History Lessons

We find ourselves in Greensboro, NC where the Woolworth sit-in happened on February 1, 1960. If you don't know what that was, here is a link http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=18615556 .

We drove by the Woolworth building, 301 N. Elm St, that is currently being renovated into the International Civil Rights Center and Museum that is slated to open on the 50th anniversary, February 1, 2010. We were told that a statue of the four students that started the sit-in was located at the University where they were students. We with the help of our trusty GPS Girl Friday, Betty, found the North Carolina A&T University.

After asking directions from one of the students, we found the 10 foot monument in front of the Dudley Memorial Building. Donna Renee pulled out the video camera and Laura and I snapped pictures of the statue, the beautiful trees and architecture surrounding it. Nature called and I told the girls that I was going to run inside to the restroom. As I ascended the majestic stairs leading to the entrance of the building, a very surreal thought washed over me. I turned and looked behind me. I saw the back of the statue with Donna Renee's back alongside theirs as she panned the area for b-roll. It hit me that if this moment was 50 years ago, I would not be having this experience. It simply would not be allowed.

50 years ago I as a white woman would not be anywhere near an all African-American school. I would not go up the stairs to use the restroom. I would be somewhere else using a restroom that was just for me and my kind. I would not be taking photographs of four celebrated young men who dared to stay at a lunch counter when it was not allowed. I would not be traveling with a black woman working on a documentary, let alone call her best friend. People just didn't do such things.

I gulped the thought down and made my way into the building that houses an art gallery and fine art classrooms. I asked the two people behind the counter if there was a restroom that I could use. "Of course. Right around the corner," was their response. My mind once again time-traveled to a place where if the situation was reversed, I might have directed them to a room that was marked "colored only."

I took care of business and returned to the counter. I thanked them and told them that I was working on a documentary and handed each a card. I introduced myself and found out they were Ian and Lauren. Ian is studying architecture and Lauren just finished getting her degree to be a dietitian. She will return in the fall to do her masters in social work. Her big dream is to link the dietary work with her social work and create a home for battered women and children.

Ian excused himself to another room as Lauren and I continued our conversation. She is a radiant 22 year old. I found out that both of her parents are pastors and her father is considering becoming a hospital chaplain. She said they were a dynamic duo. She said her dad thought about things before jumping into them and always loved to make people laugh. Her mom was the type to see what was happening with someone immediately and to get right to the heart of a matter and really help them through their pain. She said her mom was a real prayer warrior and knew what was going on with her, even when they hadn't talked. Lauren talked about wanting to make a significant difference in her world. We talked about how hard it is to break out of the shadow of people that you greatly respect. How do you become your own person when you also want to be like those who helped shape you?

I asked if I could pray for her and she extended her hand. One black hand, one white hand clasped each other across a counter in Greensboro, NC. We talked to our one God that had created us both, one black, one white, each pursuing specific calls to help those who are having a hard time helping themselves.