Belles Then & Now
"You can't go to a restaurant if you don't have money.  
So it was totally almost a spiritual movement." 
- Michael Stanley, Bennett College Chaplin (1962-1964) 

Bennett Belles Helped Fulfill "The Dream"

Boycotting of Local Theatre

Photo Courtesy Of 'The Bennett Belle 1973

In the early 1960s Bennett Students participated in the boycotting of public eating facilities. They were instrumental in the ending of segregated practices of local theatres.


~ The Bennett Belle

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Lunch Counter Pickett

Photo Courtesy of 'The Bennett Belle 1973.'

One of the most publicized public demonstrations occurred during the silent march on downtown Greensboro. Students campaigned against stores which practiced discriminatory employment. A local attorney claimed that the demonstrations was communist inspired and supported by Black Muslims. 


~ The Bennett Belle

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"Operation Doorknock" Car Pool 

Photo Courtesy of 'The Bennett Belle 1973'

Operation Doorknock Carpool, was part of the 34th annual Homemaking Institute. It consisted of a house to house effort to get African Americans in the community to register to vote from April 1-22, 1960. 


 ~ The Bennett Belle

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Voter Registration 

Photo Courtesy of 'The Bennett Belle 1973'

With the assistance of the NAACP, the AFL-CIO Committee on Political Education, and prominent civic leaders, Belles registered 1,478 African Americans out of 5,720 in Greensboro. Thurgood Marshall and Dr. Benjamin Mays helped launch the event. 


~ The Bennett Belle

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Belles Dress

Bennett College women were known for their preppy dress code, but these women were also political and community activists.  And this spirit of activism is still seen in Belles today.

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50th Anniversary Sit-In Actvities- February 2010

10:00 pm - On Feb. 1 2010, eight Belles were honored during Bennett's Academic and Cultural Enrichment Series (ACES) for their participation in the Greensboro Sit-In Movement.  Roslyn Cheagle, Shirly Dismuke Graham, Mary Ellen Bender, Desretta McAllister Harper, Jean Neff Herbert, Gwendolyn Mackel Rice, Roslyn Smith, and Dolores Finger Wright spoke of thier journeys at Bennett and the fight for equality. The traditions of Bennett are still strong as they stand to sing the alma mater with the student body.

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11:00 am - Belles prepare to march down town after panel discussion at Bennett in the Chapel.

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11:30 am - Belles discuss the significance of the burying of the time capsule at the February One monument.

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Noon march from the February One monument at A&T to the Phil G. McDonald Plaza downtown.

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1:00 pm - Belles holding signs at the program at McDonald Plaza.

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