Greensboro Sit-Ins (M.S. & N.H.)
Joseph McNeil, Franklin McCain, Ezell Blair, Jr. and David Richmond were the initiators of a youth-led movement to challenge racial inequality in the South. These four African American college students went to the F. W. Woolworth lunch counter every day for the next five months. All four of them were attending North Carolina A&T University. Back then blacks were required to stand if they wanted to be served. Before going to the lunch counter, the four young men first bought some toothpaste. They made sure that they kept the receipts as proof that the store would sell to them. The students sat down at the lunch counter and politely asked for service. Their request was refused due to their race. The four simply stayed in their seats after they were asked to leave. Their commitment eventually led to non-segregated counters at restaurants.
- One of the most important things about this protest was that it was peaceful. Everyone who participated in this sit-in never expected to be served. They simply wanted to make a change. They sat and endured unimaginable pain for their beliefs. Some people came up to the students and held a flame to their skin. Others would push them off their stools simply to kick and beat them. Once the police came, instead of arresting the people causing violence, they would arrest any blacks in the vicinity(Whitt [Page 50]). The African Americans, however, would peacefully go to jail and repeat everything as soon as they got out. After the protests finally ended on July 25, 1960 the first four told that they had been greatly influenced by Mohandas Gandhi's example of nonviolence. They stressed that their own Christian beliefs were their primary motivation. They wanted justice. Despite their want for peace they couldn't control what other people did. Often times fights broke out in the shops. No matter what happened the protesters never fought back. This was possibly some of the most peaceful and silent protests of its time.
Woolworth’s was a very good convenience store for any race to go to if they just wanted to get normal, everyday products. It wasn’t a great store if they wanted to order say a coke, or maybe some food from the counter. Instead of sitting, any colored customers had to stand up while eating and drinking their food. Some students had tried to protest at counters of other stores, but the store owners simply took out the counter so that nobody would be able to use it. Woolworth’s refused to do that. They wanted the counter, and they wanted it to be a whites only counter. That is, until the African Americans decided to intervene. Eventually, despite their perseverance thus far, Woolworth’s had to cave into the blacks protests. Woolworth’s was also an optimal choice for the protests because it was a chain, so people that didn’t live in Greensboro could still help out in the protests. Woolworth’s was definitely the best choice.
- Aside from the obvious lack of equality at the counter, there was complete equality in every other part of the store. If someone wanted to buy something from the convenience store part of Woolworth’s, then a white or black man could get anything without limitations. The students from North Carolina A&T University even bought toothpaste before sitting at the counter to prove that the same store would take money from any race. There wasn’t a price difference for a white or black man. There wasn’t a quality difference for a black or white man. The only difference wasn’t what one could or couldn’t buy, but where one could or couldn’t sit.
- Many African American protesters at Woolworths would gladly go to jail. It soon became an honored experience for the students participating in sit ins. Some students would go to a sit-in just so that they could go to jail and then get bailed out. They believed that if a person went to jail for freedom, it would make a difference and that it would show a person’s loyalty toward their race. Going to jail soon became like a badge of honor(Whitt [Page 51]). Probably the most important part of this fact is that children that were just going into college were deciding to go to jail all on their own.
- By the end of the protest, African Americans were allowed to sit at the counter with white people. No more did blacks have to stand up when they were being served. No more was Woolworth’s a segregated store. People who had been walking out in the hot sun could come in to order a coke and sit down instead of having to watch everyone else relax. Equality was finally upon those who deserved it through hard work and effort.
Even after learning about the horrors of segregation, many Americans still practice it with other races that come to the U.S. for the sole purpose of safety and freedom. One example of this prejudice happens every day: a young Hispanic man and his family come to America for a better future, however he is looked down upon by others because of his skin color. He is told to leave immediately and to not steal anything when he makes a quick stop at a convenience store every time he goes (Diaz [Page 1]). Thankfully, much like African Americans, other races are willing to march for their civil rights. They’re also willing to do a lot more to ensure their equality, like shopping in stores that look down upon them no matter how much business they bring. No one can give more American courage than those who believe that they should be treated like Americans regardless of skin color.
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1D39DvSwDfQa3dCOZjX5D7m1jAVzAvEBF-165wrL8Q_U/edit?usp=sharing
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1D39DvSwDfQa3dCOZjX5D7m1jAVzAvEBF-165wrL8Q_U/edit?usp=sharing
Greensboro Sit-Ins (K.P. and V.M.)
On a crisp Monday afternoon, in February 1960, history was forever changed. While most college students were stuck in a classroom, four young men started a movement so powerful that it became nationally renowned at the time. These peaceful and quiet demonstrations became known as the “Greensboro Sit-ins”.
- What Were The Greensboro Sit-ins?
- The Greensboro Sit-ins were a series of non-violent, civil rights protests. Even though they were not the first sit-ins throughout the Civil Rights Movement, they became the most famous and impactful ones throughout the nation at the time. It all started on February 1, 1960, by four African American college students, who decided to sit down at the “white only” lunch counter at F.W. Woolworth’s. After politely asking for service, they were denied and asked to leave. However, they did not leave. In fact, they stayed until the store closed, and began planning and recruiting more students for the next day.
- Who was involved?
- The Greensboro Sit-ins lasted around six months, but the first one was started by four college students from the North Carolina A&T University. They later became known as The Greensboro Four, but before that they were just college kids. Their names are: Joseph McNeil, Ezell Blair, Jr., Franklin McLean, and David Richmond. But they were not ordinary college students, they were inspired to revolt against injustice. Many of their classmates later joined them for countless sit-ins. Furthermore, adults, including teachers, joined in, and not just black, but white community members who believed in their cause.
- The Greensboro Sit-ins lasted around six months, but the first one was started by four college students from the North Carolina A&T University. They later became known as The Greensboro Four, but before that they were just college kids. Their names are: Joseph McNeil, Ezell Blair, Jr., Franklin McLean, and David Richmond. But they were not ordinary college students, they were inspired to revolt against injustice. Many of their classmates later joined them for countless sit-ins. Furthermore, adults, including teachers, joined in, and not just black, but white community members who believed in their cause.
- How Did They Do It?
- Joseph McNeil, Franklin McCain, Ezell Blair, Jr., and David Richmond enrolled as freshmen at North Carolina A&T University, and they soon became best friends. Starting in the fall of 1959, the young men held a meeting in their dorm rooms every evening concerning ways of challenging segregation. After months of brainstorming and preparation, the “sit-in idea” seemed the most effective way to cause a blow to segregation without violence. Around 4:30 p.m., The Greensboro Four (Joseph McNeil, Franklin McCain, Ezell Blair, Jr., and David Richmond) entered the F.W. Woolworth store located in Greensboro, N.C., and spent some time purchasing merchandise at different counters, while keeping all of their receipts, before they sat down at the segregated lunch counters. Finally, the four men sat down, and they were denied service. Immediately, they pulled out their receipts, and challenged the waiter by asking him why they were served everywhere else but at this counter. After ignoring them until the store closed, The Greensboro Four considered day one as a success and went home to recruit more students to join their cause.
- Why Did They Do This?
- Like most African-Americans at the time, The Greensboro Four faced segregation and discrimination. However, these young revolutionists decided to fight the white tyranny. They fought for their own civil rights, and people rallied behind their cause. After Dr. King had been arrested, the black community was anxious to retaliate peacefully for their freedom. After the four students reached the point where they could not take segregation any longer, they knew they were going to cause a blow to segregation even if it meant losing their lives. It was time.
- What Was The Impact of The Greensboro Sit-ins?
- Like most African-Americans at the time, The Greensboro Four faced segregation and discrimination. However, these young revolutionists decided to fight the white tyranny. They fought for their own civil rights, and people rallied behind their cause. After Dr. King had been arrested, the black community was anxious to retaliate peacefully for their freedom. After the four students reached the point where they could not take segregation any longer, they knew they were going to cause a blow to segregation even if it meant losing their lives. It was time.
The Greensboro Four won a major battle against the racial America. They inspired others to protest against injustice and helped the revolution. Since these young men fought for their rights in a non-violent way, Americans, as a whole, were forever changed. Today, the three remaining survivors are able to sit down at a lunch counter like everyone else. They began a movement that helped desegregate America.
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1wMFQSQjFUTumQGNnoiewdBwLvJx6OSx-nnYti5Wpn3g/edit?usp=sharing
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1wMFQSQjFUTumQGNnoiewdBwLvJx6OSx-nnYti5Wpn3g/edit?usp=sharing