If you wish to understand Greensboro and its attempts with the anti-apartheid Greensboro Truth and Community Reconciliation Project, you must keep certain things in mind.
First, most of those making noise are not native-born Greensboro people. They are either darn Yankees, carpetbaggers or from Durham.
Second, those native-born politicians are the offspring of the people who grudgingly held onto segregation along with the financial and political control of Guilford County. I have often wondered if those children at Grimsley and Gillespie schools who spat on the children who integrated the publicly financed schools are the same people who now want Greensboro to be a major draw for jobs and convention dollars.
Growing up in Morningside Homes and later near Dudley High, our parents did not take us to places where they were not comfortable. We did shop downtown but rarely questioned why we could not eat at Woolworth. This city wants international status but not everything that comes with it. With age, experience and listening to our folks at supper, we realized Greensboro is a divided city racially and socially.
Two things gleaned from father's conversations: Steer clear of Caucasians and any place where Nelson Johnson is protesting.
Mark H. Woods
Greensboro
Comments (5)
Others in our country who grudgingly help on to segregation include Al Gore, Sr., and a host of other Democrats who tried to block the 1964 Civil Rights Act. Only through the courageous efforts of the Republicans in Congress did this historic Act pass.
Steer clear of caucasians? Now who's showing their prejudice? I hope you don't follow this advice in your daily life.
However, I must agree about Nelson Johnson...
Posted by William Casey | April 5, 2005 3:14 PM
By steering clear of caucasians you are only continuing the "hate", and the concious separation. Oh but its PERFECTLY ok if black people say things like this, but if a white person does, then its "rasism". Want your cake and eat it too do ya? Sorry, that aint how things work. I am a greensboro native, I have friends of all races in this city.
Perpetuate the hate.. yeah, thats a brilliant idea. *sarcasm*
Posted by Lilly | April 5, 2005 11:19 PM
Racism happens on BOTH sides. Some people are too near-sighted to see this. These same people are quick to call the "race card" yet are guilty of the very thing they criticize.
Having an attitude and staying away from Caucasions is NOT working toward unity.
Posted by Anonymous | April 6, 2005 9:19 AM
I don't care if you steer clear of Caucasians, but with that attitude, I hope you'll steer clear of me.
Posted by ms jackson | April 6, 2005 1:28 PM
Your folks and your father sound like bigots to me. My father was a bigot too (a white bigot to be precise). That doesn't mean I have to be. Hopefully, you'll change that pattern, too.
Posted by another bigmouth | April 7, 2005 2:51 PM