On this day in 1960: TSU Students Lead Houston’s First Sit-in

Nelson

Well-Known Member
TigerFans Premium
See the video: http://blog.chron.com/bayoucityhistory/2016/03/tsu-students-lead-houstons-first-sit-in/

March 4, 1960:

On this day, seventeen students met under a flagpole on the campus of Texas Southern University. According to the Texas Historical Commission, the students marched in pairs one mile to Weingarten’s Supermarket at 4110 Almeda Road with the objective of being served at the lunch counter. Dozens more joined them as they marched.

When they arrived, the white employees refused to serve them and patrons hurled insults at them. But, the students had strength in numbers, sitting silently for hours, they occupied all thirty counter stools in shifts.

Thus began a non-violent movement protesting the Jim Crow laws that banned African-Americans using the same public facilities as whites. As a result of the TSU students peaceful actions, more sit-ins occurred over the following days and weeks, and eventually, all of Houston’s lunch counters were desegregated later that same year.

Are you or do you know someone who participated in this historic movement? We’d love to hear your story. Tweet me, Michael Callahan, @MCallahanTV using #ForgottenDayHOU.
 
Back
Top