9 min

Greensboro Lunch Counter Sit-ins Witness History: Archive 2011

    • History

On 1 February 1960, four young black men began a protest in Greensboro, North Carolina against the racial segregation of shops and restaurants in the US southern states.
The men, who became known as the Greensboro Four, asked to be served at a lunch counter in Woolworths. When they were refused service they stayed until closing time. And went back the next day, and the next. Over the following days and months, this non-violent form of protest spread and many more people staged sit-ins at shops and restaurants.
Witness hears from one of the four men, Franklin McCain.

On 1 February 1960, four young black men began a protest in Greensboro, North Carolina against the racial segregation of shops and restaurants in the US southern states.
The men, who became known as the Greensboro Four, asked to be served at a lunch counter in Woolworths. When they were refused service they stayed until closing time. And went back the next day, and the next. Over the following days and months, this non-violent form of protest spread and many more people staged sit-ins at shops and restaurants.
Witness hears from one of the four men, Franklin McCain.

9 min

More by BBC

Global News Podcast
BBC World Service
Football Daily
BBC Radio 5 Live
Focus on Africa
BBC World Service
Africa Daily
BBC World Service
The Documentary Podcast
BBC World Service
Newshour
BBC World Service