Greensboro Lunch Counter

Description:

On February 1, 1960, four African American college students—Ezell A. Blair, Jr. (now Jibreel Khazan), Franklin E. McCain, Joseph A. McNeil, and David L. Richmond—sat down at this "whites only" lunch counter at the Woolworth's store in Greensboro, North Carolina, and politely asked for service. Their request was refused, and when asked to leave, the students remained in their seats in protest.

For the six months that followed, hundreds of students, civil rights organizations, churches, and members of the community joined the protest and boycotted the store. Their commitment ultimately led to the desegregation of the F.W. Woolworth lunch counter on July 25, 1960. Their peaceful sit-down was a watershed event in the struggle for civil rights and helped ignite a youth-led movement to challenge racial inequality throughout the South.

User: F. W. Woolworth Co.

Used: United States: North Carolina, Greensboro

Used: Civil Rights MovementSubject: African AmericanRelated Event: Greensboro Sit-in

Subject:

See more items in: Political History: Political History, General History Collection, Food, Government, Politics, and Reform, National Treasures exhibit

Exhibition: Greensboro Lunch Counter

Exhibition Location: National Museum of American History

Related Web Publication: https://americanhistory.si.edu/explore/exhibitions/treasures-american-history

Related Publication: Kendrick, Kathleen M. and Peter C. Liebhold. Smithsonian Treasures of American History, National Museum of American History. Treasures of American History online exhibition

Data Source: National Museum of American History

Id Number: 1994.0156.01Catalog Number: 1994.0156.01Accession Number: 1994.0156

Object Name: stool

Physical Description: silver (overall color)salmon (overall color)Measurements: average spatial: 38 in x 15 in x 15 in; 96.52 cm x 38.1 cm x 38.1 cm

Guid: http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/ng49ca746a9-ed09-704b-e053-15f76fa0b4fa

Record Id: nmah_1159229

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