International Civil Rights Center and Museum facts for kids
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| Established | 2010 |
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| Location | 134 S. Elm Street Greensboro, North Carolina |
| Type | Civil and political rights |
| Visitors | 70,000+/- annually |
The International Civil Rights Center & Museum (ICRCM) is located in Greensboro, North Carolina. This museum is very important because it stands in the building that was once a Woolworth's store. This store was the site of a brave, nonviolent protest during the Civil Rights Movement.
On February 1, 1960, four students from North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University (NC A&T) started the Greensboro sit-ins. They sat at a "whites only" lunch counter to protest unfair rules. These four students were Franklin McCain, Joseph McNeil, Ezell Blair Jr. (now Jibreel Khazan), and David Richmond. The very next day, twenty students joined them. The museum's goal is to make sure everyone remembers the actions of these "A&T Four" and all the others who joined the sit-ins. It also honors those who fought for civil rights across the country. The museum gets money from ticket sales, its store, and donations to keep running. It was founded in 1993 and opened exactly fifty years after the first sit-in in Greensboro.
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Saving a Historic Building
In 1993, the Woolworth's store in downtown Greensboro closed its doors. The company planned to tear down the building. A local radio station, 102 JAMZ (WJMH), started a petition to save this historic spot. The morning radio host, Dr. Michael Lynn, even broadcast live from in front of the closed store day and night.
They collected eighteen thousand signatures on their petition. Rev. Jesse Jackson Jr. visited and supported the effort. After just three days, the F. W. Woolworth company agreed to keep the building. This allowed time for people to raise money to buy the store. The Woolworth chain later went out of business in 1997.
Turning the Store into a Museum
County Commissioner Melvin "Skip" Alston and City Councilman Earl Jones suggested buying the building. They wanted to turn it into a museum. These two leaders founded Sit-in Movement, Inc., a nonprofit group. This group worked hard to make the museum a reality. They successfully bought and fixed up the property. In 2001, Sit-in Movement Inc. and NC A&T teamed up to help the museum open its doors.
Overcoming Challenges
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The museum project faced money problems for several years. Even with millions of dollars in donations, it was tough. They received over $1 million from the State of North Carolina. The City of Greensboro and Guilford County each gave more than $200,000. The U.S. Department of Interior also contributed through a special program in 2005.
In 2007, the museum asked the City of Greensboro for more money, but the request was turned down. Greensboro residents also voted against giving money for the project twice.
Paying Off Debt
In 2013, the city agreed to a $1.5 million loan. The museum worked hard to raise money. By 2018, after making a profit in 2016, the museum proudly announced that its debt was fully paid off.
Grand Opening and Events
As the 50th anniversary of the sit-ins got closer, efforts to finish the museum grew. Over $9 million in donations and grants were raised. The museum also qualified for special tax credits, which brought in another $14 million. All this work helped the project finish on time.
The ICRCM officially opened on February 1, 2010. This was exactly 50 years after the original sit-in. There was a special ribbon-cutting ceremony. Rev. Jesse Jackson Jr. gave a prayer. The three surviving members of the Greensboro Four were special guests. These were Franklin McCain, Joseph McNeil, and Jibreel Khazan. Important speakers included Assistant Attorney Thomas Perez, U.S. Senator Kay Hagan, and N.C. Governor Beverly Perdue.
Annual Celebrations
Since 2007, the museum has held an annual Black and White Ball. These events celebrate civil rights activism and encourage people to make a difference.
Honoring Civil Rights Heroes
The museum gives out an award called the Alston-Jones International Civil and Human Rights Award. This award honors people whose life's work has helped expand civil and human rights. It is the museum's highest honor. The famous author Maya Angelou received this award in 1998.
In 2013, Dr. Johnnnetta Betsch Cole received the Alston-Jones award. She is a distinguished educator and humanitarian. The museum also gave a Trailblazer Award to Dr. Joe Dudley Sr. and an Unsung Hero Award to Gladys Shipman. For their brave actions during the 1960 sit-in, several participants received Sit-In Participant Awards.
Museum Exhibits
The museum building itself has an art deco design. It was built in 1929. The International Civil Rights Center and Museum has 30,000 square feet of exhibit space. This space is on the ground floor and in the basement.
Visitors can take guided or self-guided tours. Tours start by showing what segregated society was like in the 1960s. There are videos and displays showing the violence faced by civil rights protesters. Visitors then see a reenactment of the four students planning their sit-in. This scene uses original furniture from their dorm room.
The main floor features the huge lunch counter, set up just as it was in 1960. Original signs and dumbwaiters are also there. A video reenactment shows the sit-in happening. The tour continues through a reproduction of a "Colored Entrance" from a train station. This section explores how churches, schools, politics, and courts played a role in the civil rights movement. The museum also displays important items. These include a pen used to sign the Voting Rights Act of 1965, a Tuskegee Airman's uniform, and a complete Ku Klux Klan robe and hood.
Future Plans
The museum plans to expand by buying a nearby five-story building. This purchase could help the museum become a UNESCO World Heritage Site. In March 2022, the city council and county commissioners agreed to provide money for the purchase. Sit-In Movement Inc. successfully bought the building on March 31.
See also
