Page 50 - Paths to Change
P. 50
About the Text A companion of the previous text, this text from the Arlington, Virginia historic preservation archives, is an outline detailing the events that unfolded in June of 1960 as students and activists staged sit-ins in protest of segregated lunch counters. The outline describes the premise of the protest, in addition to the resistance protestors faced, and the eventual success of their protests when lunch counters in several drug stores in the area began serving Black patrons. While this is a clear example of effective protesting that brought about tangible change, it is important to challenge students to consider why this protest worked. Were there any factors present in this protest that are not present in others? Does a protest require a tangible outcome, as seen here, to be deemed effective at shifting society? Students should examine the events and outcomes of Arlington’s sit-ins based on what they now know about protests and resistance movements. Student Questions & Sample Responses 1. What was done in an attempt to discourage or stop the lunch counter protests? Store owners and personnel closed their lunch counters and removed the seats so that protestors would not be able to sit. Local Neo-Nazi members and other civilians harassed, threatened, and injured protestors inside and outside of the stores. A drive-by shooting targeted at protestors occurred on the first day of protests, and the police arrested one of the protest’s leaders (Lawrence Henry) in an attempt to thwart their plans. 2. According to the Arlington County Board Chair, why might area stores be expected to desegregate their lunch counters? Stores were told they may be expected to desegregate lunch counters because they allowed the desegregated public to shop in all other departments of the store. In short, Blacks were allowed to spend their money in the stores and leave but were not allowed to sit and eat in the stores. 3. According to the timeline, when and for what reason do the protestors pause protests? Protestors pause sit-in protests on June 10th and June 18th to allow businesses time to reply to their request for negotiation. 4. What was the outcome of the Arlington sit-in protests? Text 10: Arlington, VA Sit-In Timeline Educator Guide The Black Inquiry Project 49
