To take part in the sit-in.How hard can it be to sit at a counter all day? You go down to Atlanta for the sit-in. One by one, each protester will buy something at the store and then sit at the lunch counter. You buy some pencils and a pack of spearmint chewing gum. It isn’t long before all the seats at the lunch counter are taken.
The servers ignore everyone and try to pretend they don’t hear the students asking for a cup of coffee. They fill the napkin holders and wipe the dishes instead.
Soon a few angry white people enter the store. “Go home, Negroes and Negro-lovers!” yells a woman. A man spits on a few of the students. Another crushes a burning cigarette into the arm of the boy next to you. You don’t move. You can’t react to their abuse. Then a man grabs your collar and pours itching powder down your shirt. “See how long you can sit now!”
You feel the powder tickle and burn your back. You chew your gum and stay calm. You try to sit as still as you can. About an hour later, the police come in and tell you to leave. You look at the other students. No one gets up. One of the police officers tells the store manager to close the store for the day. Some students cheer as the manager brings out his closed sign.
Sit-in participants didn’t react when people taunted them and shouted insults
Since no one is sure if the store will even reopen on Monday, you and your roommate head back to school. Your roommate seems a little disappointed no one was arrested. You are just happy to have survived your first sit-in. But you have a newfound energy for civil rights protests. You know you want to play a bigger role.
At school, you find out there is a need for people to help desegregate bus transportation in the South. You sign up to be a Freedom Rider.