What would you sit in for?
http://tri-statedefenderonline.com/articlelive/articles/4604/1/What-would-you-sit-in-for/Page1.html
By Tri-State Defender Newsroom
Published on 02/4/2010
On Feb. 1, 1960, four students sat down at a segregated Woolworth’s lunch counter for a cup of coffee. Their action fueled a movement that challenged, and ultimately changed a nation. The Tri-State Defender took to the street to ask the question “What would you sit in for?”
by Dawn Fleming
Special to the Tri-State Defender
On Feb. 1, 1960, four young North Carolina A&T State University students sat down at a segregated Woolworth’s lunch counter for a cup of coffee. Their action fueled a movement that challenged, and ultimately changed a nation.
Dr. Julianne Malveaux, president of Bennett College for Women in Greensboro, N.C., attended the 50th year commemoration. And in her NNPA News Service column she posed the question, “What would you sit in for?”
The Tri-State Defender took a version of that question to the street and drew these responses from people about issues, conditions, situations and circumstances they would like to see changed:
“One concern that I have is the issue of there not being Social Security when I retire. This is one issue that needs to be addressed and thought about before we get to that point to where we won’t have Social Security benefits when we retire. Every year they push the Social Security age further and further up so, by the time you do retire, you won’t be able to draw Social Security because you are too old – if you live that long.”
“I have an issue with the optional schools program because I feel that if there is a curriculum that is separate (and) implemented into all schools, there is no such thing as an un-teachable child. So I feel like that program should be implemented in all the schools.”
“My concern is the teachers in the school system that don’t care. There are still some good ones, but a lot of the ones now are really young and they don’t want to be there. If you don’t want to be there, you are not going to do it to your highest ability. The young teachers in their 20s fit right in with us and gossip just as much as we do. They are worse than me and I’m 17 years old.
“We need better jobs, better benefits. Also, we need to do more things that will help keep the kids off the streets, and keep them doing something positive.”
“Take this mall for instance. When you walk through the mall in a predominantly black community and all of the proprietors are foreigners, what kind of message is that sending our youth? It’s telling us that we haven’t come that far.”
“I would like to see the crime rate go down, especially in the black community. It’s a lot of black on black crime. I would love to see our young people do something better with their lives. Like going to school and getting more education and stop doing the negative things to get a little extra money on the side.”
“One of the things that I would like to see changed is gas prices. We should not have to pay that much. Yeah, it costs a lot for transportation, but gas shouldn’t cost that much. Obama understands that gas is up and I think he is working to fix the situation.”
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On Feb. 1, 1960, four students sat down at a segregated Woolworth’s lunch counter for a cup of coffee. Their action fueled a movement that challenged, and ultimately changed a nation. The Tri-State Defender took to the street to ask the question “What would you sit in for?”
What would you sit in for?
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| On Feb. 1, 1960, four North Carolina A&T State University students “pushed the envelope” seeking service at a segregated F.W. Woolworth’s lunch counter. (Photo courtesy of NNPA) |
by Dawn Fleming
Special to the Tri-State Defender
On Feb. 1, 1960, four young North Carolina A&T State University students sat down at a segregated Woolworth’s lunch counter for a cup of coffee. Their action fueled a movement that challenged, and ultimately changed a nation.
Dr. Julianne Malveaux, president of Bennett College for Women in Greensboro, N.C., attended the 50th year commemoration. And in her NNPA News Service column she posed the question, “What would you sit in for?”
The Tri-State Defender took a version of that question to the street and drew these responses from people about issues, conditions, situations and circumstances they would like to see changed:
“One concern that I have is the issue of there not being Social Security when I retire. This is one issue that needs to be addressed and thought about before we get to that point to where we won’t have Social Security benefits when we retire. Every year they push the Social Security age further and further up so, by the time you do retire, you won’t be able to draw Social Security because you are too old – if you live that long.”Shaundra Adams, 45
“I have an issue with the optional schools program because I feel that if there is a curriculum that is separate (and) implemented into all schools, there is no such thing as an un-teachable child. So I feel like that program should be implemented in all the schools.”Laquange Watkins, 37
“My concern is the teachers in the school system that don’t care. There are still some good ones, but a lot of the ones now are really young and they don’t want to be there. If you don’t want to be there, you are not going to do it to your highest ability. The young teachers in their 20s fit right in with us and gossip just as much as we do. They are worse than me and I’m 17 years old.Jamerica Mcgill, 17
“We need better jobs, better benefits. Also, we need to do more things that will help keep the kids off the streets, and keep them doing something positive.”Brandon Cole, 28
“Take this mall for instance. When you walk through the mall in a predominantly black community and all of the proprietors are foreigners, what kind of message is that sending our youth? It’s telling us that we haven’t come that far.”Bennett, 61
“I would like to see the crime rate go down, especially in the black community. It’s a lot of black on black crime. I would love to see our young people do something better with their lives. Like going to school and getting more education and stop doing the negative things to get a little extra money on the side.”Rochelle, 42
“One of the things that I would like to see changed is gas prices. We should not have to pay that much. Yeah, it costs a lot for transportation, but gas shouldn’t cost that much. Obama understands that gas is up and I think he is working to fix the situation.”Michael Gordon, 16