Greensboro Politics interviews Skip Alston about the Civil Rights Museum. Alston: "The same people doing the talking didn’t want those young men sitting down at the lunch counter in the first place either."

Previously.

Comments

[Danny Wright]

I didn't know that Skip was a fan of "Blade". Cool!

[Jim Rosenberg]

Unbelievable.

Honestly, is there any doubt that he lets his ego get in the way of the cause? Calling the News & Record an "enemy?" Destructive. Saying "It's a success because I'm involved?" Destructive. Lumping all critics together and comparing them to the segregationists? Destructive.

You've done a lot, Skip. No one can deny that. Be better. Here's what you meant to say;

"I understand that people have concerns. This isn't about me. Not by a long shot. It's a big, ambitious project, and we've got a great team in place. We've run into some bad luck, unexpected expenses, and delays. We've made our share of mistakes, and we've learned some things along the way. There's politics in play here, too. It's an exciting time for Greensboro. We're a growing city where people have long memories of hard-fought battles. There's no harm in that, but this isn't a battle. Not for us, and not for anyone. This is a museum for all of Greensboro. The City Council recognized this in its recent vote. Everyone involved in creating this museums recognizes that vote as a gesture of goodwill and vote of confidence. We get up every single day committed to making good on our promise to create a memorial which builds on the spirit of February and carries it forward into a new era."

[Ed Cone]

You should be a speechwriter, Jim.

I would add this, right after the line about delays: "And we've also moved slowly because we have imposed the highest museum standards on this project, and that kind of work takes time and money."

[Patrick Eakes]

Does anyone doubt Skip could read the suggested words above and still come off sound like a tool?

[John G]

Skip: “You take the bitter with the sweet. You can’t please 100% of the people all the time. Jesus Christ always tried to do good and they crucified him. I don’t expect anymore out of this society. You have to keep your eyes on the prize and doing it for the people that don’t have a voice.”

Is this what a civic leader sounds like?
What an ego!