Honoring the Past, Speaking Out Today: The Piedmont Triad and the Ongoing Fight for Civil Rights

Over the past two weeks, I’ve taken part in two peaceful protests - one in Greensboro on April 19, and another in Winston-Salem today, on May 1st, known around the world as May Day. I stood alongside others who are deeply concerned about the direction our country is heading. I’m especially disturbed by what feels like the weakening of our Constitution - leaders bypassing checks and balances, using power to intimidate, and agencies like ICE arresting and deporting people without due process.

These moments made me think about our own community here in the Piedmont Triad. We are no strangers to civil rights struggles. In fact, we’ve played a powerful part in the history of American activism - especially during the Civil Rights Movement of the 1960s.

Let’s take a look at how the Triad helped shape history and how that legacy still matters today.
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Greensboro and the Sit-Ins That Changed America

"The A&T Four" Photo credit: International Civil Rights Center & Museum via Facebook

On February 1, 1960, four students from North Carolina A&T State University - now known as the “A&T Four” - walked into a Woolworth’s store in downtown Greensboro. They sat down at a “whites-only” lunch counter and politely asked for coffee. When they were denied service, they didn’t get up. Instead, they stayed seated in quiet protest.

Their brave and peaceful action sparked a movement. Soon, students across the South were staging their own sit-ins. These protests helped end segregation in public places like restaurants and stores.

Women from Bennett College, another historically Black college in Greensboro, also played a huge role. They organized, marched, and helped keep the momentum going. Their work helped launch the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC), which became one of the most important civil rights groups in the country.

Today, you can visit the International Civil Rights Center & Museum in the very same Woolworth’s building to learn more about this moment in history.
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What Made the Triad’s Activism Different?

While many cities across the South were fighting for civil rights, the Piedmont Triad stood out in a few key ways:
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• Led by Students: Much of the activism here was led by young people from colleges like NC A&T and Bennett College. Their peaceful, well-planned sit-ins inspired thousands.
• Focused on Education: Instead of churches being the main organizing centers (as in places like Birmingham), the Triad’s colleges were where many civil rights strategies were created.
• Community-Oriented and Nonviolent: The Triad believed in peaceful protest and working together as a community.
• National Impact: The actions that began in Greensboro quickly spread across the country, making this area a national leader in the fight for civil rights.

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Smart Strategies for Change

The Triad’s activism was successful because of how it was organized:
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• Nonviolent Sit-Ins: Peaceful protests like the Woolworth’s sit-ins gained public attention without violence.
• Media Coverage: A single photo of the A&T Four helped spread their message nationwide.
• Fast Growth: What started with four students became a movement of thousands within weeks.
• Strong School Support: HBCUs (Historically Black Colleges and Universities) provided leadership, training, and places to organize.

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​Places to Visit and Learn More

​If you want to dive deeper into the Civil Rights legacy here in the Triad, here are some important sites that are open to the public:
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• International Civil Rights Center & Museum (Greensboro): Located in the original Woolworth’s store. See the preserved lunch counter and powerful exhibits.
• February One Monument (NC A&T Campus): Honors the A&T Four.
• Walkway of History (Greensboro): Outdoor sidewalk display of African American history and local heroes.
• Historic Magnolia House (Greensboro): A former “Green Book” hotel where Black travelers and civil rights leaders stayed.
• Charlotte Hawkins Brown Museum (Gibsonville): Once a historic Black school, now a museum with tours and educational programs.

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​Annual Celebrations and Events

The Triad continues to celebrate its civil rights legacy through events like:

• Triad Juneteenth Festival (Winston-Salem): Celebrating Black freedom and culture with music, dance, food, and more.
• International Civil Rights Center & Museum’s Annual Gala: Honoring civil rights leaders past and present.
• Black History Month events at local schools, libraries, and community centers.

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​The Work Continues

Today, as our communities continue to wrestle with issues of racism, inequality, and belonging, the echoes of Greensboro’s sit-ins and other pivotal civil rights moments remind us that history is more than the past - it’s part of who we are. While the struggles of today may differ in form, the call for justice and dignity is just as urgent.

​Honoring the legacy of the Civil Rights Movement means recognizing how far we’ve come and how much work remains — not just on the national stage, but right here at home. It’s in the conversations we have, the neighbors we stand beside, and the efforts we make to ensure everyone in our community feels seen, heard, and valued.
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Let’s honor the past by staying involved, educating ourselves, and standing up—peacefully and powerfully - for freedom and justice for all.