especially disturbing that neither Action Greensboro nor the tourism and economic development authorities seem to appreciate the potential in this project. The museum is a major tourism opportunity that will draw 100s of thousands to this region every year. This is something that Greensboro can uniquely claim and own. You want to turn the downtown into a thriving commercial center? Then get the International Civil Rights Museum project moving, and do a topnotch job of developing it and promoting it. The Aggie sit-ins are the single most interesting thing about Greensboro's history, because that era resonates with the love of equality and social justice that good people everywhere in the world share. Those who have lived here their whole lives are too close to it to appreciate what it means.

Awhile back, the News and Record printed an article showing the stark economic difference between east Greensboro and the rest. East Greensboro has far more poverty and far fewer stores, movie theaters, etc. Thousands of Greensboro's citizens cannot begin to take part in what Greensboro has to offer such as attending a Hornets Game, Eastern Music Festival event, dining at a nice restaurant, attending a Coliseum event, because they cannot afford it. So, while you look at how to improve Greensboro, remember the many who cannot participate, the many who are left out.

I grew up in Greensboro, attended school there all the way into graduate school. I grew up on the poor east side of town (ORD). I didn't know I was poor as I had a good family; worked hard, my parents did the best they could. I moved to Athens, GA three years ago and took a job with the city here and I'm doing quite well. I'll soon be 53.

I delivered newpapers in Greensboro in poor white neighborhoods and in black neighborhoods near A&T. I also went 4 years to A&T in graduate school. I remember when there was looting downtown after MLK was shot and the A&T students overtook a building on the campus. I remember the curfew. I remember the double water fountains. I remember not being able to sit in the back of a city bus I rode home on after school because I was white. That was reserved for blacks I was told. I remember much about life in Greensboro and even with the racial lines distinctly drawn, there was still respect among the people. I remember the fights at Page after forced busing was started. The National Guard at the school.

To discuss healing people, especially the younger ones need to know what needs healing. Greensboro is a mean town now. I come home several times a year and I sense it everytime I come home. People are very rude and it is obvious they are looking out for themselves. I don't see that much in Athens, and Athens has the 3rd highest poverty rate for a city its size in the US. Having a huge university here creates some of that problem.

Getting back to Greensboro: To heal means the citizens must know what they are healing from and for what reasons. Greensboro's citizens (all of them) need to repent of their sins of the many years; going back to the founding of the city in 1808. I remember there were some pastors that would go to the top of the Jefferson Building and pray for the city. What ever happened to that? If the citizens want things to change then they should be getting together and praying together (diligently). The Bible says the prayers of a righteous man availeth much. If the citizens truly want it to change then the change starts with each citizen. No finger pointing that the other person needs to do something first. It starts with each of us. It starts with me. I pray for the city often. I still love Greensboro. It's my home and always will be no matter where I am or what I am doing. My parents are buried there; my brother lives there; and I will be back one day.

There are many years of pain and hurt towards each other in that city. It can be a great place if people will put down their spears and arrows and seek friendship with one another. Blacks aren't the enemies of whites and whites aren't the enemies of blacks. We all have the same aspirations; good homes, schools, work, etc.

Repent of the past sins. Pray for the future. Pray for the Lord's wisdom to indwell the citizenry and the fine city it is.

Give it a rest.

Greensboro needs to heal. The issues are diverse and have been festering for a long time. People need to learn to trust each other again. This type of learning begins with our leaders.

We have elected people to lead us in the past that let us down. They had personal goals and agendas. We are hopeful that the people we now have as leaders want what is best for all of us as a whole.

We look to each meeting, each interview and every communication to see these leaders setting a direction towards tomorrow. Every opportunity for setting us on to that correct path should be explored and no personal goals should stand the way. All of our leaders need to come together to make this happen.

The citizens of our community have the ability to complete this healing. Many of us have personal goals. Some feel a need to see a result from the T and R Commission, some feel the need to see the Civil Rights Museum completed and others want to see Mitch Johnson fired. None of these things alone will cause us to heal. Completing all of these will not alone cause us to heal.

Leaders and people of our community, we all need to be ready to accept our future. Our new direction needs to offer hope, healing and confidence that we are moving in the right direction.

I moved to Greensboro about thirty five years ago because of the friendly attitude of the residents. It was like a family setting when neighbors look after each others property and families. But today, time has changed for the worst. No one is safe because of outburst of crimes in this city. The healing of Greensboro must start from solving or preventing crimes at all levels. The city government is weak on crimes. Parents may be blamed for their children engaging in gang activities and other crimes but, what about the school sysytem not teaching those kids the difference between right and wrong? My fifteen years experience as a community watch president transformed me to care and mentor some of the children who were totally neglected and abused.

I think Greensboro needs an enema. We could start at the Greensboro Daily Worker.

Ken
www.laserguidedloogie.com

Healing may be too ambitious a goal. Our issues lend themselves more to coming together in common purpose. Two issues are overcoming violence in our neighborhoods and schools, and providing equal economic opportunity for all of our residents.

I would suggest that we start with becoming comfortable getting together in common purpose. An event like the 24 Hours of Prayer for Peace on December 31 through January 1 at First Friends Meeting might be a good place to start. During this 24 hour period the community is invited to come together to offer prayer for peace without prejudice to a person's type of prayer or their path to peace. We need peace in our families, in our neighborhoods, in our schools, in cities across our country, and in lands around our world. The act of coming together reminds us of the ways we are united in spite of the things that divide us.

If enough people were to come to First Friends during the 24 Hours of Prayer for Peace to fill our church I believe we would be on our way to more cooperation, more understanding and more peace. It does not take much but it does take that first step!

There is more information on the Sixth Annual 24 Hours of Prayer for Peace by calling First Friends at 299-8869.

I think the best thing that we can do for our city, is gut out the poor housing structures and work on the crime rate.Until those two things are worked on, the city will not thrive.

Healing comes when picking at the sore stops.