What was going on in Greensboro before the sit-ins?
Throughout school we learn about the civil rights movements that were taking place all over America, but we rarely hear what was going on before these things happened. Most people did not know that Greensboro paved the way for citizens and civil rights leaders to non-violently fight for equal rights and desegregation. Before the Greensboro sit-ins took place in 1960, much of the southern United States was largely segregated. Segregation meant that different races were kept separated. African Americans were not seen as equals, but as people who were different and not worthy of the same services. This ultimately led to violence between the different races. Greensboro, NC was located in the heart of the south, and was mostly led by all white officials. Schools were segregated and whites and blacks were kept separate when it came to education. African Americans were not allowed to use the same water fountains or public waiting rooms as white people were. They were also denied certain services at theaters and diners. African Americans were not allowed to swim in certain swimming pools or play on certain golf courses. All throughout the 1950’s African Americans pushed for desegregation. Their attempts failed, and segregation continued for more than twenty years (Alston, n.d.).
Although Greensboro was still segregated, it was very much set apart from some of the other southern cities. Greensboro was said to lack some of the “racist’s attitude” that most of the southern United States seemed to show (Alston, n.d.). Most southern cities did not tolerate colored people at all, which lead to violence and groups like the famous KKK. The social climate in Greensboro was very different, and ultimately led to what seemed to be as social progression. Greensboro’s Quaker influences dating back to the 1700’s might have played a significant part in why Greensboro was more tolerant of colored people. The citizens of Greensboro actually declared that they had a “better class of colored citizens” (Alston, n.d.). Greensboro was home to five colleges, which included three white and two black colleges. This allowed African Americans to gain education even though they were segregated at the time. Greensboro was also one of the first cities in the southern United States to announce that they would comply with the Brown V. Board of Education ruling that took place in 1954. This ruling declared that public schools that were segregated were unlawful. This ruling overturned the Plessey V. Ferguson case that said that segregation was constitutional, as long as both sides would receive equal treatment (Brock Historical Museum, 2009). Although Greensboro seemed to support this ruling, schools did not actually become segregated until the 1970’s. This led many of the African American residents to be resentful of the long delay (Alston, n.d.).
Even though Greensboro was moving towards progression, it still was not moving fast enough for many of its citizens. It took nearly seventeen years for schools to become desegregated, and made Greensboro one of the last cities in the south to allow whites and colored people to have integrated schooling. Tension between government and races were mounting (Brock Historical Museum , 2009).
Although Greensboro was still segregated, it was very much set apart from some of the other southern cities. Greensboro was said to lack some of the “racist’s attitude” that most of the southern United States seemed to show (Alston, n.d.). Most southern cities did not tolerate colored people at all, which lead to violence and groups like the famous KKK. The social climate in Greensboro was very different, and ultimately led to what seemed to be as social progression. Greensboro’s Quaker influences dating back to the 1700’s might have played a significant part in why Greensboro was more tolerant of colored people. The citizens of Greensboro actually declared that they had a “better class of colored citizens” (Alston, n.d.). Greensboro was home to five colleges, which included three white and two black colleges. This allowed African Americans to gain education even though they were segregated at the time. Greensboro was also one of the first cities in the southern United States to announce that they would comply with the Brown V. Board of Education ruling that took place in 1954. This ruling declared that public schools that were segregated were unlawful. This ruling overturned the Plessey V. Ferguson case that said that segregation was constitutional, as long as both sides would receive equal treatment (Brock Historical Museum, 2009). Although Greensboro seemed to support this ruling, schools did not actually become segregated until the 1970’s. This led many of the African American residents to be resentful of the long delay (Alston, n.d.).
Even though Greensboro was moving towards progression, it still was not moving fast enough for many of its citizens. It took nearly seventeen years for schools to become desegregated, and made Greensboro one of the last cities in the south to allow whites and colored people to have integrated schooling. Tension between government and races were mounting (Brock Historical Museum , 2009).
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