Greensboro Truth and Reconciliation Collection

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The Truth and Reconciliation Commission Collection contains documents concerning the fatal clash between members of the Communist Workers Party (CWP) and members of the Ku Klux Klan and the Nazi Party which occurred on November 3, 1979, as well as the subsequent investigation and findings of the Greensboro Truth and Reconciliation Commission (GTRC). This collection includes correspondence, hearing transcripts, court documents, newspaper clippings, pamphlets, posters, audio/visual material and photographs, manuscripts, and other materials documenting these events. Digitization of this collection is in progress through the first six months of 2024.

Details

How much has been digitized?: Digitization of this collection is still in progress.
Where can I find more information?: https://gateway.uncg.edu/sites/default/files/pdf/A100FA.pdf
Historical note: The commission was formed in response to the events of November 3, 1979, in Greensboro. On this date, there was a clash between the Communist Workers Party (CWP) and members of the Ku Klux Klan (KKK) and the Nazi Party in the Morningside Homes community during a” Death to the Klan” demonstration. This event resulted in the deaths of five demonstrators (one of whom was a Bennett College student) and the wounding of eight demonstrators, one member of the KKK, and a news photographer. There were subsequently two criminal trials and a civil trial which found the Greensboro Police Department, and members of the Nazi Party and Ku Klux Klan jointly liable in the death of one activist. In an attempt to place this incident within a broader social context and to attempt restorative justice in this matter, the Greensboro Truth and Reconciliation Commission (GTRC) was formed. Seven members, nominated by the community, were were sworn in on June 12, 2004 as the nation’s first truth and reconciliation commission. The final report, published in 2006, recounts findings, and suggests institutional reforms, civil remedies, and strong civic engagement in the future to heal the “deep divides of distrust and skepticism in our community.”
Topics: African-American History
North Carolina
Subject headings: Massacres--North Carolina--Greensboro--History--20th century
Greensboro (N.C.) -- History -- 20th century
Communist Workers Party (U.S.)
Ku Klux Klan (1915- )
Greensboro (N.C.) Race relations
Contributing Institution: Thomas F. Holgate Library, Bennett College

Pages

: "'Death to the Klan' rally exploited black people" by William Smith, Jr. - November 5, 1999; A November 5, 1999 article titled “‘Death to the Klan’ rally exploited black people” by William Smith, Jr., which argues that the Communist Workers Party (CWP) exploited Greensboro’s black community by drawing them into the CWP’s movement through the CWP’s clash against the Klan.

: "'Truth' Vote Postponed" by Mark Moss - "The Carolina Peacemaker" - March 17-23, 2005; A The Carolina Peacemaker article by Mark Moss titled “‘Truth’ Vote Postponed” which covers the city council postponing the vote about endorsement for the Greensboro Truth and Community Reconciliation Project (GTCRP).

: "A city remembers as it tries to heal" by William L. Holmes - "Richmond Times Dispatch" - February 6, 2005; A February 6, 2005 article by the Richmond Times Dispatch titled “A city remembers as it tries to heal”, covering the anniversary of the Greensboro sit-ins and the divisive opinions about the Greensboro Truth and Reconciliation Commission (GTRC).

: "An Unbalanced Story: Cointelpro is alive and living in Greensboro" - Draft; A draft of a response to Greensboro Police Department (GPD) officer James Ballance’s opinion piece “One Officer’s Opinion of Nov. 3, 1979 Events”, which disputes Ballance’s story of the Greensboro Massacre which places the blame on the Communist Workers Party (CWP).

: "Anti-Klan play tackles an important subject" by Leslie Mizell - "News & Record" - November 4, 1999; A news article by Leslie Mizell contributed to the News & Record titled “Anti-Klan play tackles an important subject”, which covers Emily Mann’s play “Greensboro: A Requiem” which explores the Greensboro Massacre.

: "Apologize? Well, maybe" - October 31, 1999; An October 31, 1999 article about a question addressed to mayoral candidates Keith Holliday and Hugh Williams about whether or not they would apologize for the Greensboro Massacre and a discussion of the Greensboro Massacre’s legacy.

: "CWP invited the clash: victims were not martyrs" by Philip Johnson - November 1, 1999; A news article by Philip Johnson titled “CWP invited the clash: victims were not martyrs” which claims that the Communist Workers Party (CWP) were at fault for the Greensboro Massacre.

: "Chee's Supporters Rail Against the System" by Chuck Forrester - Greensboro "News & Record" - January 21, 2005; A January 21, 2005 Greensboro News and Record editorial by Chuck Forrester that criticizes the Greensboro Truth and Community Reconciliation Project (GTCRP) as distorting the story of the Greensboro Massacre by forgetting that “the communists started the whole thing”.

: "City of Greensboro hears your complaints" by Wayne Abraham - November 26, 2004; A November 26, 2004 news article by Wayne Abraham, a chairman of the Complaint Review Committee of the Greensboro Human Relations Commission (HRC), titled “City of Greensboro hears your complaints” which calls for people who have complaints related to discrimination by the Greensboro Police Department to reach out to the HRC.

: "Commission begins effort on shootings" by Jason Hardin; An article by Jason Hardin titled “Commission begins effort on shootings”, which notes how the Greensboro Truth and Reconciliation Commission (GTRC) is exploring the Greensboro Massacre.

: "Commission encounters silence in quest for truth and reconciliation" by Jordan Green - "Yes! Weekly" - March 2-8, 2005; A Yes! Weekly article by Jordan Green titled “Commission encounters silence in quest for truth and reconciliation” which explores a lack of people coming forward to participate in the truth and reconciliation process.

: "Edward Cone: Reconciliation is point of truth commission" by Edward Cone - "News & Record" - March 27, 2005; A printed out digital March 27, 2005 News and Record article by Edward Cone about the purpose of the Greensboro Truth and Reconciliation Commission (GTRC).

: "Greensboro commission hires staff for 'truth-seeking' work" - Staff Reports - "NEWS-RECORD.COM" - February 17, 2005; A printed out digital February 17, 2005 News and Record article about the Greensboro Truth and Reconciliation Commission (GTRC) hiring staff.

: "Greensboro truth commission not the first to spark controversy" by Jordan Green - "Yes! Weekly" - March 30-April 5, 2005; A Yes! Weekly article by Jordan Green titled “Greensboro truth commission not the first to spark controversy” which explores opposition to the Greensboro Truth and Reconciliation Commission (GTRC) and response to the opposition.

: "How to Mend A Massacre" by Ellis Cose - "Newsweek" - June 2, 2002; A June 2, 2003 article by Ellis Cose about the legacy of the Greensboro Massacre and about the Greensboro Truth and Reconciliation Commission (GTRC).

: "In N.C., Revisiting 'Greensboro Massacre': Reconciliation Panel Convenes to Address '79 Attack by Nazi Party, Klan." - by Darryl Fears - "The Washington Post" - March 9, 2005; A March 9, 2005 Washing Post article by Darryl Fears about the Greensboro Truth and Reconciliation Commission (GTRC) reviewing the events and legacy of the Greensboro Massacre.

: "Indictment makes start at lifting a 40 year old cloud over a Mississippi county" by James Dao; A news article titled “Indictment makes start at lifting a 40 year old cloud over a Mississippi country” by James Dao, which covers an indictment of a man for killing three civil rights workers 40 years ago, with highlights on sections where the man justifies his actions by calling his victims “communist” and an ending section saying old wounds like the murder of civil rights workers need to be reexamined in order to heal.

: "Inquiry shaping how city is perceived" by Matt Williams - "NEWS-RECORD.COM" - March 23, 2005; A printed out digital March 23, 2005 News and Record article by Matt Williams about how the Greensboro Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s (GTRC) investigation into the Greensboro Massacre is shaping how Greensboro is perceived.

: "Lessons in Truth-Seeking: International Experiences Informing United States Initiatives" by Lisa Magarrell and Blaz Gutierrez for the International Center for Transitional Justice - September, 2006; An International Center for Transitional Justice (ICTJ) publication reflecting on the release of the Greensboro Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s (GTRC) final report and reflecting on the GTRC’s decisions in comparison to other international truth and reconciliation movements.

: "Little Truth in Truth and Reconciliation" by John Hammer; An editorial by John Hammer criticizing the Greensboro Truth and Reconciliation Commission (GTRC) asserting that there was not a racial issue in the Greensboro Massacre and that the Greensboro Massacre was not worth remembering.

Greensboro Truth and Reconciliation Collection

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