Fifteen years ago my mother took me, then 7 years old, to a book signing. I watched in awe as the author, Rosa Parks, autographed my copy of “Quiet Strength.”

Last month, I had an unexpected encounter with other legendary architects of the Civil Rights Movement.

I went to Greensboro on Feb. 13 with plans to simply tour the new International Civil Rights Center & Museum. I ended up meeting Judge Henry Frye, the first black N.C. Supreme Court justice, the Rev. Jesse Jackson and Jibreel Khazan (Ezell Blair), one of the Greensboro Four.

What I had planned, and what the universe had planned for me, miraculously positioned me in the presence of those I had only dreamed of meeting.

After I arrived in Greensboro, I learned that the museum that evening was sponsoring a “50th Anniversary Gala” to celebrate the Greensboro Four – the NC A&T students who sparked the national sit-in movement to integrate the nation’s lunch counters. The gala originally had been scheduled for Jan. 30 but was postponed because of inclement weather.

I also learned, much to my disappointment, that the event was sold out -- all 2,000 seats.
In an act of faith, I abandoned the idea of visiting the museum, got dressed and made my way to the Greensboro convention center. God did the rest.

After failing to talk my way in as a member of the press, a man named Khayr Love came up to me.

“What do you need?” he asked.

I explained that I wanted to get into the gala.

After a brief exchange he said, “Come with me.”

He took me upstairs to a reception where I met Khazan’s wife. (The man who helped me, it turned out, was Khazan’s assistant.)

“This is your adopted daughter for the night,” he said to Mrs. Khazan as he introduced me.

Later, at the gala, I was seated at Khazan’s table with his sister, wife, friends and his mother, Corene Blair, next to me. Heaven must be like this, I thought. For one unforgettable evening, I was the unofficial granddaughter of Corene Blair and allowed to call her "Ma.”

Mrs. Blair may not remember meeting me.

“My mother just celebrated her 87th birthday on February 8th,” her daughter, Shelia, explained. Mrs. Blair is battling Alzheimer’s disease, the daughter added.

There are some memories, however, that even Alzheimer’s cannot steal. When I asked her if she was afraid for her son in 1960, who was 17 when the sit-ins began, she said no.

“...I knew he was gon’ do it,” she said. “He told me he was gonna do it, and he did.”
The Rev. Jesse Jackson, also a student at NC A&T in the ’60s, visited our table with Khazan to reminisce about sleeping over at the Blair’s Greensboro home. I’m there, trying to remain calm and not believing my own eyes. I’ve read books about these two men. Now I stood between them. A photograph followed. It was necessary so I could be sure I wasn’t dreaming.

Jackson was keynote speaker for the night. His speech was more like a exciting history lesson. It began with Africans being brought to America as slaves. He told of Haiti and how its people were once the only free black people on earth and ended talking about character.

“Beyond color and culture there is character,” he said. “There’s power in this thing called character.”

He thanked the Greensboro Four for the character they showed 60 years ago.
I returned to Greensboro three days later to tour the museum.

A multitude of emotions stirred in me as I saw the exhibits.

I felt anger as I walked the “Hall of Shame” and saw photographs of men hanging from trees, attack dogs and water hoses.

I felt pride and joy at seeing a wall with jailhouse mugshots of black and white protesters who had been arrested.

Just then, a voice in the crowd exclaimed, "There's my name!”

I turned to see a slim, black woman with blonde locks and a kind face.

"Thank You,” I said as my eyes filled up with tears, realizing that she had gone to jail to help secure my rights in America.

"You're welcome,” she smiled.

On the wall was written her name: Shirley Jean Ray.

***

Brandy Hamilton, a student at Central Piedmont Community College, is currently interning with Qcitymetro.com. Opinions expressed by guest columnists are their own and do not necessarily represent the opinions of Qcitymetro.com. 

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