Blog Archives

Nashville sit-ins begin this day in 1960. By refusing to leave lunch counters when ordered, African American nonviolent campaigners fight to end racial segregation in downtown Nashville, Tennessee. News coverage is key to the success of the civil rights movement,  These sit-ins were coordinated by the Nashville student movement and the Nashville Christian Leadership Council, they were some of the first people to have success in disciplined nonviolence. The campaign lasted from the 13th of February to May 10th, over the course of the campaign sit-ins were staged at stores all across downtown Nashville. They consisted of mostly black college students and some white students who oppose the segregation, when these students would sit at the lunch counters white civilians would harass them and hit them but no would fight back. Eventually the students who sat at the lunch counters were arrested, over 150 students were but they were represented by a group of 13 lawyers. People were outraged by this and marched on city hall to confront the mayor. When he was asked if they should desegregate stores and lunch counters, he said yes they should. On May 10th 6 stores finally served black customers for the first time but up until the civil rights act in 1964, there would still be sit-ins at lunch counters and other places. (TV)

Cindy Sherman, an American photographer, born this day in 1954.

Burst of Joy photo of returning prisoner of war Lt. Col. Robert Stirm taken this day in 1973 by Slava “Sal” Veder. The Pulitzer-prize winning photo symbolized the end of the Vietnam War.

Diane Arbus American photographer born this day 1923.