The clash between the Communist
Workers Party and the Ku Klux Klan in Greensboro
in 1979 punctuated the end of an era of domestic political violence that began
in the turbulent mid-1960s. News organizations and documentary filmmakers have
ignored this aspect of contemporary history, stranding young people with no
information about the Weathermen terror gang and its affiliated splinter groups
in the US; the
Baeder-Meinhof group and Red Army Fraction in West
Germany; the Red Brigade in Italy;
and similar gangs in France
and Japan.
After some years of political activism, the Communist Workers Party, following
the lead of the more infamous domestic terror gangs, became violent in order to
fan the flames of revolution.
In the aftermath of the Greensboro incident, five
CWP members were dead. The ensuing trial found that the CWP purposefully set up
the confrontation as a group suicide in order to martyr themselves to the cause
of world socialism. Recently, activist groups in Greensboro
established a Truth and Reconciliation tribunal (copied from the South Africa
model to address apartheid after the return of Nelson Mandela) to re-visit the
event to demonstrate that racism and prejudice caused the death of the CWP
martyrs. In April, after months of hearings, a report will be issued.
Freelancer Maximilian Longley visited Greensboro
and offers a preview of the process for Metro readers.
It was always called Dix Hill,
the site of the Dorothea Dix hospital for the mentally ill situated near center
city Raleigh on
rolling grounds dotted with dozens of interesting and historical buildings.
Most of the property has been deeded away by the State of North Carolina, but
the core land is up for grabs as government officials and the Legislature
review proposals from several groups who feel strongly how best to preserve or
develop this pastoral enclave in the heart of a fast-growing metropolis. Design
editor Diane Lea digs deeply into the past of the Dix property and explores the
ongoing controversy.
February is heart month and
senior editor Rick Smith discovers from a major study at Duke that many
patients and potential heart attack subjects do not take their medicine. Bottom
line: if you want to live, remember what your mother told you. Also, in this
quarterly medical Special Report: news of the new heart center coming to EastCarolinaUniversity; the latest in
cancer research in the region; and new developments in the science of medicine.
As to other matters of the
heart this special month, Rebecca Heslin reports on wooing your love with the
timeless gift of gems this Valentine’s Day in a decade by decade review of
trends in jewelry design: sure enough, everything that goes around comes
around. Fashion editor Molly Fulghum Heintz suggests thinking pink for your
Valentine; Gourmet editor Moreton Neal says wear what you want, but give me
chocolate; and wine editor Barbara Ensrud says express your love with oysters
and Chablis.
Jim Leutze reports on big
doings down in Wilmington as plans unveil for a new mega-port; Carroll Leggett
brings the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina close to home; Louis St. Lewis
uncovers the treasures of UNC’s Ackland Art Museum; Philip van Vleck catches up
with the Avett Brothers and their unique musical vision; Arch T. Allen puts the
spotlight on Robert Conquest, one of the most significant unsung heroes of the
Cold War; Art Taylor previews new fiction and author events coming your way in
the month ahead; and Fred Benton keeps pace with the scene in Off the Menu.
Next month: our annual food and
wine special report plus balloting for the 2006 “best of” Metro Bravo awards.
Stay tuned...
—Bernie Reeves, Editor &
Publisher