The Thread: Unearthing and Preserving Black History in Greensboro

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Morning, gang.

Today we bring you the behind-the-scenes story of the South Benbow Road Historic District, the first historically Black neighborhood in Greensboro to be recognized by the National Register of Historic Places.

Districts including N.C. A&T University and Bennett College are already on the registry, along with historically important buildings like the gymnasium at Dudley High School. The Ole Asheboro neighborhood has been recognized within another historic area in the city. But getting South Benbow the recognition it deserved took a community effort to uncover and publicize parts of Black history that have long been overlooked, even here in the city.

As P.R. Lockhart reports, this comes at a dangerous time for Black history and preservation. President Donald Trump’s second presidential administration has pushed to systematically purge references to Black history and progress toward racial diversity everywhere from federal agency websites and the military to public universities.. Those laboring to bring long-neglected parts of Black history and culture to greater awareness now worry that work will become harder.

Let’s get into it.

– Joe Killian

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The Long Journey to Preserve Black History in Greensboro

Drive along East Greensboro’s South Benbow Road, and you’ll notice something different at the Broad Avenue intersection—a sprawling Modernist-style house with a low-sloped roof, clusters of windows so high they almost touch the ceiling, a carport, and a palm tree in the front yard.

Scott Wood fell in love with the place years ago. He’d drive past the house on the way to his coaching job at Dudley High School. Each time, he’d have the same thought.

“It always looked like it should be in California,” he said. “You think about those in-the-hills houses.”

In 2018, when Wood and his wife learned the home would soon be on the market, they jumped at the chance to buy it. As part of that process, the couple learned something else: They were purchasing a piece of local civil rights history.

Read the full story here.

Read this newsletter online or contact The Thread team with tips and feedback at greensboro@theassemblync.com.

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Reflecting on 11 Years of
Triad City Beat

Last week Triad City Beat published its last issue, a tribute to its many contributors, staffers, readers, and the stories it told over the last 11 years.

I can clearly remember when Brian Clarey, Jordan Green, and Eric Ginsburg left Yes Weekly to create a new publication. Like a lot of people—including its founders—I wondered how it would fit into the larger media ecosystem and how long it might last. Seeing the careers it helped to launch over more than a decade, I think it’s safe to say none of us could have predicted the impact it would have in Greensboro, Winston-Salem, and High Point.

Read the last issue here, including reflections from readers and memories from its staff.

— Joe Killian

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What We’re Reading

Footsteps of the Fathers: As Black History Month comes to a close, O. Henry Magazine brings us the story of the descendants of the A&T Four, who ignited the national sit-in movement for desegregation at the lunch counter at the Woolworth’s downtown.

City Settles Police Shooting Lawsuit: Last week the city of Greensboro confirmed it will pay nearly a million dollars to settle a federal lawsuit by a woman shot by a Greensboro police officer in 2019. As Fox 8 reported, police initially said 27-year-old Paulicka Hairston was driving toward police and away from the scene of a crime. In her suit, Hairston said she had nothing to do with a fight that brought officers to the scene. The suit is the latest in a series over officer-involved shootings that have cost the city millions in settlements and legal fees.

Guilford Schools Could Lose 3,000 Students By 2035: Guilford County public schools are looking at a steep drop in enrollment over the next decade, according to a report given to the Guilford County Board of Education last week. The losses come as the state has made it easier to use public dollars to enroll students in charter and private schools, population growth has slowed, and affordable housing has become more scarce. The News & Record has the story.

Around the State

Why Trump’s Favorite N.C. Sheriff Wants to Oust Phil Berger

The state Senate’s longtime leader faces an election challenge from Rockingham County Sheriff Sam Page.

Fayetteville Museum Aims to Right the Record on Civil War History

The N.C. History Center on the Civil War, Emancipation & Reconstruction will use local stories to tell “the truth with all its blemishes”—even if it upsets some people.

What’s the Secret Sauce Behind Ray’s Weather, Western NC’s Favorite Forecast?

How the self-taught weatherman behind Ray’s Weather knew Hurricane Helene would be a historic catastrophe.

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