Woolworth+Lunch+Counter+Sit-In+Greensboro,+NC

NEGROES EXTEND STORE PICKETING
==Overview== The Woolworth Lunch Counter Sit-In took place on February 2, 1960. It was a demonstration act performed in the heat of the south, Greensboro, North Carolina. During this time period the Civil Rights Movement had begun to take affect. During this time, African Americans were beginning to stand up for their rights as Americans. No longer would they let segregation and oppression dictate their lives. African Americans had long since gained there freedom, but they had yet to gain respect, which is what they sought. In order to receive equality, black Americans would perform lunch counter sit-ins, like the Woolworth Lunch Counter Sit-in, as an act of defiance. Most places in the south, banned African Americans from sitting at lunch counters, so that is exactly what they did.

Critical Issue
This lunch counter was primarily targeted for being associated with F. W. Woolworth & Co. This was the first of many sit-ins across North Carolina by college students and officials associated with an anti-segregation organization from the University of Chicago. The main issue, besides the banning of African Americans from sitting at lunch counters, was that owners had the right to refuse service to customers. In the southern portion of the United States this became an excuse for owners to segregate black consumers. It was the policy of F. W. Woolworth & Co. to not infringe upon this “right”. The mayor of Raleigh felt, “It is regrettable that some of our young Negro students would risk endangering Raleigh’s friendly and cooperative race relations by seeking to change a long standing custom in a manner that is all but destined to fail.” Just like African Americans, their cause did not gain respect either. This particular protest, at a Woolworth store, ended up not taking place due to a bomb threat. The protest, however, had a lasting impact on the Civil Rights movement and future lunch counter sit-ins.

Conclusion/Historical Significance
The New York Times spoke of these sit-ins saying, “But eggs were tossed at demonstrators at one store here. Another closed after a crowd of white onlookers had become unruly.” The protesters themselves were usually peaceful. The white neighboring people, unfortunately, were not. This created a dangerous environment for African Americans. They were fighting for their freedom, but stressed nonviolence. Because of these circumstances the courage and integrity of protesting African Americans during the Civil Rights Movement shined. The Woolworth Lunch Counter Sit-In was the model for future protests. Eventually, cities like: Fayetteville, Winston-Salem, Durham, Charlotte, and Raleigh saw the African Americans had the right to sit at a lunch counter. 