The story of the Greensboro Four
Four freshman students from all Black Greensboro North Carolina College entered a downtown Woolworth store. They bought supplies, and sat down at the lunch counter to eat, however, the waiter told them that they do not serve coloured people. They were disappointed that they were able to buy goods at the store, but were denied lunch on the basis of their colour. They held a peaceful protest across many other cities. They protested at sit-ins in stores that served only whites; the young protesters who sat and protested in these stores were spit on, insulted, cursed and hit. People blew smoke in their faces and spilled ketchup on them and pulled them off their stools. But the students remained, and did not fight back; they continued to protest peacefully. In Tennessee, as soon as police arrested 80 students, another 80 took their place, when the second 80 were arrested, another 80 took their place. Their determination paid off; the same year, African Americans were being served at lunch counters that previously only served whites.
Tags: Speak Out
