10 Triad Black History Facts
The Piedmont Triad region of North Carolina, which includes Greensboro, Winston-Salem, and High Point, has a rich Black history. Its black heritage is an important part of the Triad’s cultural and historical identity. The Piedmont Triad Black History is marked by resistance, perseverance, and triumph.
Here are 10 Black history facts about the Piedmont Triad Black History:
The Greensboro Sit-Ins (1960)
One of the most notable events of the Civil Rights Movement occurred in Greensboro. On February 1st, four African American college students, David Richmond, Franklin McCain, Ezell Blair Jr. (Jibreel Khazan), and Joseph McNeil staged a sit-in at the Woolworth’s lunch counter protesting segregation. These four brave young men, known as the A&T Four, were North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University (A&T) students. Their actions sparked similar protests across the country. You can visit the International Civil Rights Center & Museum, the same building that once housed Woolworth, to learn more about this beautiful history. Or take a visit to the A&T campus to view the statue made in honor of the four men for their courageous acts.
The Founding of North Carolina A&T State University
Founded in 1891 in Greensboro, NC A&T has been a key institution for African American education. The college strives to teach Agricultural and Technical Arts and Sciences. Hence the name A&T. A&T is one of the top HBCUs in the country. It has produced students like U.S. Congresswoman Alma Adams, Rev. Jesse Jackson Sr., and Ronald E. McNair a NASA astronaut.
The legacy of Ronald McNair NASA Astronaut
Ronald McNair was an American physicist and the nation’s second black astronaut. In 1971, McNair graduated with his bachelor’s degree in physics from North Carolina Agriculture & Technical State University. In 1978 Ronald McNair was selected by NASA as a mission specialist. February 1984 was McNair’s first flight and he operated the shuttle’s robotic arm. Then in 1985, he was assigned to the mission of the space shuttle Challenger. January of 1986, Challenger launched but sadly McNair, 35, and the other astronauts did not survive when the shuttle exploded after lift off.
The Legacy of Dr. Jesse Jackson in Greensboro
Dr. Jesse Jackson, a prominent civil rights activist and founder of the Rainbow PUSH Coalition, began his activism while attending North Carolina A&T and has long been involved in efforts to address racial inequality in the area. Dr. Jackson continues to visit A&T to pour back into the students. You may have also seen Dr. Jackson paying homage to A&T by wearing a A&T shirt as he guest-starred on the show Different World.
The Historic Freedom Movement in Winston-Salem
In 1960, Carl Matthews, performed a sit-in at the S.H. Kress & Co. lunch counter, later joined by students from Winston-Salem Teachers College (now WSSU). These sit-ins led to the desegregation of the Woolworth stores and laid the groundwork for the formation of the Organization of Black Liberation to address local racial issues and meet the welfare needs of the Black community.
Legacy of Albert Miller
Albert Miller was one of High Point’s earliest settlers. He became a well-known businessman. Miller owned and operated a brickyard that supplied bricks for many High-Point homes and buildings.
Safe Bus
In 1920, the Safe Bus, a black-owned business, was established to serve the community’s needs by helping Black citizens get to and from their destinations on time. The Safe Bus was the largest Black-owned and operated transportation business in the world. By 1972 the Safe Bus was purchased by the Winston-Salem Transit Authority.
Historic Washington Street
1910 Washington Street, located in High Point, had a total of 18 black-owned businesses. Between 1920 and 1940 that number grew to 51 black-owned businesses on the street. One of the first business owners was Dr. G.A. Gerran becoming the first black physician in the city.
Martin Luther King Jr.
Martin Luther King Jr. visited Bennet College in 1958. A local chapter of the NAACP invited Dr. King to Greensboro but was unable to find a location due to segregation. Bennet College was the only place to open its doors to Dr. King. Years later, Dr. King was expected to visit Greensboro again but instead, he extended his Memphis trip. The same day Dr. King was scheduled to visit, he was sadly shot at Lorraine Motel in Memphis.
The Legacy of Dr. Maya Angelou
Dr. Maya Angelou a well-known poet, actress, author, and civil rights activist lived in Winston-Salem for over 30 years. For four decades Dr. Angelou taught a variety of subjects, including science, theology, theater, writing, ethics, and philosophy at Wake Forest University. She continued to inspire students up until she died in 2014.
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