ON THIS DAY IN UNITED STATES HISTORY
February 1, 1960
Four African-American Students Stage the
First Sit-in in Greensboro, North Carolina
On this day in 1960, four African-American students from North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State
University sat at a segregated lunch counter at the Greensboro, North Carolina, Woolworth's store.
At the time, the lunch counter only had stools for whites. Blacks had to stand to eat. The four students were Ezell
A. Blair, Jr., David Richmond, Joseph McNeil, and Franklin McCain. They were not served but were allowed to
stay.
Each day their numbers increased and the movement spread to 15 cities in 9 states eventually spreading to other
public facilites such as swimming pools, libraries, transportation facilities, art galleries, beaches, museums, and
parks.
Finally in 1964, the Civil Rights Act of 1964 made segregation in public accommodations illegal.
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