The Nashville Sit-Ins Essay Example

no harm to others. Although desegregation was not what some people wanted, fighting for it was ultimately the right thing to do, even if it was considered unlawful action at the time. In the end, those students did what was right because they helped a cause they believed in.

For many years, the United States was under the “separate but equal” law where facilities and public areas were separated by race, only on the condition if all facilities were of equal quality. However, most colored facilities, like schools, were inferior to white-only schools. This segregation deprived black children from the educational and mental growth they were capable of. Because of this, the Brown vs. Board of Education case then overruled that law. From this case, it was proven that the unequal conditions of white and colored schools were a violation of the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment. This event, as well as the Montgomery Bus Boycott in 1955 really got the ball rolling for outlawing racial discrimination in America because it helped others realize that they could do something to end segregation.

During those days, most African-American students did not agree with what segregation did to society. Segregation literally separated the United States, and separation caused groups to discriminate against each other. Segregation also caused one group to remain above all others and this superior group was the first to take any benefits or opportunities while the inferior group was left with little. For example, these sit-ins started because minorities wanted to be able to order food in white restaurants. As one student said, "We believe, since we buy books and

papers in the other part of the store, we should get served in this part." These negative things affected their everyday lives and many were tired of being treated this way. This is why many of the students took action against segregation, even if it was promoting something against the law.

As this particular sit-in was set a few months before the official Nashville sit-ins, it really was a key event to the outcome of the Civil Rights Movement. It began with James Lawson who gathered up a few students to simply observe what was going on in the restaurants and slowly grew to be a whole movement in itself with 70,000 participants. Many college students, such as Diane Nash, C.T. Vivian, and Bernard Lafayette who participated in the first sit-ins such as this one, went on to continue to participate, and even lead and direct aspects of the Civil Rights Movement. All these people who started it were an important tool to what became the Nashville sit-ins.

However, what made this sit-in a perfect protesting method for students was because it was very peaceful and nonviolent. Mahatma Gandhi first introduced this type of resistance while he was attempting to be independent from Britain, and he showed the world that this new form of protesting was safe and effective. For the students, this meant that the storeowners would not get hurt, and neither would they. During these sit-ins, they were taught to be fully respectful and not cause a ruckus, which is probably why it remained inconspicuous. Their basic plan was, “Do show yourself friendly on the counter at all times. Do sit

straight and always face the counter. Don't strike back, or curse back if attacked. Don't laugh out. Don't hold conversations. Don't block entrances.” These students believed in peace and this belief helped bring legislative change to the American government.

In conclusion, what these students did was perfectly justified because they did it for all the right reasons, all the while promoting peace and non-violence. This specific sit-in was the first of many that helped bring the end to segregation. Saying that the students should not have been involved because it was unlawful is like saying everyone that participated in the Civil Rights Movement should not have because it was unlawful. Without the students help, the majority of the supporters for the sit-ins would be excluded and the protest would not have been as effective.