“I hope ‘Morningside’ does become another ‘Hidden Figures,’ because what it tells us is that the struggles that made ‘Hidden Figures’ so important and moving aren’t over. It tells us that we have to keep being vigilant and working on behalf of poor and marginalized people and against bias and prejudice. This book might seem different than ‘Hidden Figures,’ but in many ways it’s just a more recent chapter in this country’s long history of struggle for equality." -- Aran Shetterly, author of Morningside, The 1979 Greensboro Massacre and The Struggle for an America City's Soul, quoted in book review, Greensboro Daily News by Nancy MacLaughlin
"Greensboro is not unique in that something terrible and tragic happened here. Greensboro, however, might become unique if we humbly and truthfully face the flaws from our past and learn from them." -- Reverend Nelson Johnson, from Morningside.
As someone who was born and grew up in Greensboro, I’m ashamed to say that before I read this terrific book, I knew next to nothing about this massacre that took place just six miles from where we lived.
In November, 1979, five people — two doctors, a nurse, a graduate of Harvard Divinity School, and a student at Duke University working towards a PhD, each a labor organizer and activist trying to help mostly African American textile workers in the city — were killed, gunned down in broad daylight. Twelve were injured, including a vicious stabbing of Civil Rights activist and leader Nelson Johnson.
Shetterly writes the Greensboro shooting became one of the most scrutinized murders in American history, surpassing the JFK assassination investigation in terms of the volume and weight of new documents generated.
At the two trials, the news footage showed what took place at Morningside, a residential area east of downtown. And yet, the defendants, in both cases, were found Not Guilty.
One reviewer of the book points out - “I’ve lived in North Carolina for 20 years, but was unaware that this happened in my home state.”
The author, who is married to Margot Lee Shetterly, author of the New York Times #1 bestseller, "Hidden Figures," and who, since 2003 has worked with his father’s arts and education program, "Americans Who Tell the Truth," said he did not know about it until 2015.
Paradoxically, I, too, came to knowing about this massacre in a delayed manner. In 1979 I was stationed at Pope Air Force Base, about 80 miles south of Greensboro. That year I spent a number of weekends in my hometown. But I just don’t remember hearing about it or this being discussed.
Within the last couple of weeks, I’ve talked with a few folks who also grew up in North Carolina and they said they had never heard of it.
I have to confess that at times while reading this book, it was not easy to remain fully sympathetic to Nelson, who aligned with those with Communism and/or Maoism beliefs. Staging a rally titled, “Death to the Klan,” while very brave and showing great passion, seems not the right thing to do.
But the five who were killed were human beings who like Nelson and others, were trying to help people in an epic struggle. Racism was systematic and inequalities persisted.
On a visit to Greensboro this past spring, I walked across those downtown railroad tracks that divided two worlds. Progress has certainly been made, but in some ways, one still feels a dividing line.
Shetterly wonderfully describes Greensboro in the spring time, writing as if he grew up there. Reading it pleased me very much, a flood of good memories, but it also reminded me that living in the "Favored Quarter" or nearby contrasted with those who lived in the parts of the town where the economic injustices prevailed and the massacre took place.
As the year comes to a close, we are seeing Book Awards and Best/Top/Favorite lists coming out. I hope Shetterly gets nominated for this definitive account that fully covers all parts of the story.
88 horrible seconds, five slain, people injured and frightened, justice denied, and nobody seems to care.
Worse, many don’t even know…
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