Setting The Record Straight.
Posted on February 22nd, 2011
If you visit the Smithsonian Institute, one of the exhibits you might see is a lunch counter that’s been carefully relocated from a Woolworth’s store in Greensboro, North Carolina to Washington D.C.
History says that the counter was the site of the first anti-segregation sit-in in the Deep South and that the event, one of the precursors to the Civil Rights movement in this country, occurred on February 1st, 1960.
It’s a riveting display – powerful, emotional and undeniably patriotic. Unfortunately, it’s also wrong. The first sit-ins in the South took place five and dime stores Grant’s and McCrory’s on April 29, 1959. In Miami.
How do I know? Because these first sit-ins were planned and organized by my parents and their friends.
Leonard and Annsheila Turkel moved to Miami from New York in 1956. Len had been stationed in Miami when he served in the Air Force and fell in love with the tropical city. Upon returning to New York, he fell in love with Annsheila Tronick and after their wedding the couple decided to start their life together in the sunshine.
Living in the South, and out of the controlled environment of the armed services, it was clear that some things weren’t quite right. Miami in the mid-fifties was a segregated Jim Crow city. Black residents were mainly restricted to three neighborhoods – Overtown, the West Grove, and the ironically named Liberty City. Besides being forced to ride in the backs of city buses, black workers weren’t allowed on Miami Beach after dark. Black shoppers couldn’t try on clothes in Burdines department store. And black diners couldn’t sit at downtown Miami lunch counters.
Even though they were raising small children and running a start-up business, my parents threw themselves into the civil rights movement. My white father and his black colleague, Dr. John Brown, would test segregation policies by sitting at downtown lunch counters only to be thrown out when they requested service. And my dad’s friend, lawyer Howard Dixon, would drive to small northern Florida towns with names like Frostproof and Loxahatchee to bail out jailed freedom marchers. When I asked my dad how such young guys were brave enough to oppose the establishment in such a violent time, he shrugged and said, “I think we were too dumb to be scared.”
One night my dad drove his truck off a dark country lane and into the three-foot deep culvert that ran alongside the road. The farmer my dad flagged down for a tow climbed down off his tractor, tilted the brim of his hat back to glare at the kid standing in front of his stranded truck and drawled, “Son, you’re either stupid or a Yankee.”
“I believe I’m both, sir,” my dad answered.
While Leonard was busy, my mom wasn’t only changing diapers and reading bedtime stories; she was organizing marches, recruiting volunteers and training protesters. After a few years of this, my parents decided that the best way to promote their cause and promote equality for all of Miami’s citizens was to stage sit-ins at the restricted lunch counters in downtown Miami.
Luckily for posterity, the local TV news covered the event and other protests my parents organized and participated in. After extensive research in the county archives, my sister Amy was able to locate the original news footage. Amy even found a news interview with Dr. Brown, the African-American man who was brave enough to sit at the segregated lunch counter and order food. With the generous help of Bob Berkowitz from Multivision, my brother Douglas, my sister, and I put together a short tribute video to my parents’ courageous higher calling. We posted it on the Internet and I hope you’ll watch it.
Just click HERE.
My parents, who live on Miami Beach, remain active to this day. Some of their accomplishments include building the Anne Marie Adker Community Health Center in Overtown, rehabbing low-income housing at Town Park Village, creating the Instant Vision Program in Miami elementary schools and restoring Miami’s first black library.
So the next time you’re touring the Smithsonian, remember that as important, emotional, and moving as the Greensboro display is, that protest was not the first. It was preceded by sit-ins that occurred almost a year before in Miami, planned and attended by Annsheila and Leonard Turkel. My mom and dad.
42 thoughts on “Setting The Record Straight.”
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By Bruce Turkel
What a wonderful tribute to your parents, Bruce. Very moving. You, Doug and Amy did an amazing job on the video.
I’m embarrassed to say I grew up in Miami but had no idea about the whites-only policy at Woolworth’s, McCrory’s and Grant’s, all stores I frequented.
You must be so proud to know that your parents played a role in changing South Florida and were among the earliest participants in the country’s civil rights movement. What an example they set for you and your siblings, and now, through this video, their grandchildren as well.
Wow.
What a great posting to share and quite a story. Like Susan Green has stated, how very proud you must be of your parents.
Hi Bruce,
I can relate to this, my father was one of those
“liberal New York Jews” and basically the only attorney in Pompano Beach at the time that would take clients from “the west side”.
We had a few rocks thrown thru our windows,
(Pompano was still a farming center, and less evolved than Miami)my dad was called a “n—-r lover” a number of times, even while I was with him. Fortunatly this didn’t last to long, and the violence didn’t escalate past the broken glass
& threats.
North Broward was a lot different from Miami back then, with segregated schools, and a bit more of Jim Crow than “Miama” as the locals said.
Things have gotten better…
Mike Z.
What a great piece. Proud of your parents, proud of you for writing and sending it. You come from good stock.
Bruce , what a beautiful thing !
I was born here in Miami in 1949
and remember how it was .
Annsheila and Leonard…amazing people who acted to shed light on an injustice. Few had the courage, especially back then, to vocalize their true feelings when the price of doing so was being shunned or becoming the victim of violence. Cool people who did what was right. I also admire the pudgy-faced kid named Bruce holding a sign at the rally in the video. You come from good people!
Great story. As a nearby Washingtonian, I’ve seen the exhibit
several times. Now, I know “the rest of the story.”
I always very much enjoy Bruce’s posts.
Jim
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Jim Haynes
Graphics Plus, Inc.
Silver Spring, MD 20901
http://www.graphicsplusinc.net/
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Bruce, what an incredibly uplifting story. Chip
I am very moved by the article and the video. Thank you for sharing it so all will know the important part in history Annsheila and Leonard had on helping to create a more peaceful world for everyone.
Thanks, Bruce. My wife, Rhoda, worked for many
years with your sister Amy (and for a while with
Mayda.) I don’t think she ever heard that
wonderful story about your parents, You and
your entire family must be so proud, and so
are we.
Julie and Rhoda Golden
Though only a boy, I remember the incidents at the lunch counters very well. As a man I realize that HISTORY is recorded by those in charge. It is by no means the truth, but rather a document that supports the prevailing agenda.
Bruce, Thank you for setting the historic record straight. The story you tell about Leonard and Annsheila’s pioneering leadership is awe-inspiring and wonderful. How great it would be if the Smithsonian would acknowledge their mistake and correct their exhibit. Leonard’s amazing achievements with so many selfless and important projects culminating with his creation of the Overtown Medical Center and restoration of the Dana Dorsey Memorial Library should be memorialized in an appropriate format. With best personal wishes, Stan (Leonard’s brother)
I know. I was there.
Born and raised in Miami, I also remember asking my parents why there were two drinking fountains at the back of every grocery store: one read “Whites”,the other read “Coloreds”. Very strange and confusing times for kids.
Those who ‘write’ history rarely record with accuracy. It always seems to be a battle of who gets there first.
I lived almost right next to those stores. Very strange times, but also a good time for positive changes.
Kudos.
What a great story of your parents fight for justice and world peace. This city s a better place because your parents stood up and did something.
This week we went to see the Bio of Phil Ochs playing in the Gables,Your story and the Film reminded me of those years. We have come a long way
but still have much to do and it’s people like your parents show us it can be done. Thank you. Dave
Very, very cool. Thanks for the inspirational story.
Dear Bruce, I very proud I am associated with you and your family! Thank God for families like yours in the early 50′s and 60′s. Life was so unfair for so many. Blacks, Jews and anyone else that was not just white Anglo. People needed to step up to make the difference to what we have become today, not perfect but certainly a much better place for All Americans!
Amen!
I knew we liked you for a reason. It was your upbringing! I can imagine your pride in what your parents stood for, especially at a time when such things could be very risky. Maybe this will remind all of us to take another look at our parents, and re-examine our view of them. Perhaps there are more heroes out there than we thought. Great video.
Discrimintation in Florida
Bruce, We moved down from New York in 1960, and although some areas were segregated we really didn’t experience prejudice. We attended Catholic school in New York and it was integrated so we really weren’t aware of what was going on elsewhere at the start of our teenage years.
I went with my mother to get her Florida drivers license at the FHP Station on Flagler, which was one of the only places in Dade County to get one at that time. We had to wait several hours, and mom had to use the rest room. She had no idea they had a White only and a “Colored” only rest room. She went in the one the colored used and they were all shocked to see her in there. She said hey, I have to use the restroom, when they questioned why she was in there. Only later did she find out about the separate facilities, and thought it was ridiculous. By the way they also had water fountains outside that said white only and colored only. We’ve certainly come a long way, but we still have a ways to go. Kudos to your folks. Tom
It takes courage to recognize injustice and to do something about it. Your parents set the posture for fairness, inclusion and humanity which helped change the landscape of Miami. What a wonderful legacy they provided to you and your siblings to germinate the garden of life.
I cry when I think of the degrading conditions of that time of outward hostility toward non whites, yet I cry when I think of freedom fighters declaring equality for all men.
Many tears watered the progress of change in this country. Your parents did their part by staging sit-ins, marching, and educating a community.
Thank you for sharing.
Good of you to recall these important events.
I was Leonard and Annsheila’s insurance agent when he was working with his dad — Turkel & Son — in building, among other things, the first condo and the first office condo in the area. Also when you were born, Bruce.
As I recall, your parents were also involved in other progressive causes. Art and cultural causes, for example.
Wao, Bruce! What a legacy. I had no idea. I want to personally thank your parents and your entire family for being couragous and standing up to make a difference then and now.
Has anyone tried to set the record straight with the Smithonian and history? Why wouldn’t they want to tell the real truth, the whole truth, and show this video as part of their exhibit. History gets rewritten all the time.
was the howard dixon mentioned in the tape the attorney who founded legal services of greater miami??
Bruce … thanks for sharing this informative and inspirational story of your parents.
I can’t help but notice the connection between parents who do ‘great things’ and then the great things that are accomplished by their offspring.
Parenting (i.e. leading by example) is the greatest gift given by our parents.
Pretty powerful stuff, Bruce. As much as I feel I know your family, this gave me a lot of important new information on the role you all played in that era. I was in grade school in New England then and listed to my parent’s supportive comments about what was happening in Miami. We paid close attention because my mother’s parents had a winter home near here and we were concerned about their well-being. I’m fairly certain that if my parents had been here they would have joined your parents at the lunch counter.
This needs to be shown to today’s young Miamians to give them a better sense of where we have come from.
Thanks for sharing. It’s a great legacy to be proud of and a timely reminder of the power of collective action in light of current events.
Inspirational–particularly the young Bruce!
Bruce, you are truly blessed to have such a heritage. Thanks for sharing \the truth\. My parents were equally brave to leave their family, their friends, and their beloved Cuba for freedom. We may have not felt the pain and humiliation of racial discrimination, but we were certainly \segregated\ for other reasons.
I pray that our children come to understand and appreciate what their grandparents did in the name of freedom and equality.
Dr. Joe
Well done, Bruce. A deserving tribute to your parents. Nice cameo appearance by you as well.
Well done,Bruce. Deserving tribute to you parents. Nice cameo appearance by you as well.
Wow! thank you for sharing, Bruce.
\A powerful homage to truly brave individuals that helped America take an important step towards realizing its potential. It’s an important reminder in these times of intolerance and polarizing views, that at the core of the American spirit is an unswerving belief in human decency that is worth fighting for. An inspiring legacy!\
Your parents have always been proud of you and now more than ever. It’s always a delight to read your articles as you make beautiful music even without your harmonica.
At the University of Wisconsin, I was president of the NAACP chapter. In the 60s, I was one of the organizers of the Medical Committee for Human Rights, which sent physicians to Mississippi and Alabama. Onward!
Bruce, I read the great article in the Miami Herald yesterday. I had the pleasure and privilege of working with your dad when I was the principal of Frederick Douglass Elementary School in Overtown from 1987-1990. Your dad was an amazing guy. He was so involved in the Overtown Advisory Board and the Camillus House. It was through the relationship I developed with Leonard, that we were able to work with Camillus House to put one of the first Health Clinics in a school.
There were many days he would offer me things for the students. Most of all I remember how passionate he was in doing the right thing for the community. As you can imagine, reading this article brought back fond memories and brought a definite smile to my face. Please send my regards to your Dad. Robert Kalinsky, Administrative Director, Region V, Miami Dade County Public Schools
Amazing story Bruce! Thanks for sharing. As culturally rich as it is today, many people never realize that Miami experienced the same levels of racism and segregation as Mississippi or Alabama.
Thanks to civil rights pioneers like your parents Miami, the South, and America as a whole is a much better place.
My sister-in-law, Rhonda Zoloth, sent me links to your recent article and also to the video honoring your parents. What a great thing for you to do! I especially appreciate the footage you’ve managed to dig up of the Miami sit-ins as well as “setting the record straight” about where and when the first sit-ins took place.
I thought you might be interested in a few more facts about the history, both as I recall it and as it’s recorded. Barbara Gordon and Shirley Zoloth (my mother) were the original impetus behind initiating the Miami chapter of CORE. They were both primarily interested in desegregating the public schools in the wake of the Supreme Court rulings, and decided to create a chapter of CORE to help move things in that direction. They contacted the national office of CORE which sent two of its staff, James McCain and Gordon Carey, to Miami in Feb and Mar 1959, to help create Greater Miami CORE. The first meeting taking place March 12, 1959, chaired by Dr. John Brown. It turned out that the local group was more immediately interested in having a place to sit down and eat lunch when they were downtown. “Despite the fact that Miami’s large Negro residential section is only a few blocks away, there is no place in the downtown Miami shopping area where Negroes can sit down and have a cup of coffee, or a sandwich or a dish of ice cream. They are confined to the stand-up counters where, paradoxically, they are allowed to make their purchased in turns with whites and stand next to them eating and drinking.” (“The Miami CORE Story” by Shirley Zoloth, published in the CORE-lator, No. 77, summer 1959) The first testing teams went to Grant’s on March 19. McCrory’s was tested next. Both places refused service, so the group decided on organized sit-ins at both stores on April 29.
Much of the information about the early days of the sit-ins (including the quotes above) can be found in a book by Raymond Mohl, a professor of history at the University of Alabama, Birmingham, titled “South of the South, Jewish Activists and the Civil Rights Movement in Miami, 1945-1960”, published by University Press of Florida 2004. It contains a fairly large collection of minutes written by my mother and submitted to the national CORE office detailing each of the sit-ins. Her first detauked report is of a sit-in April 15, 1959, at Woolworth’s on Flagler Street, and included 4 individuals: Milton and Shirley Zoloth (my parents), Mrs. Alice Barr (described as “Negro), and Mr. Ishmael Howard (described as “Negro”). There follow many more detailed reports of sit-ins at Grant’s, McCrory’s, Woolworth’s, Kress’s, Burdine’s, Jackson-Byron’s, Richards, Royal Castle, etc., through the summer of 1959.
I thought you might be interested in some of this information. I haven’t been in contact with your parents for quite some time. Please give them my best regards. They’re two of my favorite people!
I’m delighted that you shared the story of your parent’s participation in the early civil rights movement in Florida. The Howard Dixon mentioned in the film was counsel for the Miami Chapter of the NAACP and was an active member of the legal panel of the Miami ACLU. In 1966, he became the first executive director of Legal Services of Greater Miami.
Most of the lawyers who protected the Florida civil rights movement in the 60′s were Miami ACLU lawyers. Much of the activity in the early 60′s took place in Tallahassee. Tobias Simon was the attorney most active in the Tallahassee cases. Toby, Herb Heiken and I were co-counsel at the trial level in the only civil rights case tried to a jury. We were members of the ACLU legal panel, but the case was financed by CORE. Our clients were Florida A & M students. Naturally, we lost before the Tallahassee jury and in both Florida appeals. The case went to the US Supreme Court where we lost 5 to 4. The majority misconstrued the facts in order to send a signal to the movement not to take the protests too far. Justice Douglas’ dissent gives the correct facts. There is much more to be told about that era, but I’ll stop here.
You must be very proud of your parents and the lessons they imparted to our generation. I clearly remember riding the bus downtown with my mom & 3 siblings to sit in the 5 five & dimes during these times. To a 10 year old kid, this separation & segregration just didn’t make any sense. Thank you Annsheila & Leonard.
Great story Bruce. And after all your parents went through, they had to listen to their son tell them he wanted to go into advertising.
They do deserve a medal.
Wow!
I viewed this several days ago and was impressed with your parent’s courage, commitment and action regarding social justice. You must be very proud and it speaks volumes about your parents legacy and vision. I’m from Chicago and in ’66 my parents walked in the MLK March in Cicero, IL (all white); I was very young I remember it so vividly…the impassioned commitment and courage albeit a much smaller way then your parents.
I am inspired…thank you for sharing.
Bruce,
Thank you for sharing this slice of Miami history. I’ve seen the earlier news photo of the Klan march on Flagler Street, so it was gratifying to learn about the people who helped to change the city. I’m sure you are proud of your parents, as you have a right to be.
Wow, I wish I could forward this piece of history to my nieces. I’m always looking for stories of the civil rights movement to share with the younder generation.