Greensboro sit-in participant speaks to Parkland High School students commemorating event's 64th anniversary

SIGNIFICANCE AROUND THE WORLD AND WINSTON-SALEM SOME HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS HAD THE RARE CHANCE TO HEAR FROM SOMEONE WHO TOOK PART IN THE GREENSBORO SIT INS. JOSHUA DAVIS BRINGS US THIS STORY. THOSE WHO FAIL TO UNDERSTAND THEIR HISTORY ARE DOOMED TO REPEAT IT. THOSE WERE THE WORDS OF CLARENCE HENDERSON TO STUDENTS HERE AT PARKLAND HIGH SCHOOL. AND IT’S A LESSON HE’S CARRIED WITH HIM EVER SINCE HIS INVOLVEMENT IN THE FAMOUS GREENSBORO SIT INS AND THE FIGHT FOR CIVIL RIGHTS. HAVE WE VOICE I HOPE THEY GET A SENSE OF SELF TO UNDERSTAND THAT THEY HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE AMERICA BETTER. IT’S NOT EASY TO KEEP THE ATTENTION OF KIDS DURING AN ASSEMBLY, BUT PARKLAND HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS COULDN’T HELP BUT BE CAPTIVATED BY WHAT CLARENCE HENDERSON HAD TO SAY AS HE RECOUNTED HIS TIME PARTICIPATING IN THE HISTORIC GREENSBORO SIT INS, WHICH PLAYED A PIVOTAL ROLE IN THE CIVIL RIGHTS MOVEMENT. THE FOUR GUYS THAT ACTUALLY STARTED THE MOVEMENT, ONE OF THEM BY THE NAME OF EZELL BLAIR, HE AND I STARTED OUT IN THE FIRST GRADE TOGETHER IN GREENSBORO AND WENT ALL THE WAY TO AUNT ASHE, AND WHEN THEY DID THE SIT IN ON FEBRUARY 1ST, HE CAME BACK TO THE LOUNGE AT A AND T AND TOLD ME WHAT THEY HAD DONE AND ASKED ME IF I WOULD PARTICIPATE AND I DID IT. UM, BECAUSE OF THE RIGHT THING TO DO. HENDERSON SAYS. EVEN THOUGH WE’RE DECADES REMOVED FROM THE CIVIL RIGHTS MOVEMENT, THE WORK MUST CONTINUE. AND HE CHALLENGED STUDENTS TO GO OUT AND MAKE THE WORLD AROUND THEM BETTER. SO ONE DAY, THIS COUNTRY WILL TRULY LIVE UP TO THOSE FAMOUS WORDS. ALL MEN ARE CREATED EQUAL. TALKING TO SOMEONE WHO’S A CIVIL RIGHTS FIGURE MAKES YOU WANT TO SEE WHAT WAYS YOU CAN HELP YOUR COMMUNITY TO BASICALLY JUST DO WHAT’S RIGHT, EVEN IF EVERYONE AROUND YOU IS DOING WHAT’S WRONG, THEY UNDERSTAND THAT IF THEY ARE GOING TO BECOME LEADERS, THEY HAVE TO BE GREAT SERVICE. THEY HAVE TO BE WILLING TO SERVE THE PEOPLE AND NOT THEMSELVES, HENDERSON SAID HE COULDN’T HELP BUT BE PROUD OF THE STUDENTS WHO CAME AND WITHOUT A DOUBT, THERE’S HOPE FOR THE FUTURE IN WINSTON-SALEM. I’M JOSHUA DAVIS FOR WXII 12 NEWS. JOSHUA, THANK YOU. AND THERE ARE A NUMBER OF EVENTS TO CELEBRATE BLACK HISTORY MONTH IN THE TRIAD. WE’VE GOT THAT FULL LIST FOR YOU RIGH

In the Triad, some high school students had a rare opportunity to hear from a figure who participated in the Greensboro sit-ins. “Those who fail to understand their history are doomed to repeat it.”Those were the words of Clarence Henderson to students at Parkland High School, and it’s a lesson he’s carried with him in the decades since the Greensboro sit-ins and the fight for civil rights. Top StoriesGreensboro police: charges pending against driver who hit flaggers working Monday morningAlamance County deputies confirm identity of human remains after search for missing teenMother with ties to Stokes County is in New Mexico jail for death of 3-year-old daughterGet the latest news stories of interest by clicking here"I hope they get a sense of self, to understand that they have the opportunity to make America better," he saidStudents were captivated hearing Henderson speak, as he recounted his time participating in the historic sit-ins and in the years since. "The four guys that actually started the movement, one of them is Ezell Blair," he said. "He and I started out in the first grade together in Greensboro, all the way to A&T. When they did the sit-in on February the 1st, he came back to the lounge at A&T and told me what they had done, and asked me if I would participate. I did it because it was the right thing to do." Henderson said even though we’re decades removed from the heyday of the civil rights movement, the work must continue. He challenged students to go out and make the world around them a better place so that one day the country will truly live up to those famous words: “all men are created equal.” Watch: NOWCAST streaming newscastsThey're words the kids seemed to take to heart."Talking to someone who's a civil rights figure makes you want to see what ways you can help your community," said Ilana Kirby, a Parkland High School senior.Students also had the opportunity to ask questions, receiving answers and wisdom they can look back on moving into the future. "He was talking about having courage, having the courage to be a leader, not a follower," said junior Zoey Gray. "To basically just do what's right, even if everyone around you is doing what's wrong." Keep up with the latest news and weather by downloading the WXII app here."They understand that if they are going to become leaders, they have to be great servants," said Henderson. "They have to be willing to serve the people and not themselves. Henderson said he couldn’t help but be proud of the students who came, and without a doubt, there’s hope for the future.NAVIGATE: Home | Weather | Watch NOWCAST TV | Local News | National | News We Love |TRENDING STORIES

WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. —

In the Triad, some high school students had a rare opportunity to hear from a figure who participated in the Greensboro sit-ins.

“Those who fail to understand their history are doomed to repeat it.”

Those were the words of Clarence Henderson to students at Parkland High School, and it’s a lesson he’s carried with him in the decades since the Greensboro sit-ins and the fight for civil rights.

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Get the latest news stories of interest by clicking here

"I hope they get a sense of self, to understand that they have the opportunity to make America better," he said

Students were captivated hearing Henderson speak, as he recounted his time participating in the historic sit-ins and in the years since.

"The four guys that actually started the movement, one of them is Ezell Blair," he said. "He and I started out in the first grade together in Greensboro, all the way to A&T. When they did the sit-in on February the 1st, he came back to the lounge at A&T and told me what they had done, and asked me if I would participate. I did it because it was the right thing to do."

Henderson said even though we’re decades removed from the heyday of the civil rights movement, the work must continue. He challenged students to go out and make the world around them a better place so that one day the country will truly live up to those famous words: “all men are created equal.”

Watch: NOWCAST streaming newscasts

They're words the kids seemed to take to heart.

"Talking to someone who's a civil rights figure makes you want to see what ways you can help your community," said Ilana Kirby, a Parkland High School senior.

Students also had the opportunity to ask questions, receiving answers and wisdom they can look back on moving into the future.

"He was talking about having courage, having the courage to be a leader, not a follower," said junior Zoey Gray. "To basically just do what's right, even if everyone around you is doing what's wrong."

Keep up with the latest news and weather by downloading the WXII app here.

"They understand that if they are going to become leaders, they have to be great servants," said Henderson. "They have to be willing to serve the people and not themselves.

Henderson said he couldn’t help but be proud of the students who came, and without a doubt, there’s hope for the future.

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Greensboro sit-in participant speaks to Parkland High School students commemorating event's 64th anniversary

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