The 1960 Greensboro Sit Ins Story

Their plan for the Greensboro Sit In was simple. The four students would first stop at Ralph Johns’ store so that Johns could contact a newspaper reporter. They would then go to the Woolworth’s five-and-dime store to purchase items, saving their receipts. After finishing their shopping, they would sit down at the lunch counter and courteously request service, and they would wait until service was provided. In what state did the protest take place?

• North Dakota

• Virginia

• Florida

• North Carolina

On February 1, 1960, Ezell Blair Jr., David Richmond, Franklin McCain and Joseph McNeil started a Sit In Protest at a Greensboro Woolworth lunch counter that wouldn't serve African Americans. Thirty years later, the four men gathered at North Carolina Agricultural and Technical College for a reunion. In what year did this reunion take place?

• 2010 - It was last time the 4 men would gather together, Less than 6 years after the reunion, the Woolworth's was torn down and replaced with a Super Walmart.

• 1990 - It was last time the 4 men would gather together, Less than 6 months after the reunion, David Richmond passed away

• 1980 - It was last time the 4 men would gather together, Less than 3 month after the reunion, Franklin McCain and Joseph McNeil had a disagreement and stopped speaking to each other

• 2000 - It was last time the 4 men would gather together, Less than 6 years after the reunion, Ezell Blair Jr. passed away

On February 1, 1960, four freshman from North Carolina Agricultural and Technical College began a "sit in" demonstration in Greensboro, North Carolina. They were protesting the segregated "whites only" policy at Woolworth's lunch counter. Which statement explains why their protest was effective?

• The Sit In protest was effective because the protestors rioted and burned the Woolworth store down. When the Woolworth's was rebuilt it was no longer segregated

• The Sit In protest was effective because the four college kids opened their own restaurant next to Woolworth''s. Their restaurant was successful because they only served African Americans.

• The Sit In protest was effective, because the Woolworth was so jammed with protesters, that store began to lose money.

• The Sit In protest was effective because Woolworth began to improve the menu. Customers could buy Roast Beef and BBQ Pork Sandwiches that both White folks and African American folks enjoyed. They even had vegetarian items on the menu!

Their plan for the Greensboro Sit In was simple. The four students would first stop at Ralph Johns’ store so that Johns could contact a newspaper reporter. They would then go to the Woolworth’s five-and-dime store to purchase items, saving their receipts. After finishing their shopping, they would sit down at the lunch counter and courteously request service, and they would wait until service was provided. What were the names of the students who organized this historic protest?

• John Lewis, Ralph Abernathy, Andrew Young and Jesse Jackson

• Cynthia Wesley, Carole Robertson, Addie Mae Collins, and Denise McNair,

• Medgar Evers, Emmitt Till, Jimmie Lee Jackson, and John Lewis

• Ezell Blair Jr., David Richmond, Franklin McCain and Joseph McNeil

On February 1, 1960, four African-American students of North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University asked to be served at a lunch counter inside the Greensboro, North Carolina Woolworth’s store. This protest in Greensboro began a wave of nonviolent protest against segregation in the United States. Was is the name for this important event?

• Greensboro Sit Ins

• March on Greensboro and Beyond

• March to Selma

• Greensboro Protests for better service at Woolworths

• The Marches against the Civil Rights Act of 1960

The Sit In took place at a Woolworth's Store. What kind of store was Woolworth's?

• In the 1950's and 60's, many small towns had a Woolworth Store. The stores were called "Five and Tens" because most items sold at very low prices. Most Woolworth's stores also had a small "sit down" restaurant and a counter where customers sat on stools. The menu included

• In the 1950's and 60's, many large towns had a Woolworth Store. The stores were huge and referred to as "big box" stores. Most sold all kinds of items and at all levels of prices. Like Target and Walmart have today, Woolworth's stores also had several fast food chain restaurants sold fast food.

• Woolworth Stores sold expensive "high end" merchandise like TV sets and fancy name brand clothing. Only the largest cities had enough customers to support a Woolworth Store.

• Woolworth stores were losing customers in the 50's and 60's, like Kmart was last year. Before the African American students could stage their Sit In, the store closed.

What was Ezell Blair’s inspiration for planning the Greensboro Sit In on February 1, 1960?

• Mohandas Gandhi - He used non violent protest to help the country gain independence for the British in 1948.

• Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. - He used non violent protests to end Jim Crow and segregation laws on public busses in Montgomery Alabama

• Rosa Parks - Her arrest because she forced a white man to take her seat on a crowded bus in Montgomery Alabama sparked a white boycott of Montgomery's Public transit system

• The Little Rock Nine - These nine students were the first African Americans students to attend the previously segregated Little Rock Central High School in Arkansas

How long did it take for lunch counters and restaurants to begin to serve both white and African American patrons?

• Despite a few arrests, progress was swift. At many stores, African-Americans were soon eating at the same lunch counters as whites by the end of February 1960.

• It took many, many years before all the Woolworth store restaurants were serving African Americans. It wasn't until 1971 that Woolworth allowed African Americans to eat at their restaurants.

• In March 1960, there was a huge riot in Greensboro. The Woolworth's Store burned down. By 1962, when the first Walmart opened in the Greensboro area, most restaurants were serving white folks and African Americans.

• Despite many arrests, progress was painstakingly slow. At many stores, African-Americans weren't eating at the same lunch counters as whites until the end of February 1975.

On February 1, 1960, four African-American students of purposely sat at a white-only lunch counter inside a Greensboro, North Carolina Woolworth’s store. What university did they attend?

• North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University

• North Carolina State University

• Bethune-Cookman University

• Catawba University