1960s Teens Talked Straight During A Lunch Counter Freedom Struggle.

This sit-ins took place in Nashville, Tennessee in 1960 & was a part of the large Civil Rights Movement in the United States which aimed to end racial segregation and discrimination against Black Americans. The Nashville sit-ins showcased the power of nonviolent resistance and the impact that students and young people could have in leading and shaping movements for justice. They were instrumental in challenging and changing the system of segregation prevalent in the South.
The Nashville sit-ins targeted lunch counters at various stores, including McClellan's, Kress and Woolworth, where Black patrons were refused service. I was impressed as a college student at this time, to see young people from my generation practicing nonviolence in such scary environments. I admired them and supported their efforts as most Americans did.
What were the results of their protests?
The Nashville Student Movement organized the sit-ins, which was influenced by the nonviolent teachings of people like James Lawson, a divinity student at Vanderbilt University. Lawson conducted workshops on nonviolent resistance, training students on how to act and react during the sit-ins.
On February 13, 1960, students from local Black colleges, including Fisk University, Tennessee State University, and American Baptist College, began the sit-ins at the lunch counters. When they sat down, they were refused service, but they remained seated in protest.
Over the next several weeks, the sit-ins continued and grew in number. Participants were often harassed by white customers and, in some cases, were arrested for civil disobedience.
In addition to sit-ins, the activists implemented a successful boycott of the downtown Nashville stores. The economic pressure from the boycotts, combined with the attention from the sit-ins, was instrumental in pushing for change.
On April 19, 1960, the home of Alexander Looby, a lawyer working with the protestors, was bombed. Thankfully, no one was injured. This act of violence, however, further galvanized the movement. Thousands marched in protest to the city hall, confronting Mayor Ben West. During this confrontation, Diane Nash, one of the student leaders, asked the mayor if he believed it was wrong to discriminate against someone based on their race. West admitted that it was wrong, marking a turning point in the movement.
By May 10, 1960, after negotiations between the store owners, city officials, and protest leaders, six downtown Nashville stores began serving Black customers at their lunch counters. This made Nashville the first major city in the South to begin desegregating its public places.
The success of the Nashville sit-ins provided a blueprint for nonviolent resistance and civil disobedience that would be used in other cities throughout the South. Many of the participants in the Nashville sit-ins, including John Lewis, Diane Nash, and Bernard Lafayette, went on to become prominent leaders in the broader Civil Rights Movement.
Please consider supporting my effort to present more documentaries like this one by clicking the Thanks button below the video screen or by becoming a patron of my channel at www.patreon.com/allinaday.
Thank you
David Hoffman filmmaker

[@vanessa4587]

I hope we can learn from this and not forget. Hearing the white people say that they don't think it's right for black people to dine with them is kind of shocking these days.

[@ian_ford]

American History is trying, actively, to bury this. And anyone trying to unearth this history will be labeled a "Critical Race Theorist." Essentially shouting down any person or group who bring up the past. So, we are learning from the past; how to erase history and get away with it. Bill Barr said in 2020, _"History is written by the winners (chuckling)."_

[@bhornannawindeedeigh5007]

As a correctional officer for the State Penitentiary in New Mexico sometimes my father was given assignments of having to go pick up prisoners in other states to bring back to stand trial in NM for crimes they'd committed there. I'm not sure why these guys were imprisoned in other state prisons, but they were. One story my father told me about was about a prisoner who was shackled at the ankles and handcuffed to my fathers wrist. The prisoner was a Black man. My father had a very dark complexion, being half Picurís Native American and half Mexican American. They were riding a Greyhound Bus and the bus driver had stopped to let the passengers have lunch at a local restaurant in Alabama on their way back to New Mexico. It was 1963. As my father was entering the restaurant with his shackled charge, the restaurant owner called out to my father - who was wearing an official State of NM correctional officer badge on his suit jacket - "Hey, hey, hey, where do you think you're going mister?" My father, stunned, said "Well, we're going to sit diwn and have a bite to eat just like all the other bus fares." To which restaurant owner said "Well, you can sit down and have a meal, but that 'N-Word' can go out to the back and find something to eat out of the trash!" My dad told us he was shocked at the time, but not surprised because of the tide of the times - and that, naturally, he and his prisoner walked right on out of the restaurant and boarded the bus to wait for everyone to finish eating their meal. 😢 Luckily the bus driver took pity and had compassion for both the prisoner and my father and took them some hamburgers to go. 😢😢 I can't imagine how my father must have felt in the pit of his stomach. And had he not had that badge and his sidearm, I'll bet he would've been treated the same back then. That made me sad then - and my dad was a Hard-ass. He did not cry At All. But i remember him being sad when he related that story to us. It must've been hard for him being a correctional officer. He had to pick up a few prisoners from other states. He worked in the state pen for 25 years. 🤕 Good Lord. I just can't even imagine doing that for even a year. God bless him. God bless you, dad, fruit tree farmer, meat butcher, custodian, christmas tree seller, green chile farmer, and a WW2 Vet, as well. 🫡❤ 💐🙏🏽

[@Nan-59]

❤❤❤

[@thisisme3238]

Funny how things change, but so much stays the same.. food for thought. 🤔 Thanks David for the film, have a great weekend!

[@thenedley0913]

Man you are such a treasure.

[@DavidHoffmanFilmmaker]

Thank you. Please become a subscriber. David Hoffman filmmaker

[@andytaylor5476]

I was 7 when this occured. This just sickens and shocks me -how bad hate can be. It took Civil Rights to begin turning this around, enacting laws Civil Rights Law to deal with segregation, especially in the south. All people deserve the right to be. We are all one of mankind.

[@gregman1715]

I agree 💯 amen

[@EnigmaMan0000]

Happy Friday David, hope you and anyone else who reads this has a blessed, super safe and really restful and enjoyable weekend ahead!!! 🙃🕊️🤗❤️‍🩹😶‍🌫️🦉🥳

[@smsmsmsmsmsm]

As someone born in the 2000s in the UKs it’s baffling to me that the US had this so recently, no wonder they talk about race so much

[@romaneliasgrey1544]

It's baffling to me how you can understand that this was not long ago, and yet our fellow Americans can't. The Civil Rights Movement itself ended in 1969. I was born in 1986. That's 17 years. In comparison, the War on Terror began in 2001 when I was in 9th grade. I joined the military in '06 and retired last year. That's 23 years. It wasn't that long ago, and the effect are still here- and there in the U.K. too. Just ask any black or brown U.K. citizens.

[@RabbitWatchShop]

Being born and raised in Nashville, TN, and having being raised by two black families for a part of my childhood, I enjoyed watching this video a lot. They paved the way for me to enjoy friendships with children that I otherwise wouldn’t have been able to prior to this civil rights fight and achievement. Thank you.

[@SSdragon21]

Thank you so much for posting. Amazing footage. Grew up there. Sadly saw so much of those attitudes. 😢 Now worse in some ways. Insidiously so.

[@davidmicalizio824]

Thank you for this! ✌

[@agingerbeard]

One race, the human race. Thank you David 💙

[@armyantlocsta]

Acts 17:26

[@agingerbeard]

@@armyantlocsta what I said had no basis in religion, it was based in science and reason. That book is full of vile hatred and has no influence in my life.

[@agingerbeard]

@@Johnny-gm9wo prove me wrong. DNA is on my side, I'm curious what your evidence is to the contrary?

[@MicahScottPnD]

Quite a heavy thing to see. It makes me realize that it's a blessing that i have also seen people get along seamlessly, with my own eyes. Seeing this makes me think i have had luck with me to see such good things, which have made me generally optimistic and hopeful. I realize I could be guilty of confimation bias, but I hope not.

[@drewpall2598]

As I was watching this the film "Nine from Little Rock" a 1964 American short documentary film directed by Charles Guggenheim, came to my mind. film clips like these are a vital part of America's history that must be preserved so we can reflect back and learn from so feature generation don't repeat the mistakes of the past. Another great David Hoffman description write up. 😊👍

[@JWF99]

Agree 100%, well said Drew Pall✌

[@drewpall2598]

@@JWF99 Thanks you my friend! 😊🧡✌

[@JWF99]

@@drewpall2598 You're most welcome! ✌😁✌

[@dirtyunclehubert]

ever seen the movie "THE BUTLER" with forest whitaker? if not, its a great one depicting that very time period.

[@theinternexperience890]

I'm a history teacher and I've been following your work for years. You have done such a great service documenting all of these historic events and I greatly appreciate all the work you have done and continue to do. I regularly use your videos in class and the students really engage with them

[@eriggle83]

Such wonderfully brave young people!

[@roryonabike5863]

At the time, Wilson Yates was a 23 year old divinity student at Nashville's Vanderbilt University. There are photos on the internet of him being attacked. He went on to get a doctorate at Harvard and is now a professor emeritus at United Theological Seminary in St. Paul.

[@DavidHoffmanFilmmaker]

Thank you for sharing that info. David Hoffman filmmaker

[@GreenTea3699]

I learned later in life my mother was one of the white people walking past the protestors with her black friend. I didn't know this until I was grown and my father passed away. The day before the funeral my mother received a phone call. I saw her sit down and chat and cry like a young schoolgirl. It was a woman, Beverly, who had seen the notice in the paper and called to send her love to my mother. I heard my mother say "yes, I have 2 daughters." The lady asked to speak to me. I thought it was strange but just figured a kind stranger wanted to send her condolences about my father. My mother handed me the phone. Beverly did that, then proceeded to tell me how my mother was a hero and my mom's bravery had changed the whole course of her life. I was so confused. I had absolutely no idea what this Beverly woman was talking about. What I soon learned was Beverly was one of the first black women to attend the university my mother attended. Just as in the video above, it was a VERY heated issue. My mother, a thin, small-framed country girl, barely 5' tall and being from a rural area, had never even had a conversation with a black person before she met Beverly, a young woman her age who wanted to go to her school too. Apparently every day my mother would drive into 'the ghetto' as they called it, pick up Beverly, drive her to school and walk her in past all the protesters to the safety inside. She also once took Beverly into an all white diner and they sat at the counter and ate. As I listened to Beverly gush with such gratitude in her voice telling me about how her children knew of this amazing hero (my mom) and how proud she was to say she knew my mom and how sorry she was about my father. She gave me blessings and praise. It was like my mom was a rock star or something. After the call ended I asked my mom if people yelled at them. She said yes, a lot. She said some people spit on them. But my mother still acted like it was no big deal. I asked, "What were you thinking when you were walking in and people were screaming at you. What did you think?" My mother, very matter of factly said, "I saw another girl, just like me who wanted to go to school so I took her."

[@GreenTea3699]

Not in the exact location of the film but at a college in the Midwest

[@Mkbshg8]

@@GreenTea3699 Your Mom was a hero, thanks for sharing that beautiful story.

[@GreenTea3699]

@@Mkbshg8 Thank you for your kind words. 💕 The biggest lesson I learned from it all was to simply be kind to others whenever we can If it doesn't cost much or take any time, why not do something nice? To my mother, she was simply walking her new friend through people yelling because this girl needed someone to walk with her. But to Beverly, this simple act of kindness and bravery every day literally changed the course of her whole life. We never know when the smallest of things for us could mean the world to someone else. 💕

[@Mkbshg8]

@@GreenTea3699 Indeed. 🙂

[@armyantlocsta]

Some of these hateful folks children are alive today…And so is their learned more subtle hatred.

[@jeffreebailey4464]

Very provocative and uncomfortable conversation starter you've given us today David. Race relations, along with sexism, ageism or the many other levels of diversity labels that we all apply to our fellow brothers and sisters, must be recognized for what they are. It must be universally understood that, we each have the absolute Natural Right, to life liberty and no harm to our persons. Such a wonderful day it will be when, for instance, black people realize that they have much more in common with white people than they ever will with rich people. We MUST recognize the intentional and sophisticated way in which we are all propagandized unto perpetuating these ridiculous and harmful views about one another, which aim to divide and reduce the value of a single human life Differences exist... and it's okay. It ok, even to use humor or to recognize our cultural differences, but its never enough okay to be mean, hateful, or to think you're better in any way than someone else because of their gender, sex, age, race, financial status, etc... and once we finally recognize who our real enemies are and come together more effectively, as ONE human race, understanding and applying Universal Law, will we as humanity finally see that "Age of Aquarius" which we've always hoped our children would live in. Maybe it's easier said than done? But it is doable. All we need is love Segments like these are good conversation starters. Thanks for sharing 👍😏💞

[@DaveyJones1971]

Thank you for sharing your insight. I well believe you are right on your perspective. Take care, the world needs more people like you @jeffreebailey4464

[@jeffreebailey4464]

@@DaveyJones1971 your welcome..and thank you too! Sometimes I think we're not meant to change this world, but to simply pass through it and make a positive impact where we can.

[@DaveyJones1971]

@@jeffreebailey4464 I Concur....

[@matthewfarmer2520]

Hi David good afternoon, this was before my time, glade things got turn around when they had to do something about the situation, so they protest down the street to the city hall. My dad would probably heard about this back then, he would be old enough to know what has happened. He watching the news on tv as well.

[@stevenfranks3131]

So much story and history in this brilliant, brief clip. Raw and painful to watch. Stunning to see racists of today can be every bit as rabid, delusional, and seething with hate as they were 63 years ago.

[@milliepankow6347]

I remembrr my mom telling me stories about working in diners in the 40s & 50s in Michigan where plack people were not allowed to eat inside but would have to take the food they had ordered outside. I am glad ive never seen that happen. I know there are some places that must still happen but i hope I would be among the white folks who will fight to sopport the black folks having equality to eat where any one else would be allowed.

[@JPriz416]

I would be one of the white boys protesting with the black men and women.

[@DavidHoffmanFilmmaker]

I sat on a bus once to protest segregation in the late 1950s with black folk and felt really good about it as a white person. David Hoffman filmmaker

[@JPriz416]

@@DavidHoffmanFilmmaker I've gotten myself into some tough situations helping people. I was beat up by a group of whites because I was with aa black friend walking down a street outside FtRucker in Alabama. It seems the hate will never cease.

[@Mkbshg8]

@@DavidHoffmanFilmmaker Respect!

[@Nan-59]

“I’ve never sat with them. I’ve never lived with them, and I’m not about to start now”. Ugh 😩 I turned one year old, in June of 1960. Junior high & high school in the 70s. As far as my grade school, I believe it was totally white because it went by neighborhoods. But, my junior high and high school went by much larger areas of town, so EVERYONE was there. And it was FABULOUS! I never saw a race problem. I was friends with anyone and everyone. Ohh, to have that time in history back for a while…❤❤❤✌🏻and the MUSIC!❤

[@OlympiaCHUD]

Bret Weinstein just tweeted “Multiculturalism is tearing the West apart. A retreat into ethnic isolation only make it worse. The correct answer is Western Cosmopolitanism. It’s time we understood the distinction.” and I suggested to him that you guys have a talk. I’m suggesting this to you also as I would love to hear what you have to say on this topic. He hosts the Darkhorse podcast along with his wife Heather Heying.

[@DavidHoffmanFilmmaker]

why don't you suggest him to connect with me. I don't know him. David Hoffman filmmaker

[@michaelmitchell5098]

Thank you so much for this piece of history.

[@personanongrata987]

I was one year old then. What a different country ours was then. --

[@chamboyette853]

The guy at 4:17 sounded like a nobel prize winner:)

[@cheri238]

"The Greenbook" was a great film, true story. 🙏❤️🌏🕊🌿🎵🎶 "Driving Ms. Daisey, " "Nothing But a Man" 1965, music Motown Records, Martha and the Vandella's , Stevie Wonder among others, written by Michael Romer & Robert Young, a great cast ,leading actors Ivan Dixon, Abby Lincoln , what was the man's name that owned Motown Records in Detroit? Lol😊 Barrie Gordie?

[@jenniferswieboda5696]

Hard to believe this actually happened

[@jaredgarden2455]

I think what is most important, is an insistence that they are merely treated as equals. To be treated as any other human irrelevant of the tone of their skin, as if we were all the exact same color and person. Its important that we don't then try to over compensate, there ought not to be any black right or white rights, only human rights.

[@Bramble451]

1:04 It's John Lewis!

[@jessemurray1757]

Not detracting from topic or somehow disregarding the nature of the video but it's crazy how much different people used to speak and carry themselves not so long ago. Its almost is if they cared about dignity and respect.

[@KathysTube]

Very good... do you have any footage of the bombing of Clinton high school in Clinton Tennessee in the late 50's? Thanks David 😎👍

[@DavidHoffmanFilmmaker]

I do not Kathy. David Hoffman Filmmaker

[@fairygurl9269]

Respect

[@lynnemurphy114]

Sad ...whats changed time 🕞

[@ian_ford]

If you're a Christian, you believe God created all things. A lot of these people in this video, black and white, felt this way. To discriminate against God's creation because they don't look like you, is akin to telling God _"You made a mistake."_

[@NoExitLoveNow]

🐬🐋🐬🐋🐬🐋🐬🐋🐬🐳

[@alanzaleski7160]

If this is a free country one should be able to serve anyone they wish. Post it.

[@PhilJLF]

Most states still have a law where the business can refuse service to any customer for any reason and they don’t have to say why … I think it’s a good thing, if they don’t want that clients money, the client goes somewhere else to pay and another deserving business gets the profit; this is capitalism … it works!

[@JakobHill]

What if the majority of the population is discriminatory, and has no problem with minorities being refused service? Sadly, this is the case in small towns across the South and Midwest to this day - and even the Canadian prairies.

[@micronut6082]

That was then This is now Now if you weren't born in the 60s s you missed the whole change then the Marx has brought that crap back

[@runderwo]

The police weren't nearly as nice just a few years ago when they arrested restaurant-goers who refused to show the necessary "papers" and refused orders to leave, in a reincarnation of this struggle.

[@ozzie4306]

Look how civilized everyone acted back then. Bunch of animals nowadays!

[@TrudleR]

In Germany it is called "Menschheitsfamilie". Sort of "Human Family", if that makes sense in English. 🫶