Houston's First Sit-In, March 4, 1960
Introduction
Text-to-speech Audio
On March 4, 1960, students from Texas Southern University marched from their campus to Weingarten Supermarket and conducted a sit-in at the white-only lunch counter. This was Houston's first major sit-in and was one of several sit-ins taking place throughout the South in the wake of the Greensboro sit-ins that began on February 1st.
Images
Students sitting at the counter during the protest
Backstory and Context
Text-to-speech Audio
The Civil Rights Movement essentially began in 1955 when Rosa Parks refused to move from her seat to the back of the bus on which she was a passenger. Five years later, as stated above, the first sit-in occurred at a Woolworth's in Greenboro, North Carolina.
Seventeen students began met on Texas Southern University's campus and began a 45 minute walk to the sit-in location, what was then a grocery store called Weingarten (it is now a U.S Post Office). Along the way, others joined them. Like other sit-ins around the country at the time, they were insulted and sat for several hours without being served. Their efforts eventually worked: by the end of the year most of Houston's businesses were desegregated.
Seventeen students began met on Texas Southern University's campus and began a 45 minute walk to the sit-in location, what was then a grocery store called Weingarten (it is now a U.S Post Office). Along the way, others joined them. Like other sit-ins around the country at the time, they were insulted and sat for several hours without being served. Their efforts eventually worked: by the end of the year most of Houston's businesses were desegregated.
Sources
Mendoza, Moises. "Houston honors TSU pioneers for sit-in that made strides." Houston Chronicle. March 4, 2010. http://www.chron.com/news/houston-texas/article/Houston-honors-TSU-pioneers-for-sit-in-that-made-169...
"TSU Students Recreate First Sit-in in Houston in 1960." ABC Inc., KTRK-TV Houston. March 04, 2016. http://abc13.com/education/tsu-students-recreate-first-sit-in-in-houston-in-1960/1231830.
"50th Anniversary Of Houston’s First Sit-In." Praise 102.1 FM. Accessed July 8, 2015. http://praisehouston.hellobeautiful.com/1323841/50th-anniversary-of-houstons-first-sit-in.
"TSU Students Recreate First Sit-in in Houston in 1960." ABC Inc., KTRK-TV Houston. March 04, 2016. http://abc13.com/education/tsu-students-recreate-first-sit-in-in-houston-in-1960/1231830.
"50th Anniversary Of Houston’s First Sit-In." Praise 102.1 FM. Accessed July 8, 2015. http://praisehouston.hellobeautiful.com/1323841/50th-anniversary-of-houstons-first-sit-in.