One Image, Big Story: Greensboro Lunch Counter
Monday, January 19th, 2009
Last night while at The Root party in DC at the Smithsonian National Museum of American History, I realized I was standing in from of the Greensboro Lunch Counter, where in 1960, four African American students sat down at this counter and asked for service. Their request was refused. They didn’t budge, and the youth-led movement to challenge inequality in the South had just lit a vital fire. This image snapped from my phone seems like a fitting one for Martin Luther King Day—telling one of the greatest personal stories of our time.
This story goes right along with the longest running desegregation lawsuit in America - a 51 yr old suit:
http://hubpages.com/hub/The-longest-running-desegregation-suit-in-America
I truly believe American people have changed since 1960 and new history has surfaced since then. My goodness, the Greensboro act was nearly 50 years ago.
I just wish that the past could be just that - forgiven and forgotten when it comes to prejudice. It really doesnt help to keep rehashing old wounds.
Yes it is wrong to mistreat others regardless of race. But when I think of other Americans who were wounded eg: American soldiers or Jews or the hundred of thousands who die in earthquakes and tsunamis every year in other countries.
They arent crying wolf about what was taken from them.
For God’s sake, let the past go and live! How miserable it must be to live every day back in 1960!
Peace