Topic: The Counter, Heroes You May Not Know.

[Ken (OP)]

In 1960, a five-and-dime became the center of change in the civil rights movement

Fifty years ago, the F.W. Woolworth building in Greensboro, N.C., stood as a reminder of segregated life in the south. Today, the building stands as a monument to the power of human courage and its ability to bring about social change. The International Civil Rights Center & Museum is more than just a building designed to house historical exhibits and artifacts. It is a place to witness, to experience and to discuss how to affect social change in our own nation and around the world.

Visit us, and join the ongoing conversation. Become a part of the change.
... read full article here.

International Civil Rights Center & Museum, PSA 60sec. version

[Ken (OP)]

You can read lots more on the website for our local TV station.

http://www.wxii12.com/blackhistory/index.html

[Skhilled]

Good finds, Ken.

[Ken (OP)]

The event is going on despite the snow we got over the weekend. Work crews did a great job clearing the streets and parking lots for several blocks around the Civil Rights Museum as they prepared for today's events.

http://www.wxii12.com/video/22392240/index.html

[Skhilled]

My grandfather is being honored Wednesday for being one of the few remaining African American vets of WW2 in this area. The remaining Tuskegee Airman will be there and also honored.

[Ken (OP)]

Is he being profiled on your local TV station? If so give us a link. 

[Skhilled]

Not sure but I think so. Usually wherever the Tuskegee Airmen go the media aren't too far behind.

[Skhilled]

You can read part of the story in the following 2 links. It is about the Airmen, mostly. However, my grandfather said he received a plaque and there should be a story about him and others and some pics in the paper tomorrow or Saturday.

http://readingeagle.com/article.aspx?id=193041

The man in this link is a friend of my grandfather's:

http://readingeagle.com/article.aspx?id=193026

A short history of the Tuskegee Airmen:

Who:  The Tuskegee Airmen, the first black fighter pilot group in U.S. Army Air Corps during World War II. Eleanor Roosevelt was very instrumental in putting the group together.

Nickname: The Red Tails.

Motto: Spit Fire.

Formed: The 99th Fighter Squadron, attached to 332nd Fighter Group. Began at the Tuskegee Institute in Alabama, June 1941. Later moved to Tuskegee Army Air Field.

Pilots: The Tuskegee Army Air Field Flying School graduated 994 pilots from 1941 to 1946.

Mission: Provided fighter escort on bombing raids over Europe.

Planes: P-40 Warhawk, P-39 Airacobra, P-47 Thunderbolt and P-51 Mustang.

Record: Credited with shooting down 109 Luftwaffe aircraft, sinking Italian destroyer TA-23 and destroying numerous German fuel dumps, trucks and trains. Received Distinguished Unit Citation for service during the invasion of Sicily in July 1943.

Website: http://www.tuskegeeairmen.org/

[Ken (OP)]

Excellent read Steve, thanks for sharing.

[Lesmond]

Nice one Steve, I love to read about that stuff.

[Skhilled]

Thanks, there will be more when the next article comes out and I'll be taking a pic of him with his plaque...maybe tomorrow if I'm not too tired from work.

[Skhilled]

Heard that it will not be out until a week or 2 from now. But then our paper is always later when it comes to stories about "people of color" unless there's something bad about them. They were 2 days late when Obama won the bid for President. The biggest news in the world at the time and nothing in the paper about it for 2 days!!! LOL

[Ken (OP)]

Sounds like they need a sit-in or two at their lunch counter!  :08:

[Skhilled]

They need a lot more than that. LOL

The city has a long history of being run by organized crime and a lot of the city government and works have not changed jobs in years. They even have a book out about it.

Last year or 2...there was so much crime here we were named one of the biggest crime cities in the US top 25. The state police and other cities offered help but the police refused. Go figure... I think they did not want others to find out what they were up to.  :hah: