‘Friendship 9’ civil rights story made into musical

One of South Carolina’s most seminal moments in civil rights history is now the subject of a musical debuting this weekend in Columbia.

On Friday, May 1, the story of the Friendship 9, “No Fear For Freedom, The Musical,” will make its Columbia premiere at the Township Auditorium. The production is the story of a group of men who became known as the Friendship 9 after staging a sit-in in Rock Hill in the 1960s.

It begins Jan. 31, 1961, when Robert McCullough, John Gaines, Thomas Gaither, Clarence Graham, Willie Thomas W.T. “Dub” Massey, Willie McCleod, James Wells, David Williamson, Jr. and Mack Workman walked into the McCrory’s lunch counter in Rock Hill, took seats and ordered. The men, eight of whom were students at Friendship Junior College, were refused service and ordered to leave. When they didn’t, they were dragged out and arrested.

The next day, they were convicted of trespassing and sentenced to either serve 30 days in jail or to pay a $100 fine. Honoring the yet-untried Jail, No Bail strategy, which encouraged civil rights volunteers to take jail terms instead of paying fines, the men spent the next month on the chain gang, shoveling sand at the York County Prison Farm.

In 2011, author Kimberly P. Johnson was having lunch at that same lunch counter, now renamed the Five and Dine. “I was being interviewed by a local radio station when they walked in,” recalls the North Carolina native. “The reporter, Manning Kimmel, asked me if I knew who they were. I told him that I did not, so he told me what had happened at that very spot 50 years ago.” Johnson was shocked that she had never heard the story. After being introduced to the men and learning that they were there to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the event, Johnson realized she had the power to do something. “It’s an exciting and incredible story that had to be told,” she says.

Three years later, Johnson did just that, publishing “No Fear for Freedom: The Story of the Friendship 9” as a children’s book. “The book shows the decisions these brave men had to make when they decided to follow their hearts,” explains Johnson. “I can’t think of a better message to share with children, especially now with all that’s going on. It’s all about reconciliation.” She also contacted Bruce McKagan, a lyricist she’d worked with on other projects, about adapting the book into a theater production. It premiered in Rock Hill in January.

But Johnson didn’t stop there. She also approached 16th circuit solicitor Kevin Brackett about having the charges vacated. On Jan. 28, 2015, almost exactly 54 years after they were arrested, the Friendship 9 re-entered the Rock Hill courtroom. This time, they were absolved of any wrongdoing.

“We cannot rewrite history, but we can right history,” said Judge John C. Hayes III, the chief administrative judge for South Carolina’s 16th Judicial Circuit. “Now, as to the Friendship 9, is the time and opportunity to do so. Now is the time to recognize that justice is not temporal, but is the same yesterday, today and tomorrow.”

The story of the Friendship 9, “No Fear For Freedom, the Musical” is being presented by the Renaissance Foundation. The show begins at 7 p.m. with a Q&A presentation; the play begins at 7:30. The proceeds from this event will go toward the restoration and transformation of Historic Bethel Church into a cultural arts center and the new Chief Justice Ernest A. Finney, Jr. Civil Rights Museum. For more information visit thetownship.org

This story was originally published April 29, 2015 at 7:32 PM with the headline "‘Friendship 9’ civil rights story made into musical."