The Breakfast Club - IDKMYDE: The Friendship 9

Episode Date: February 14, 2024

On this epsidoe of #IDKMYDE, we're diving into a powerful story of courage and resistance. Meet the Friendship 9 – a group of young men who made history with a sit-in protest at McCrory's segregated lunch counter in 1961. Tune in as we uncover their remarkable journey, from their arrest to their days of hardship in prison, and the ultimate recognition of their courage years later. It's a story of resilience, solidarity, and the power of standing up for what's right. IG: @_idkmyde_ | @BdahtTV | @blackeffectSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Had enough of this country? Ever dreamt about starting your own? I planted the flag. This is mine. I own this. It's surprisingly easy. 55 gallons of water, 500 pounds of concrete. Or maybe not. No country willingly gives up their territory. Oh my God.

What is that? Bullets. Listen to Escape from Zakistan. We need help! That's Escape from Z-A- Stan on the I heart radio app, Apple podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. On today's episode of I didn't know, maybe you didn't either. I introduced to you John Gaines, Thomas Gaither, Clarence Graham,

Willie McLeod, Robert McCullough, Willie Massey, James Wells, David Williamson, and Mack Workman. The Friendship Nine. I didn't know, maybe you didn't need me. I didn't know, maybe you didn't need me. I didn't know, maybe you didn't need me. I didn't know, I didn North Carolina, Cumberland Courts to be exact, which was a rock's throw away from the illustrious North Carolina A&T State University. The largest public HBCU in these United States of America. Also the home of the A&T four, Ezell Blair, Franklin McCain, Joseph McNeil, and David Richman, the four Aggie students that sat at the segregated lunch counter in Woolworths, downtown Greensboro, February 1st, 1960. Now, what I wasn't familiar with was the story of the 10 brothers that attended Friendship Junior College, who would have a similar powerful sit-in at McCrory's segregated lunch counter 100 miles south of A&T just one year later

January 31st 1961 the 10 gentlemen walked into the McCrory segregated restaurant ordered cheese burgers soft drinks and coffees of course they were denied service and they were asked to leave when they declined they were arrested they got charged with trespassing and breach of order. Please see episode 308 of this season to remember where no trespassing laws originated. They were ordered to spend 30 days in jail in the York County prison, or they could pay the $100 fine and be sent on their way. What made the Friendship Nines sit in so different was because they activated the new method of resistance that was supported by Dr. Martin Luther King. It was called jail no bail, where you take the jail time and you decline the fine where you basically concede in guilt. And I know somebody out there saying, wait, Doc, you said 10 boys went into that McCrory's. Why are they the friendship nine?

Because nine of them said they was going to take the jail no bail punishment. The 10th member, Charles Taylor, he paid his hundred dollar bail because he didn't want to mess up and lose his football scholarship. Man, the Friendship Nine did their 30 days and it was tough. They had hard labor, solitary confinement. They had food rations to the point where they just went on a food fast. There was a story documented that a prisoner in a cell beside theirs actually slid them a baby Ruth and split it up into eight pieces. Which was strange to me when I read that story, because I said, what happened to the ninth piece? The story goes they had to share that baby Ruth for three days. I know you think I'm cap. Google it yourself.

In 2007, 46 years later, the city of Rock Hill unveiled a marker right outside the old McCrory's in the honor of the Friendship Nine. Eight of the men were still living and present at the ceremony. And now that I think about it, it was probably the eight men that had the baby Ruth. Now 135 East Main Street in Rock Hill, South Carolina, where the McCrory's once stood, is a nice building. And in the hallway of this building, they dedicated a museum to the friendship nine where it actually documents their 30 days of madness oh yeah in 2015 all their convictions were overturned the judge at that time was john c hayes the third and he said we can't rewrite history but we can write history and i didn't know maybe you didn't either i didn't know. Maybe you didn't territory. Oh, my God. What is that? Bullets.

Listen to Escape from Zakistan. Need help! That's Escape from Z-A-Q-istan on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.