In 1960, it only took four. On February 1, 1960 in Greensboro, North Carolina, a walk to F. W. Woolworths store would give life to the sit-in movement throughout the United States. Four African-American freshman college students from North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University made a decision that changed history: they sat in unison at a “whites only” lunch counter and refused to leave until they were served. What resulted from this simple act spawned countless movements by college students throughout the country, which was a catalyst for desegregation. College students, freshman no less, ignited Greensboro and transformed the world.
In the 21st century, with different times and different struggles, Greensboro college students grip the once fiery torch and work to re-ignite it with the same essence as the past. Fifty years later, college students were integral in the grand opening and intergenerational legacy of the International Civil Rights Center and Museum (ICRCM). The Museum opened to commemorate the famed “A&T Four”: Franklin McCain, Joseph McNeil, Jibreel Khazan (Ezell Balair, Jr.) and David Richmond and others who were integral to the civil rights movements throughout the United States and around the world.
Current college students, like their predecessors, have purposed themselves to be change agents and inform a new generation about the civil rights movement and the integral role students have played in sparking change. The Ignite Greensboro [got two?] Project is a student-led, student-built, and student-run project aimed to reestablish a sense of obligation to the community, culture, and history of Greensboro. This diverse project aims and seeks to bridge commonalities between students, institutions, and the community. Ignite Greensboro started in February 2009 one year before the Museum’s grand opening and is the driving force for the project.
On the heels of Barack Obama’s presidential inauguration, the first African-American president, a group of diverse Greensboro college students from Bennett College, Elon University, Greensboro College, Guilford College, Guilford Technical College, North Carolina A&T University, and University of North Carolina at Greensboro, came together to build on the momentum of this historical election. They set their eyes on engaging students civically and politically about the Museum.
We often hear that our youth are the leaders of tomorrow, but the Ignite Greensboro [got two?] Project proves that college students are indeed the leaders of today. Some of the founding student leaders of the group, including Cherrell Brown, Gary Brown, Solomun Colvin-Jones, Stephanie Dappenbrook, Joseph Eckstrom, and Zimuzor Ugochukwu organized themselves and their respective campuses to raise awareness and funds to honor the historical legacy of the sit-in movement and empower students to be leaders in their community.
College students are in an ideal position to effect change in the world. They are old enough to understand complex issues and actively exposed to global and local issues that challenge their views about society. College students see these issues first-hand, and many are not encumbered by other responsibilities, which may prohibit them from fully immersing themselves into community organizing. Being student-built and student-run gives Ignite Greensboro a great deal of autonomy and freedom to challenge the status quo. A sentiment that was reinforced by Dr. Franklin McCain, one of the “A&T Four” during his remarks at the Museum’s grand opening: “We must never ask permission to start a revolution.” In keeping with this spirit, the Ignite Greensboro [got two?] Project works on the force and will of college students to ignite change.
Ignite Greensboro ventured out to accomplish four strategic goals, the first goal was to establish an annual arts-based, creative writing, and problem-solving scholarship program awarded to elementary, middle school, high school, and college students to continue their education. The second goal including helping to bring civil rights speakers to the Greensboro community to increase community residents’ understanding of the struggle to obtain and maintain civil rights. Third, host community-building projects so that college youth can work in partnership with community residents and build a bridge between the “town and gown” culture of a community dominated by institutions of higher education. The fourth goal was to donate $1000 and two mosaics to the International Civil Rights Center and Museum on behalf of Ignite Greensboro [got two?]Project as an intergenerational gift. The mosaics capture all of the activities Ignite Greensboro participants were involved in throughout the year as a way to commemorate the 400 college students and community members’ efforts to preserve and promote the civil rights movement.
To accomplish these goals, Ignite Greensboro utilized innovative techniques to pique the interest of students and community members. Some of these traditional organizing techniques included door-to-door canvassing and an annual concert series where socially conscious artists performed to promote the various issues. However, other alternative modes of awareness raising included, flash mobs, an activism technique where a group of people freeze in place in high traffic areas to bring attention to a social issue. Another technique used was The Black Marker Project, a visually expressive project where people are asked to define on a dry-erase board in two words or less either: “What does ownership mean to you?” or “What does knowledge mean to you?”
In conjunction with the awareness raising events, fundraisers took place as part of the [got two?] initiative. The objective is to help students understand the importance of giving back to their community. The [got two?] symbolizes the significance of $2 as a modern day cup of coffee that the A&T Four attempted to order on February 1, 1960. All monies generated from the [got two?] initiative go directly to the Museum to implement Ignite Greensboro’s four goals. The aim is to raise $50,000 to establish an endowment to ensure these initiatives carry on in perpetuity. Consequently, the Community Foundation of Greater Greensboro has awarded its first-ever student-led grant to Ignite Greensboro to facilitate the process towards establishing the endowment.
Because of its efforts, Ignite Greensboro [got two?] Project, the students, and colleges involved in the Project received a charter membership in the International Civil Rights Center and Museum’s 1960 Society. A group composed of citizens, companies, civic groups, and organizations that support the International Civil Rights Center and Museum and want its programs to be successful. Although the Museum is now open, the real work of Ignite Greensboro is just beginning. One can get involved in a myriad of ways, but remembering that, “you can simply be a young freshmen student who sits down at a lunch counter and refuses to move. You can help shape America.” North Carolina Representative Earl Jones shared those powerful words as one of the founders of the historical museum. It is evident that the Ignite Greensboro [got two?] Project is helping to redefine student leadership, youth activism, and shape America. We invite you to join us!
For more information about Ignite Greensboro [got two?], or to donate money towards our endowment, visit us at http://ignitegreensboro.wordpress.com/.
Authors:
Zimuzor Ugochukwu, senior at University of North Carolina at Greensboro (UNCG) and founder of the Ignite Greensboro [got two?] Project.
Darlene Xiomara Rodriguez, assistant professor of political science at UNCG and a faculty sponsor for the Ignite Greensboro [got two?] Project.
Acknowledgements:
We would like to thank Cherrell Brown, Gary Brown, Solomun Colvin-Jones, Stephanie Dappenbrook, and Joseph Eckstrom for contributing their thoughts to this article.
Comments
How many it takes to change?
I am a firm believer that it only takes one person for change to occur. That one person can inspire thousands. The most recent example would have to be President Barack Obama, who was not even going to run as president until he realized that he had a message that needed to be delivered. Many Americans felt the same as Obama was given millions of dollars for his candidacy, and then was elected by the American people as president.
It only took four college students for people to realize that the social order was wrong and equality in public places needed to be put in place. Clearly, it doesn't take many people for change to occur. People just have to be inspired for the right cause and they will follow.
It only really takes one
It only really takes one person with a good idea for change to occur. Rosa Parks was one person who stood up for what she knew was right and because of what she did she is still talked about today. You could even take this to the invention of the light bulb. Look how much change that brought about with only one smart man who created it. Change for the good can happen with anyone at anytime. It only takes one person's ideas to get started.
Reply
I agree that it only takes one person to step up to make a change. Many people are too afraid to say anything but know that other people feel the same. Once the brave person take actions against the issue, people will follow. One person can't be heard if other people don't follow. Someone always needs to step up and most often someone does.
How many change?
I feel that if you use positive communication and believe in something change the world. If you have a voice and now how to use that use you can use it for a getter good. In addition, your voice, your message can inspired thousands to follow. All example presented in this article illustrates college student standing up for the what the believe in. So how many does it take to make a change? well it only takes one person, one voice, one message. If you have strong beliefs and know how to use your skills to bring those beliefs to life, then it only takes one because after that first voice is heard the others will follow. An example, is the President Obama, who at first was not going to run for president, but than he found out that he had message and needed to deliver it the American society. We though that he was the change we were seeking hence why he was elected president. To conclude, if you are inspiring and have voice you can change the world.
Change more than just our clothes.
College is a foundation to wake up our passions and beliefs while opening our minds and gaining new experiences and changing our perspectives on what is and isn't important. Passion almost doesn't matter if we don't speak up and do something about with it. The older we get and the busier we get, those opportunities to make change may fall through the cracks. Sometimes it seems like people, especially young adults, are too busy or self absorbed that most have this "someone else will do it" attitude or the priorities are not in order. If we put as much money and energy into a good cause as we do into looks, partying and material things we could possibly change a lot more than just our clothes.
I completely agree
I completely agree. In college, we have all the resources nessary to ignite change. We have youth and we have time and we have knowledge. All we need is the PASSION of more in our generation to really start something. As our generation gets older I fear that we will let go of our passions and settle into the "normalcy" of a job without having anything to show for ourselves. I would rather stand for hours at a rally or petitioning for a global issue than standing front row at a concert. There is so much that this world needs and it frustrates me when people say there is nothing really wrong. Just because we are blessed with education, go to movies, and go shopping doesn't mean that everything is perfect. We need to look around and fix things that need fixing.
Efforts and Awareness
I am really inspired by the Ignite Greensboro [got two?] Project. Their efforts really show how much impact and power that college students have in making a difference in society. Their simple techniques brought forth awareness to issues that are usually ignored. The examples in the article illustrate how courage to stand up for what you believe in is one step in taking a stand. The name of the project is really fitting because their efforts ignited the courage in many people to start a movement. I think it is important for students to realize that movement requires us to moblize, to make literal steps in our fight for freedom. I could see how the flash mob technique used by the Ignite Greensboro Project would create a shock effect to those who it was performed in front of, leading to their interest, and allowing for the team to spread awareness. We students need to follow in the footsteps of the change agents, by making physical efforts if we want to see change.
One is only needed to start a revolution
“We never must ask permission to start a revolution.” This is a really bold statement, only because as a college student we have the ability to start a revolution now if we wanted to. I feel that the four people who sat at that lunch get together made a bold statement. Imagine what one campus could do if they became one and stood together. College campuses and student have this incredible power to do it today with fewer consequences to face, and start a movement that could potentially change the world. We are the leaders of today as the article states, so why not change it today? The [got two] has really inspired me and made me feel really empowered to start a revolution, I still believe that it’s still going to take more than college students to let alone make official changes but just to be heard. If we come together we can add to the [got two] project and make a great contribution.
How Many?
Many can argue t hat change takes time and the effort of many individuals. I’m a firm believer that one person can affect the lives of many. That’s me being cynical though. Though that idea sounds really great, we all have to come to terms that change is better by the numbers. As in the Civil Rights Era, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was not alone. Though he was one man that was very inspirational, he needed the help of many supporters that were also willing to risk their lives for the cause. Many can also argue that President Barack Obama changed the country and racism is no longer a problem. I have to say that this is completely false. Though the United States took a great leap forward by having a black president, we’re stuck in a racial world that whites are superior to all. They have jobs that are prestige and earn a great salary, and have great schools in great communities. Does anyone find it a coincidence that most the low testing schools are in low income neighborhoods?
I believe that it only takes
I believe that it only takes one person for big change to happen. It is passion and perserverance that brings change. When one person has both of those things there is so much potential for change to happen. People just need to be inspired and have the confidence in standing up for what they want and be dedicated to that thing. In history one will see how much change just one individual brought to a situation or to a country, it only took one. I definitely believe that one person can do so much.
ONE.
I strongly agree with your post. All it takes is one person with a vision, a passion, a strong desire, and a vision to make a change. President Obama, Cesar Chavez, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., are a few names that come to mind when I think about people who have made a strong change. You never know, the next significant person to make a change in our city, nation, or world could be in this dialogue disussion board. You never know.
ONE
I believe no matter how bigger or small one person with a large dedication can make that difference that people need. Anyone can do anything especially if they are determining to do so. I mean four students made a difference why can’t one make a difference. I know for a fact that 1 person in my life has made a huge difference in my life. Even if the difference is small or huge it still is a difference a good one at that. College also opens those opportunities for the younger generation to express their thoughts and voice their opinion out to the older generation and all the public. Our president himself if a person for example he was just one person and has come so far in this country. It can be done that one person can influence two more and those two more can influence 2 more each then starts a chain event of things to happen eventually having a bunch of people following that one person it just happens.
One is All
I believe that is takes one person to take change. With motivation and passion anything is possible. When I think of change, I think of MLK, I think of Barack Obama, I think of Cesar Chavez, Dolores Huerta, and I think of so many inspirational people that made significant changes to this world. Change may be stronger as a group but it takes only one person to spread the word and raise a voice. In the Civil Rights Movements organizations formed and fought for equality and freedom. Boycotting, protesting, and rioting definitely helps to be heard and in many cases, these types of movements have created change. People risk their lives such as MLK, who liberated his people by his voice. Let yours voices be heard!!!!
It only takes on to make a change
I strongly believe that it takes only one individual to stand up and make a life altering change towards something that is so controversial as racism. When I think of slavery in the South, or the Spanish American War, or the Trail of Tears, or the Civil Rights movement where thousands of Black people were persecuted because they stood up for something that they believed in, makes me ashamed to be a part of a Nation so great. On the contrary, when President Obama was elected as our first African American President, or when Rosa Parks didn't give up her seat on the bus in Montgomery, or when Martin Luther King stood up in front of thousands and gave his famous "I have a dream speech" makes me proud to be a part of a country where people are able to rise above being oppressed by a dominant group. As a result of these famous activists they inspire others to share their story and to make a difference.
Talkin Bout My Generation
I enjoyed this article and the efforts of these students inspire me, yet I still feel saddened by our generation. This past week has given me time to reflect on great contributors to this country and inspirations from Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. In the past, like this article points out, college-aged students took the initiative to challenge the injustices they saw in the world. I feel that rallies and gatherings only occur when hate is involved, rather than in the efforts to inspire positive change in the greater society. So many young people either ignore the issues that are staring them in the face, or they sit back and assume that someone else will take care of the problem.
I really liked what was said about Ignite Greensboro and particularly about college students and how we are in an ideal position to change the world! More often than not, we hear that we are the leaders of tomorrow, and people roll their eyes and shrug. Why not take a stand and accept this fact with pride: We are the future and we need something more to show for it.