Kinston man reflects on integration into Lenoir County Schools

KINSTON, N.C. - "To knowingly walk into a world where you are not wanted is very, for a 12, 13 year old kid, it's almost surreal,” said Greg Hannibal, who grew up in Kinston, North Carolina during a time where he wasn't accepted, solely because of the color of his skin. "There were problems with civil rights and human rights across the nation an North Carolina was no stranger to them nor was Lenoir County and nor was Kinston."

His father moved to the U.S. from the West Indies and became one of the only black physicians in the east.

His mother, a New Jersey native, took care of the family and became an advocate for civil rights, secretly teaching other African Americans to read and write.

"People came from Jones County, Craven County in the middle of the night, driving with the headlights out so nobody would notice they were there," said Hannibal.

Hannibal said from as far back as he can remember, life wasn't easy, “Over the course of time we had 3 crosses burned in our yard, death threats, constantly, we lived in fear."

Growing up, segregation was the norm, but when it came time for Hannibal to go to high school, his parents, driven by the desire for their son to have the best education he could get, fought for change.

In 1963 they petitioned then Grainger High School to let their son go to the all white school.

He was denied.

But they wouldn't give up.

"Finally, the school board relented and Barbara Carr and I entered Grainger as the first black students," said Hannibal.

From there, things didn't get much better for Hannibal.

"I'd wake up in the morning and get ready to go to school and turn on the radio and the commentator on the radio show was saying things enticing people to attack my family," said Hannibal.
 
From his walk to school.

"You'd get the people who drive by and splash you with their cars or you walk pass someone's yard and they sic their dogs on you," said Hannibal.

To the classroom.

"There were teachers who never said a word to me, teachers that would never look me in the eye, teachers that would never call on me if I raised my hand in class," said Hannibal.

Hannibal wanted out.

"I'm probably the only kid you'll ever know that begged his family to please send him to military school,” said Hannibal.

But he stuck it out and three years later he graduated, paving the way for more and more black students to join the school each year.

Today, Hannibal is Executive Director of the Small Business Center for Lenoir Community College.

His father was inducted into the Lenoir Memorial Hospital Wall of Honor, and the Hannibal Building in downtown Kinston is named in his mother’s honor.

His bravery and determination helped change a society, scarred by segregation, and now he continues in his parent's footsteps, helping the people in his community.

"I wouldn't wish some of the stuff I went through on anybody's child, and fortunately they don't have to go through that again," said Hannibal.