Greensboro’s Night to Sparkle: The International Civil Rights Museum Gala 2024

Lights, Camera, Action... Literally for the most coveted night in Greensboro, NC for civil rights since the movement itself. It began at F. W. Woolworth’s Store right here in our downtown on February 1, 1960. Four African American college students from NC A&T State University “sat-in” at Woolworth’s Store in protest of segregation. As the story goes, they were not only treated poorly at the diner counter, but food thrown and beaten as the world watched in dismay and all the dubbed "Fearless Foursome" wanted was to be served as paying customers. 

Now the story... To end this battle of will... Woolworth’s then manager decided to have their black employees served by their white counterparts on the job therefore ending segregation. Perception is reality and good management ended the war as friendship and employee relations told the tale...An amazing twist! How great! 

Now, more currently, the museum itself is the old store gutted and reproduced as a medium for all of the great men and women who serve and continue to serve our country in the civil rights’ effort. One night a year, we in Greensboro celebrate the civil rights’ movement by honoring those who have contributed to the cause with County Commissioner Melvin “Skip” Alston and Former NC House of Representative Earl Jones at the helm as Masters of Ceremonies.  

They put on THE show! Sparkly dresses and tuxes make a best dressed gathering of the most prominent people in the area and the world. Get this... Yearly, they honor the Sit In... Yes. The Fearless Foursome was the start... But many others, one each year, including this year’s Yvonne Lyons Cooper-Revell was a rebel with a cause as the 2024 Sit-In Participant Award Honoree.  

To the award of the evening went Reverend Doctor Benjamin F. Chavis, Jr as the 2024

Alston/Jones International Civil & Human Rights Award for his work in civil rights since the age of 12 years old. Most recently, Reverend Doctor Chavis is most noted for his Psalms from Prison in its 3rd Edition as a reflection on his unjust time in jail as part of the Wilmington 10. He is among the likes of Justice Thurgood Marshall (2007), Cicely Tyson (2008), Quincy Jones (2014), Oprah Winfrey (2016) and President Barack Obama (2020). 

Also on the menu of honorees were the Unsung Hero 2024 Awardee, Heather Booth, who moved the crowd with her excellence reminding us that we are “Not Done” and how without civil rights, we have nothing. Other awardees include The Honorable William V. “Bill” Bell (Trailblazer Award 2024), The Honorable Dororthy “Dot” Kendall Kearns (Lifetime Community Service Award 2024) and County Commissioner Frankie T. Jones Jr. (Keeper of the Flame Award 2024). 

A great night for Greensboro and a great night for Civil Rights.