Cup of Freedom, Greensboro

The Cup of Freedom is a compact yet powerful public sculpture located just outside the International Civil Rights Center & Museum in Greensboro. Created by local artist Charles Jenkins-who was working as a security officer at the Guilford County Courthouse when he first sketched the concept-the sculpture was unveiled on February 1, 2010, marking the 50th anniversary of the Greensboro sit-in movement.

This bronze piece takes the shape of a coffee cup, directly referencing Woolworth’s lunch counter where four courageous students-Ezell Blair Jr., David Richmond, Franklin McCain, and Joseph McNeil-launched a peaceful protest against segregation in 1960. Jenkins’ design is deeply symbolic: the cup’s rim represents the counter itself, with the “Greensboro Four” seated around it, transforming an everyday object into a lasting tribute to civil rights activism.

Though modest in size, the Cup of Freedom carries weighty meaning. It stands on a pedestal engraved with a quote by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., anchoring it firmly in the legacy of the broader civil rights struggle. As the final cup installed for a city-wide public art project, it occupies a prominent spot at the intersection of February 1 Place and Elm Street-an ideal reflection point either before or after visiting the museum.

More than a sculpture, it is a vessel of memory, resilience, and quiet defiance-inviting viewers to reflect on how a simple act, such as ordering coffee, became a transformative stand for justice.