Woolworth Lunch Counter: A Narrative Analysis

690 Words2 Pages

Taking a seat at the lunch counter, I tried to mentally prepare myself for what was in store. I placed the headphones on my head, my hands on the table, closed my eyes and was greeted with an affirming voice:
“This your time first right? So far, so good...nice and calm, you’ll be alright, just stay calm.”
Moments later, the shouts of those opposed to my actions grew, repeating “get up, get up, get up,” each louder than the last. I wanted to drop everything and run away from the counter for protection, but I couldn’t. I needed to stay. I needed to endure the same humiliation and dehumanizing threats that those who sat at the lunch counter before myself experienced.
“If you don’t get up boy, I’m gon’ kill you... right in front of everybody. I’m gonna take this fork and I’ma jam it right into your neck”
I did nothing to deserve this. I simply just took a seat and wanted to be served like everyone else in this establishment, but …show more content…

Many exhibits had caught my attention, but the one that grabbed it was the Woolworth Lunch Counter. It’s a simulation that allows visitors to experience what the young men and women protesters went through. I thought I would’ve been able to put on a tough persona and breeze through this simulation, however, I couldn’t. This makes me wonder how the men and women who actually participated in the sit-ins were able to. They allowed themselves to be dehumanized, endured racial slurs, brutal attacks and showed no signs of retaliation. This takes an unmeasurable amount of dedication and self-resilience, which I hope to learn by traveling to 1960. Their actions remind me that you don’t need to do something massive to make a change and that even the smallest actions can ignite the most significant mass movements. From these students, I can learn what it truly means to be a servant leader—someone who focuses on the growth and well-being of their local

Show More
Related

  • Mlk Jr. Apostle Of Militant Nonviolence

    1084 Words  | 3 Pages

    Everyone that has been through the American school system within the past 20 years knows exactly who Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. is, and exactly what he did to help shape the United States to what it is today. In the beginning of the book, Martin Luther King Jr. Apostle of Militant Nonviolence, by James A. Colaiaco, he states that “this book is not a biography of King, [but] a study of King’s contribution to the black freedom struggle through an analysis and assessment of his nonviolent protest campaigns” (2). Colaiaco discusses the successful protests, rallies, and marches that King put together. . Many students generally only learn of Dr. King’s success, and rarely ever of his failures, but Colaiaco shows of the failures of Dr. King once he started moving farther North.

    Read More

  • Analysis of the Documentary: The Freedom Riders

    1006 Words  | 3 Pages

    This documentary is based on Raymond Arsenault’s book “Freedom Riders: 1961 and the Struggle for Racial Justice”. It was a radical idea organized by the Congress of Racial Equality (CORE) that alarmed not only those who challenged the civil rights but also deliberately defied Jim Crows Law that were enacted between 1876 and 1965, by challenging the status quo by riding the interstate buses in the South in mixed racial groups. This law segregated public services like public transportation, public places, public schools, restrooms, restaurants, and even drinking fountains for black and whites. Though these activists were faced by various bitter racism, mob violence and imprisonment, they were successful in desegregating the buses and bus facilities in the Deep South in September 22, 1961. They strove for nonviolent protest for justice and freedom of African Americans freedom.

    Read More

  • Success and Failure of the Civil Rights Movement

    1574 Words  | 4 Pages

    This is not only shown by the successful nature of the bus boycott, but it is shown through the success of Martin Luther King’s SCLC, or Southern Christian Leadership Conference. The conference was notable for peaceful protesting, nonviolence, and civil disobedience. Thanks to the SCLC, sit-ins and boycotts became popular during this time, adding to the movement’s accomplishments. The effective nature of the sit-in was shown during 1960 when a group of four black college students sat down at a Woolworth’s lunch counter in hopes of being served. While they were not served the first time they commenced their sit-in, they were not forced to leave the establishment; their lack of response to the heckling and ill-treatment they received inspired blacks throughout the deep South to imitate their actions....

    Read More

  • Ain't Scared of your Jails

    1527 Words  | 4 Pages

    One of the first documented incidents of the sit-ins for the civil rights movement was on February 1, 1960 in Nashville, Tennessee. Four college African-Americans sat at a lunch counter and refused to leave. During this time, blacks were not allowed to sit at certain lunch counters that were reserved for white people. These black students sat at a white lunch counter and refused to leave. This sit-in was a direct challenge to southern tradition. Trained in non-violence, the students refused to fight back and later were arrested by Nashville police. The students were drawn to activist Jim Lossen and his workshops of non-violence. The non-violent workshops were training on how to practice non-violent protests. John Lewis, Angela Butler, and Diane Nash led students to the first lunch counter sit-in. Diane Nash said, "We were scared to death because we didn't know what was going to happen." For two weeks there were no incidences with violence. This all changed on February 27, 1960, when white people started to beat the students. Nashville police did nothing to protect the black students. The students remained true to their training in non-violence and refused to fight back. When the police vans arrived, more than eighty demonstrators were arrested and summarily charged for disorderly conduct. The demonstrators knew they would be arrested. So, they planned that as soon as the first wave of demonstrators was arrested, a second wave of demonstrators would take their place. If and when the second wave of demonstrators were arrested and removed, a third would take their place. The students planned for multiple waves of demonstrators.

    Read More

  • The March on Washington - August 28, 1963

    1353 Words  | 3 Pages

    One hundred years after the Emancipation Proclamation was written, African Americans were still fighting for equal rights in every day life. The first real success of this movement did not come until the Brown vs. Board of Education decision in 1954 which was followed by many boycotts and protests. The largest of these protests, the March on Washington, was held on August 28, 1963 “for jobs and freedom” (March on Washington 11). An incredible amount of preparation went into the event to accommodate the hundreds of thousands of people attending from around the nation and to deal with any potential incidents.

    Read More

  • Summary Of Nashville: The Cornerstone Of The Sit-In Movement

    2056 Words  | 5 Pages

    Franklin McCain, Ezell Blair Jr., Joseph McNeil and David Richmond were freshmen at the Agricultural and Technical College of North Carolina located in Greensboro. On February 1, 1960, they walked to the F.W. Woolworth Company store, sat on stools meant exclusively for white customers and asked to be served. When they were denied, they remained seated until the store closed. The story of the “Greensboro Four” initiated a movement that would eventually accumulate to over 70,000 sit-in participants within the next year in downtowns all across America.1 While Greensboro did initiate the movement, it would not have been sustained without the help of Nashville, TN. By comparing and contrasting the

    Read More

  • Corner Store: A Narrative Analysis

    310 Words  | 1 Pages

    Scenes from a Corner Store present the topic of adaption of immigrants into Canada with the Bak family, who encompass the ideology that the next generations of their daughters will deviate from cultural tradition. In terms of assimilation, the family interacts heavily with only Koreans, such as the dinner that Mr Bak and his wife attend for Store Owners every month. At these dinners, the most popular conversation is the condition of their children’s marriage and who they should marry indicating an importance of marriage when an individual is of age. Moreover, there is a huge importance on endogamy with a taboo on exogamy. This importance on endogamy lead to Carolyn concealing her boyfriend Rob from her parents for so long. This is indicated

    Read More

  • The Crusade for Equal Rights in the United States

    1129 Words  | 3 Pages

    ...rations. Segregation, which was once considered the norm, is now a thing of the past because of such demonstrations. Women were considered inferior to men and were forced to stay at home in the traditional role of housewife until the 1960s. The fact that women united together for equality allowed them to become active in politics, professional roles, and have control over their own bodies. Protestors in the 90s brought attention to inequality on a different level. The environment and economic inequality were now pressing issues. Demonstrations brought public attention to environmental, global, and economic issues. Without unity from these groups the United States would be a completely different country. It is with great admiration that I discuss the events and struggles that these people endured, for I don’t know if I would have the courage to do the same.

    Read More

  • Astor Place Riots Essay

    533 Words  | 2 Pages

    We focused on choosing a topic that really came true to the National History Day theme of taking a stand. We chose the Astor Place Riots, which occurred on May 10th, 1849 in Manhattan, New York City, because it represented people taking a stand for the actors Edwin Forrest (American) and William Charles Macready (English). The riots were one of the most catastrophic events in New York history. We went into research for the two actors’ background, and the full details of the riots. We chose this topic because we wanted to work on a project that had deep history and something that not many people have heard of. We started our research by visiting many articles that we searched on Google. Finding all of our secondary sources was easy. Primary sources were a bit harder to find because our topic is older. We went deep into finding primary sources, such as going to the library and finding books on the Astor Place Riots. We also found many pictures that showed actual evidence of the riots and the intensity of the event.

    Read More

  • History Of The First Sit-In

    246 Words  | 1 Pages

    The first sit-in was on February 1, 1960. It was planned by four students from North Carolina A&T University, Joseph McNeil, Ezell Blair Jr, Franklin McCain, and David Richmond. The four friends had often talked about making a change, but grew tired of idle talk and decided to act. They went to Woolworth’s department store, to buy school supplies and were served without a problem. After they finished their shopping, they all sat down at the lunch counter. The counter they chose to sit at was a “whites only” food counter, and they were refused service. There was a separate counter for black people outside the store, but it was much lower quality and only sold hotdogs. The main store area allowed both black and white to shop, but their eating

    Read More

  • The Role Of Jacqueline Smith: The Crazy Woman In Front Of The Museum

    420 Words  | 1 Pages

    Often times I have feared the unknown and allowed others to influence my perception of situations. For years, I let other people’s thoughts determine how I saw Jacqueline Smith, the woman who quietly protests in front of the Civil Rights Museum. It was not until August 22, 2016, that I mustered the courage to talk to what many considered, “the crazy woman in front of the museum”. Conversing with Ms. Smith not only opened my eyes to how great a role the media plays in deceiving the public, it also made me more aware of how her truth needed to be heard.

    Read More

  • County Sheriffs-Personal Narrative

    647 Words  | 2 Pages

    “You dumb? Are your eyes that slanted to see that sign? Just in case you don’t know how to read English, it says ‘no going to train tracks’.” I was speechless. I have never heard such harsh racist remarks towards me. My friends teased me as a kid, but I understood that it was a joke, it was light, and we were kids. The sheriff, however, was serious. He continued to berate me, challenge my manhood, and insult my culture. “He won’t do anything, he’s Asian” he said to his companions. They laughed and encouraged the offender as I stood there holding tears of anger back. He continued to use racist remarks and use expletives to describe me then dares me to attack him. I stood there, humiliated and angry in front of a handful of people watching from the platform. In a moment of vulnerability, I wanted to punch him. Growing up, my father trained me to box and continued for years. But if boxing taught me anything, violence is never an answer outside the ring. However, I was in his “ring,” and won. As he dared me to attack, I smiled and told him he was absolutely correct and I would take a ticket for my recklessness. Surprised, he let me walk away and labeled me

    Read More

  • Personal Narrative: My Grocery Store

    656 Words  | 2 Pages

    I wake up in the morning and I can feel the bracelet sliding down my arm as I get up. The bracelet feels warmer than usual, this maybe because my arms are covered with blankets that make it warm during the night. When I wake up in the morning my bracelet has no distinct smell…but when I am getting ready I put perfume on that lingers on to the bracelet throughout the day. So it smells fruity almost like fresh berries that you would smell as you walk through the produce section of the grocery store. But a good smell, fresh and fruity.

    Read More

  • Peaceful Protests Research Paper

    521 Words  | 2 Pages

    The 1960 Greensboro sit-ins were a way in which African Americans protested against racial segregation. The people who participated in the sit-ins were well aware of the trouble they could get into and yet they accepted that. Young black students attending North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University and Bennett College, inspired by Martin Luther King, gathered to protest racial segregation at the local Woolworth. Initially, four students came in and requested to be served lunch from the “whites only” counter of the store, but they were denied service and were asked to leave. The students refused and

    Read More

  • Informal Organizations In The Civil Rights Movement

    1266 Words  | 3 Pages

    In the documentary we watched in class, called Eyes on the Prize, we witnessed the preparation before each student went through before they were able to participate in the sit-ins. The documentary revealed the violent tactics of some folks displayed in result of the protestors. The protestors faced brutal beatings, and after the violence they faced, the protestors were the ones that were taken to jail (Eyes on the Prize). Each student needed to be well prepared for the sit-ins because their patience was going to be tested. The training was just a small dose of what may happen at the restaurants, but anything could have been expected. The training allows the students to be somewhat prepared for violent reactions, and this is essential in order to keep the movement nonviolent. The SNCC discussed “nonviolence and direct action…in an organizational context of skilled strategists,” and activist began training students in sit-in techniques (Polletta). The world was against the protestors, and the public could have reacted in anyway, so in order to be ready for anything that may have been thrown their way. The students could not just walk into a restaurant and sit at the lunch counter, because they needed to be prepared, in order for there to be synchronization between the entire group. Also the SNCC was

    Read More

More about Woolworth Lunch Counter: A Narrative Analysis

Open Document