The 3 R's

Given this assignment our task seemed simple ride a bus, read a passage and illustrate our thoughts. However, it went much deeper than that. I took the bus ride first I rode with a group of girls, so I felt safe on the public transit. I actually enjoyed the ride because I haven't been able to see downtown yet, besides the day it was pouring. So I felt like a tourist snapping my camera at the round abouts and tall structure in the landscape. The bus ride went up to the depot and took us back around. After photo shopping my pictures I sat down and read the passage. William H. Chafe's Civility and Civil Rights, was an awakening to me. I read about the sit ins during history class but was never aware they took place in Greensboro! It made me so proud to be able to go to a school where history was changed. When I read the excerpt that Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. came to Greensboro and gave a speech I reflected upon it. A man who changed history, who inspired a nation came to our little town of Greensboro and inspired these young individuals to step up to the system. They fought for their rights. Also when I read about the three young women who came from Greensboro when this was an all girls school I was amazed. The courage that everyone had during these times of mass hatred was unbelievalbe. Another part that caught my attention was the fact that it took place in Woolworth's. When I was young I grew up next to a Woolworth's and they didn't serve food there but I do remember there being a small pet store in the back. So something that traced back to my child hood, connected to these young men and women. I continued to read and the images of the bus ride went through my mind. I felt so lucky to grow up in a desegregated society. I rode the bus with a group of girls all our races mixed. Our bus driver was African American and everyone on the bus was of different colors. However, we rode and we got to our destination safe and were able to laugh and talk. If this were 60 years ago it would not have been the same bus ride. In fact my self and three other girls would be the only ones on the bus due to segregation. I learned from this experience to walk proud and respect others. Times were harder than this and if it weren't for those four young men during February of 1960, I wouldn't know half of my good friends of today. This world would be sadder and more violent. I am so grateful to be at this school and live in this town.

Our stop at the bus depot.

The Lincoln Financial Center was what stood out over the city scape.

Our trip started on Tate St. We waited for the route #2 bus. It was my first trip on a city bus in Greensboro and I was a little nervous.