Go to main content

PDF

Description

This oral history interview was conducted with Richard O'Neal on September 26, 2008 by Greensboro College senior, Justin Payne. The interview focuses on O'Neal's involvement with the 1960 Greensboro Woolworth's lunch counter sit-ins. Mr. O'Neal begins the interview with information on his life while growing up. He explains his opinions about the social environment during the 1950's and 1960's. The overall sentiment according to him was a mood of uncaring. No one was interested in civil rights where he grew up. He tells about his decision to attend Greensboro College, and why he participated in the Greensboro Woolworth sit-ins. He tells how he and several other male students walked to the Woolworth in downtown Greensboro because they had heard on the radio what was happening. O'Neal describes four A&T students seated at the counter with an empty seat between each of them, and they were waiting to be served. O'Neal, Ed Bryant, and Lowell Lott sat down with those students for an hour or so. O'Neal describes how he received some backlash for his involvement in the following weeks. A few students, and even some administrators on campus, gave him problems. O'Neal explains that upon graduation he began work as a social worker, before becoming a teacher. Richard O'Neal graduated from Greensboro College in 1960 with a BA. He went on to earn an MA from The University of North Carolina at Greensboro. While a student at Greensboro College, he participated in the February 1960 Woolworth store sit-ins. Richard O'Neal graduated from Greensboro College in 1960 with a BA. He went on to earn an MA from The University of North Carolina at Greensboro. While a student at Greensboro College, he participated in the February 1960 Woolworth store sit-ins.

Details

Files

Statistics

from
to
Export
Formats
Format
BibTeX
MARCXML
TextMARC
MARC
DublinCore
EndNote
NLM
RefWorks
RIS