1960: The First Lunch Counter Sit-In

One day in Greensboro, North Carolina, four black students (Ezell Blair Jr., David Richmond, Franklin McCain and Joseph McNeil, later known as the Greensboro Four) visited the local Woolworth store to purchase a few small items, but they broke the “rules” by setting themselves at the lunch counter. When they all asked for cups of coffee, they were refused and were told that “We don’t serve Negroes here. Negroes eat at the other end” (of the 66-seat counter). The first of many “sit-ins” began on this day in 1960 when the group were told to leave but they refused. The store manager thought that the quartet would eventually give up and leave. They didn’t until the store closed for the night. However, early the next morning the four of them returned to the counter along with about 15 more students and it caught the attention of the media and back on campus, the group formed the Student Executive Committee who sent the following letter to the president of Woolworth:

“Dear Mr. President: We the undersigned are students at the Negro college in the city of Greensboro. Time and time again we have gone into Woolworth stores in Greensboro. We have bought thousands of items at the hundreds of counters in your stores. Our money was accepted without rancor or discrimination, and with politeness towards us, when at a long counter just three feet away our money is not acceptable because of the colour of our skins…… We are asking your company to take a firm stand to eliminate discrimination. We firmly believe that God will give you courage and guidance in solving the problem. Sincerely Yours, Student Executive Committee.”