What it was like for black people living in Greensboro, or most Southern cities, in 1960?
McCain: Well, during the fifties and sixties, and even before that of course, things were not very good at all. I was taught that we live in a democracy and certain things accrue to you as an individual, and I found out that wasn’t true at all. It’s what I termed “the Big Lie” by my parents and grandparents. It was said to me, “Franklin, if you do all the things that you’re supposed to do, then you’ll be no different from everybody else and you’ll have the same privileges and advantages.” It didn’t take me long to figure out that wasn’t very true at all. Like going to school and getting good grades and believing the Bill of Rights and the Constitution, believing in the Ten Commandments as your code of ethics, and being respectful to your elders. All those are great things. There’s nothing wrong with them, and I subscribed to all those principles. And I found out, “Hey, it’s business as usual.” Meaning that I was discriminated against because of my skin color and no other reason. Of cou
