For many a Woolworth lunch counter, circa 1960, is bound to bring on waves of nostalgia for bobby socks, milkshakes and rock ‘n’ roll. This particular lunch counter, however is much more than just a fun retro shop fitting for a collector or a hipster to snap up. It is a piece of American history.
It was at this counter in Greensboro Woolworth that four African-American students from North Carolina Agricultural and Technical College seated themselves on February 1, 1960, and refused to budge until they were treated like equal human beings. Through their actions the students rejected the practice of segregation in no uncertain terms and showed that they were not afraid to stand up for their rights.
Sitting at a lunch counter may not seem like a very brave or dramatic form of protest, but at a time when racism and violence against those who challenged it were rife, it took considerable courage. Franklin McCain, one of the four young men, recalled how anxious he felt that day as he planned the protest with his friends. After he’d sat down though he experienced a “feeling of liberation” and “restored manhood.”
The students found support from some unlikely quarters, with one elderly white customer telling the protesters how proud she was of them.
The sit-in inspired others to join in, and the following day the four young men returned with 15 other students. Eventually the group of protesters swelled to 1000. By taking a stand these brave young people captured the hearts and minds of others who were hungering for change, leading to sit-ins across the nation.
The rest, as they say, is history, proving that the actions of a few can be a catalyst for hope and change on a much larger scale.
Image via: NPR
Screngrab via: YouTube
