I lived in Greensboro, NC when the the events in this book took place. Ms. Wheaton has done a remarkable job of research, in addition to naming names and defining the racist nature of the actions and the cover up. So sadly, it was no surprise that these events took place in my former city. It was also no surprise that the collaboration between the police/Klan/lawyers/
city officials convinced the 'jury' that the so-called officials had acted properly. In this year it perhaps becomes a more important read than when it was first published.

Few people know the history of Greensboro as well as Mrs. Fripp. Having taken one of her personally-guided tours of the city, I was quite impressed with Mrs. Fripp's genuine loved and regard for Greensboro's historic offerings. That fact becomes even more evident in this book.

There seems to be no corner or alley that she isn't able to place within its historical context. Her intense devotion to history, accompanied by her first-hand involvement in the world of antiquities, has resulted in a depth of knowledge that is unparalleled. In 'Greensboro: The Chosen Center', Mrs. Fripp skillfully combines the fruits of her research with carefully chosen illustrations that are marvelous, even by themselves. The marriage between the two make this book enjoyable for just about anyone who picks it up. What a great way to learn about one of the South's greatest cities.

As with most books about cities, this one presents the town in the most favorable light. However, the photos, art work, and interesting commentary makes this one a city portrait worth buying.

In responding to Elaine Lisandrelli's book Ignacy Jan Paderewski Polish Painist Patriot (Champions of Freedom) I would like to first say thankyou to the author for giving me this wonderful book. I have known Mrs. Lisandrelli for a very long time and in that time I have been left with a very wonderful impression from her that will never leave me. Mrs. Lisandrelli came into my life as my 7th grade English Teacher. She is a fantastic teacher and a wonderful friend to me. In regaurds to her book the book was the most fantastic story I ever read. I extremley enjoyed the use of words and the story behind it.

When I was in 7th grade and in her classroom her teaching was so perfect in every way. She knew how to build a students life and courage up into the clouds to study well and be the best that person could be. I for one am one of them. I am a person who will never forget her. Mrs. Lisandrelli means the world to me and always will.

When I graduated in the year 2000 I knew then it was a time to go on with life and leave my childhood years behind me. My school, my friends there, ETC. But the one person I kept in my heart and still have there to this day is Elaine Lisandrelli who taught me everything I know. I have had other English Teachers thru my school years but not one of them was like her.

It is now the year 2002 and soon to be 2003 and I can still hear her voice teaching me and facing all the troubles I had right along with me. She never left my side and was always there when I needed her.

So I say this now and will never forget it. Thankyou Mrs. Lisandrelli for all U have done for me. I grew up and I became one of a kind and that is with all thanks to you. My teacher, My Friend

Love Brooke

On November 3rd, 1979, I was attending an internal meeting of the Communist Workers Party (CWP) in Pittsburgh, PA. That evening we repaired to the the funky living room of our Oakland district headquarters and learned from television broadcast that several anti-kkk activists had been killed or wounded during the course of a demonstration in Greensboro,North Carolina. A few minutes later, we received a call confirming our fears: four of our comrades had already died and several others were in serious
condition after having been shot in cold-blood by a caravan of Klan/Nazi members who had attacked the anti-Klan march organized by the CWP.

In her newly released, "Love and Revolution", Signe Waller, the widow of Jim Waller, one of the five to die as a result of that November tragedy, provides us with a "political memoir" that spans several genres. It is at once a biography of the victims of the Greensboro massacre, autobiography of the author, reportage, chapter in American history, political analysis and activist handbook. Ms. Waller writes in two voices: the first is that of the young Signe Waller, leftist militant circa 1979; the other voice is that of Signe Waller, year 2002. Combining these
two perspectives, Ms. Waller allows us access to the passionate thought processes of a young revolutionary as well as the sobre reasoning of a seasoned activist culling the wisdom of her experience.

Who were the five slain? Dr. James Waller, age 36; Dr. Michael Nathan, 32; William Sampson, 31; Sandra Smith, 28; Cesare Cauce, 25. These were extraordinary individuals. Collectively, they were collegiate student body presidents, Phi Beta Kappa,members,graduates of the University of Chicago, Duke,
and Harvard Divinity and accomplished physicians. Poised for professional success and the material comfort and bourgeois respectability that would have afforded, they chose instead to live, work and struggle among the poor and working classes of
North Carolina. To this end, four members of the CWP5 took low-paying and dangerous jobs in the textile mills of North Carolina and arm-in-arm with other workers fought for better working conditions and pay.

Co-workers recognized the dedication and skill of
these openly-radical CWP member, electing them as
local Presidents and shop stewards. In addition to their trade-union activities, the "5" also participated in the anti-apartheid movement, struggles for better education, and anti-racist actions. After a long day's work at the mill, Dr. Waller gave gratis medical treatment to the workers and their families, even paying for the pharmaceuticals when his patients were too poor.

In the Summer of 1979, the CWP along with other townfolk confronted and routed the Ku Klux Klan in China Grove, North Carolina, where the racist organization had been terrorizing african-americans and inter-racial couples. Emboldened by
this victory, CWP leadership in North Carolina called
for an anti-klan rally and march to be held in the
predominantly black neighborhood of Morningside
in Greensboro. The CWP publicly dared the Ku Klux
Klan to show up at the rally and even sent the white
supremacists a letter to that effect.

The Klan did show up on November 3rd, accompanied by
Nazis with whom they had recently forged an alliance.
On-the-scene television crews recorded the fatal
shootings. The CWP, complying with police orders,
were not armed and, therefore, could not mount a
defense. As one Klansmen noted, it was a "turkey
shoot".

In the wake of November 3rd, evidence came forward
that proved this was more than a brutal assault by the KKK/Nazis. Sure those groups pulled the trigger but it was later brought to light that the Greensboro police and even the FBI had been in complicity and even helped organize the
attack. Given the amount of conspiracy theory we encounter on the Internet, the sceptic should certainly be wary of such a statement. To this I can only reply, "Read the book!"

In the last pages of "Love and Revolution", we learn
that today Waller still believes in the ideals of her
youth: an egalitarian society and no war. She does not berate her years in the now defunct CWP as youthful folly. Mistakes were made from which she has learned and evolved.

She criticizes the rhetoric of the CWP. The CWP
talked tough but was in no position for a military
confrontation. This fact in no way justifies
the argument of some at the time : that the CWP "got
what it deserved" or provoked. The fact is that the
CWP was leading a peaceful "unarmed" demonstration.
Nonetheless, the group's aggressive rhetoric did make
it possible for their enemies to portray them as violent.

She also criticizes the Leninist party structure,
democratic centralism. It was according to her "long
on centralism and short on democracy".

I couldn't agree more. As a one-time member of the
CWP, I found rhetoric and democratic centralism
perniciously fed into one another. The rhetoric alienated me, divided me from myself. Often I could not distinguish my true thoughts and feelings from Party rhetoric. When one did offer an
unpopular opinion, there was always the threat that
it would not be fairly judged but simply rejected as a symptom of "petit-bourgeois" orientation or my youth(I was only 19 at the time). Due to this censorship by others, or even self-censorship, there was NO chance that a regular cadre could influence party policy. In my opinion, not only democratic
centralism but the party model, which aspires to mediate the desires of so many under a united platform, deserves to be tossed in the trash bin.

I hope that this book will be studied by many
activists. I also hope that it will serve as a call to
reawaken all those ex-members of the Communist Workers Party who have fallen into the slumber of middle-age. A better world is possible and, as Signe informs us,we are being "convened by martyrs"