Comments on William A. Chafe's book pertaining particularly to
Chapter Three, "The Sit-ins Begin."
This account relies mainly on the book by Miles Wolff's "Lunch at
the 5 and 10" which was written in 1970, 10 years after the sit-ins.
Wolfe's book contains many opinions which are simply not true.
These have been brought to light by C. L. Harris, who was manager
of this Woolworth Store five years before the sit-ins and nine years
thereafter. Chafe's book and account is also from verbal
recollections accounted for twenty years after the sit-ins
For Example: Foreword on Page 98, Chapter 3.
"Somebody, a lot like myself, could run around another twenty
years trying to take down the (Jim Crow) signs and plead with
Woolworth's to serve these people, and they would get nowhere" by
Louise Smith, a Greensboro white liberal. This statement is not true.
"White Only" and "Colored Only" signs on drinking fountains and rest
rooms were removed by the store manager in 1957, three years prior to
the sit-ins. There were no other signs in other areas of the store,
ever. So far as serving the coloreds, Woolworth did serve them,
before any other food merchant would, when the conditions and timing
would allow it without any repercussions. Woolworth was actually
employing more blacks, when most of the city did not in any area.
Page IX (1) "There is no way I can thank the nearly 100
people to share their memories with me." C. L. Harris offered
facts and figures and written notes, but Mr. Chafe did not even
answer the letters.
Comments on William A. Chafe's book pertaining particularly to
Chapter Three, "The Sit-ins Begin."
This account relies mainly on the book by Miles Wolff's "Lunch at
the 5 and 10" which was written in 1970, 10 years after the sit-ins.
Wolfe's book contains many opinions which are simply not true.
These have been brought to light by C. L. Harris, who was manager
of this Woolworth Store five years before the sit-ins and nine years
thereafter. Chafe's book and account is also from verbal
recollections accounted for twenty years after the sit-ins
For Example: Foreword on Page 98, Chapter 3.
"Somebody, a lot like myself, could run around another twenty
years trying to take down the (Jim Crow) signs and plead with
Woolworth's to serve these people, and they would get nowhere" by
Louise Smith, a Greensboro white liberal. This statement is not true.
"White Only" and "Colored Only" signs on drinking fountains and rest
rooms were removed by the store manager in 1957, three years prior to
the sit-ins. There were no other signs in other areas of the store,
ever. So far as serving the coloreds, Woolworth did serve them,
before any other food merchant would, when the conditions and timing
would allow it without any repercussions. Woolworth was actually
employing more blacks, when most of the city did not in any area.
Page IX (1) "There is no way I can thank the nearly 100
people to share their memories with me." C. L. Harris offered
facts and figures and written notes, but Mr. Chafe did not even
answer the letters.
