Two proposals for the civil rights center
Greensboro City Council members had some sharp discussion about funding for the International Civil Rights Center and Museum last night (read down in Margaret's report).
I'll leave the issue of funding alone for now, although I do think the city must help facilitate the completion and opening of this important landmark.
Instead, I'd like to offer two suggestions. One is simple; the other would be more complicated.
The first is to make sure the museum carries a February One Place address.
It's located at the northwest corner of North Elm and February One Place. Its administrative office is listed as 301 North Elm. When the facility opens, its address should be February One Place in recognition of the lunch-counter sit-ins, which began on Feb. 1, 1960. That address will confer additional awareness of that significant date. "North Elm" means nothing.
Now, on to the second and larger suggestion.
The name of the facility is wrong. It should be called the Greensboro Sit-In Museum and Civil Rights Center. After all, it's about the Greensboro sit-ins. Greensboro is known for the sit-ins, and this museum will be better known across the country if "Greensboro" and "sit-in" are in its name.
What does International Civil Rights Center tell you? Where might such a place be? It could be anywhere. It doesn't automatically carry any association with Greensboro or with the sit-ins.
High Point recognized this issue when it changed the name of the furniture market from International Home Furnishings Market to, simply, High Point Market. Now everybody knows what it is and where it is.
Maybe if Greensboro were in the name of the sit-in museum, it would draw stronger support from Greensboro.
Comments (6)
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And maybe if this project had worthwhile leadership it would have been completed years ago.
Posted on November 21, 2007 9:39 PM
Leadership always matters.
Posted on November 21, 2007 9:59 PM
I agree - International has NOTHING to do with the facility other that the long lost hope the it would draw in external money. This is Greensboro's gift to the United States, not some international facility. Time to concentrate on what is actual and attainable.
Posted on November 21, 2007 11:50 PM
It's regrettable that two people's personalities have overtaken what would otherwise be a fact: the museum is good for the economy of Greensboro in addition to its celebrating one of this City's finest achievements. Much of that has been lost in the struggle to open the museum.
Please don't harangue once again that you don't like Jones or Alston; this museum is bigger than they are. It'd be a rare treat to see this City and its residents get behind the real meaning of the museum, seek the necessary funding for it and point Greensboro toward celebration instead of personality issues. We have a jewel and we need to polish it. It does take a community...
What's it going to take to get past the questions that have already been answered to move us forward with this important project?
Posted on November 22, 2007 8:01 AM
Thanks, Sue. You're absolutely right. This museum will be a calling card for Greensboro, and people who want to promote Greensboro shouldn't let the Skip and Earl problem forestall the possibilities.
On the other hand, if Earl and Skip know that support for the center is lagging because of their involvement, shouldn't they set aside their egos and step aside for the good of the project? What does it mean if they don't?
Posted on November 24, 2007 12:26 AM
Yeah....Like Sue says. You're a taxpayer. A Guilford Co. taxpayer.You've been race-scammed.
Duh...Did you just fall off the turnip truck? You like live in Guilford co. Duh. Of course, you've been scammed. Get over it Tinhorns and pony up!
Posted on November 26, 2007 10:32 AM