Embedded Files
1960
1960
February 1
February 1
Greensboro sit-in prompts debate among students at Lincoln High School.
Greensboro sit-in prompts debate among students at Lincoln High School.
February 28
February 28
Chapel Hill sit-in at Colonial Drug store on Franklin Street staged by Lincoln High School Students.
Chapel Hill sit-in at Colonial Drug store on Franklin Street staged by Lincoln High School Students.
The Chapel Hill Nine: Harold Foster, William Cureton, John Farrington, Earl Geer, Dave Mason, Jr., Clarence Merritt, Jr., James Merritt, Douglas Perry, Albert Williams
The Chapel Hill Nine: Harold Foster, William Cureton, John Farrington, Earl Geer, Dave Mason, Jr., Clarence Merritt, Jr., James Merritt, Douglas Perry, Albert Williams
March 1
March 1
Mass meeting at Roberson Street Community Center leads to formation of Chapel-Hill Carrboro Committee for Racial Equality.
Mass meeting at Roberson Street Community Center leads to formation of Chapel-Hill Carrboro Committee for Racial Equality.
Harold Foster is made chair of the Executive Committee.
Harold Foster is made chair of the Executive Committee.
March
March
William D. Blake, Chapel Hill Police Chief, arranges conferences between “adult leaders" of the black and white communities’ in an attempt to dissuade protests.
William D. Blake, Chapel Hill Police Chief, arranges conferences between “adult leaders" of the black and white communities’ in an attempt to dissuade protests.
Spring
Spring
Chapel Hill Merchants Association proposes of trial period for service to black community.
Chapel Hill Merchants Association proposes of trial period for service to black community.
March 21
March 21
Committee for Racial Equality resumes picketing.
Committee for Racial Equality resumes picketing.
April
April
10 religious groups at the university, whose memberships are mostly white, sponsor an attempt to desegregate movie theaters (The Carolina and The Varsity).
10 religious groups at the university, whose memberships are mostly white, sponsor an attempt to desegregate movie theaters (The Carolina and The Varsity).
Summer
Summer
Blacks continue to picket stores with segregated eating facilities.
Blacks continue to picket stores with segregated eating facilities.
School board decides to integrate first grade at Estes Hills (Vickers v. Chapel Hill-Carrboro Schools).
School board decides to integrate first grade at Estes Hills (Vickers v. Chapel Hill-Carrboro Schools).
From Carrboro Citizen: "In 1959, Vickers’ parents requested that he be allowed to attend Carrboro Elementary, which was closer to the family’s Carrboro residence than the all-black Northside Elementary School. The school board voted 4-2 to deny the Vickers family’s application, with UNC School of Law Dean Henry Brandis and First Baptist Church Rev. John Manley dissenting. Brandis later resigned from the board in protest.
Durham lawyers Conrad Pearson and William Marsh, along with Thurgood Marshall, filed a federal lawsuit on behalf of the Vickers family, and Stanley’s decision came down in 1961, paving the road for integration across the southeastern United States.
<p>That fall, Vickers, along with fellow black student Ted Stone, entered a previously all-white junior high school, while Sheila Bynum – now Sheila Bynum Florence – became the first black student at Chapel Hill High School."
1961
1961
February
February
Movement to integrate Chapel Hill theaters becomes known as Citizens for Open Movies (mostly white organization who sought to control black protesters)
Movement to integrate Chapel Hill theaters becomes known as Citizens for Open Movies (mostly white organization who sought to control black protesters)
E. Carrington Smith, manager of Carolina Theater, refuses to integrate
E. Carrington Smith, manager of Carolina Theater, refuses to integrate
August 17
August 17
First blacks attend an integrated showing at the Carolina Theater of "The Dark at the Top of the Stairs" (only black university students allowed): Ann Douglas and Edith Mayfield.
First blacks attend an integrated showing at the Carolina Theater of "The Dark at the Top of the Stairs" (only black university students allowed): Ann Douglas and Edith Mayfield.
Fall
Fall
First schools integrate following Brown V. Board of Education.
First schools integrate following Brown V. Board of Education.
Stanley Vickers, Ted Stone integrate junior high school, Sheila Bynum becomes first black student at Chapel Hill High
Stanley Vickers, Ted Stone integrate junior high school, Sheila Bynum becomes first black student at Chapel Hill High
October 24
October 24
Citizens Committee for Open Movies resolves to picket theaters if they do not open to all. Reflection of indigenous black community.
Citizens Committee for Open Movies resolves to picket theaters if they do not open to all. Reflection of indigenous black community.
November 12
November 12
Picketing resumes & Varsity begins to allow “university blacks” to attend screenings
Picketing resumes & Varsity begins to allow “university blacks” to attend screenings
1962
1962
February
February
Theaters open to all blacks
Theaters open to all blacks
Summer
Summer
Chapel Hill-Carrboro Ministerial Association joins with other local organizations to support civil rights causes.
Chapel Hill-Carrboro Ministerial Association joins with other local organizations to support civil rights causes.
1963
1963
January
January
Pat Cusick, white student at UNC, organizes local chapter of the Student Peace Union (SPU). Harold Foster becomes early member.
Pat Cusick, white student at UNC, organizes local chapter of the Student Peace Union (SPU). Harold Foster becomes early member.
April
April
SPU joins boycott of local businesses with segregationist policies
SPU joins boycott of local businesses with segregationist policies
April 5
April 5
Picket of College Cafe on Franklin Street by UNC NAACP & SPU
Picket of College Cafe on Franklin Street by UNC NAACP & SPU
April 11
April 11
University demonstrator, Paul Hutzler, attacked by white resident of Carrboro, Roy Lee Merritt
University demonstrator, Paul Hutzler, attacked by white resident of Carrboro, Roy Lee Merritt
May 3
May 3
Community activist meeting at St. Joseph's CME begins Chapel Hill Committee for Open Business (COB)
Community activist meeting at St. Joseph's CME begins Chapel Hill Committee for Open Business (COB)
May 23
May 23
Chapel-Hill Carrboro Merchants urges its members and other public businesses to end without further delay all discriminatory practices.
Chapel-Hill Carrboro Merchants urges its members and other public businesses to end without further delay all discriminatory practices.
May 24
May 24
Mayor Sandy McClamroch forms committee to find a way to eliminate discriminatory practices in Chapel Hill and forms the Integration Committee
Mayor Sandy McClamroch forms committee to find a way to eliminate discriminatory practices in Chapel Hill and forms the Integration Committee
July
July
COB announces series of mass civil disobedience workshops
COB announces series of mass civil disobedience workshops
July 19
July 19
34 protesters, black and white, arrested at Merchants Association’s headquarters (on Franklin St) in first mass civil disobedience demonstration
34 protesters, black and white, arrested at Merchants Association’s headquarters (on Franklin St) in first mass civil disobedience demonstration
August 14
August 14
First Baptist Church (location): COB executive committee votes to remove Harold Foster from the chairmanship of the committee. The full body of the COB refuses to allow Foster to resign. Foster seen as a representative of the black community. Group splinters into CURED (Citizens United for Racial Equality and Dignity) and CORE (Congress of Racial Equality)
First Baptist Church (location): COB executive committee votes to remove Harold Foster from the chairmanship of the committee. The full body of the COB refuses to allow Foster to resign. Foster seen as a representative of the black community. Group splinters into CURED (Citizens United for Racial Equality and Dignity) and CORE (Congress of Racial Equality)
December
December
Chapel Hill Freedom Committee forms
Chapel Hill Freedom Committee forms
1964
1964
January
January
Mass arrests following protests
Mass arrests following protests
January 13
January 13
Chapel Hill Board of Alderman reject local public accommodations law
Chapel Hill Board of Alderman reject local public accommodations law
38 protesters begin sit-in in the courtroom in Town Hall (now Historic Town Hall), with others blocking the front door. Some protesters remain for several days.
38 protesters begin sit-in in the courtroom in Town Hall (now Historic Town Hall), with others blocking the front door. Some protesters remain for several days.
February 1
February 1
350 meet at St. Joseph CME and marched to Town Hall for rally.
350 meet at St. Joseph CME and marched to Town Hall for rally.
From Dr. Marcellus Barksdale:
From Dr. Marcellus Barksdale:
"On February 1, 1964, four years to the day after the sit-down demonstration by the "Greensboro Four," and the day proclaimed as "D-Day" by national CORE Director James Farmer, a massive demonstration took place as he promised. Early in the afternoon more than 350 people met at the St. Joseph AME [sic] Church to receive instructions and form ranks for the march. Scores of spectators had lined the streets by the time the marchers turned left onto West Franklin Street from Roberson Street. The demonstrators marched to Town Hall where they had a rally. Seventy-five protesters were arrested as a result of the demonstration: twenty-one were arrested at three points along Franklin Street where they sat down in the middle of the street and blocked traffic for about thirty minutes. Several arrests were made in connection with fights that broke out between marchers and members of the hostile crowd of bystanders. That night, forty-four demonstrators were arrested when they staged a sit-in at Brady's Restaurant on the Durham Road, and nine more were arrested at Carlton's Rock Pile eatery. "
February 8
February 8
Largest demonstration on one day:
Largest demonstration on one day:
"The demonstration came in four waves of 100 or more persons each, which were synchronized to tie up traffic and create mass confusion following the University of North Carolina-Wake Forest basketball game. ...Demonstrators tied up traffic for over an hour at the Franklin Street-Columbia Street intersection, the main intersection in Chapel Hill, and they disrupted the flow of traffic on the Wake Forest highway, the Durham Road and the Pittsboro Road. Chapel Hill was thrown into a state of visible chaos."
February 10
February 10
Picketing outside Town Hall, 42 demonstrators arrested
Picketing outside Town Hall, 42 demonstrators arrested
June 1964
June 1964
Civil Rights Act passed by Congress
Civil Rights Act passed by Congress
Black members of community test civil rights law by visiting formerly segregated eateries. Denial of service and attacks at two eateries: Watts Grill and Clarence’s Bar & Grill
Black members of community test civil rights law by visiting formerly segregated eateries. Denial of service and attacks at two eateries: Watts Grill and Clarence’s Bar & Grill
July 10
July 10
Peter Leak charges Austin Watts with assault and threatens a lawsuit. Watts Grill desegregates.
Peter Leak charges Austin Watts with assault and threatens a lawsuit. Watts Grill desegregates.
January 1965
January 1965
NC Governor Terry Sanford commutes sentences of 13 demonstrators in his final week in office
NC Governor Terry Sanford commutes sentences of 13 demonstrators in his final week in office
*Unless noted otherwise, All dates/events, quotations taken from Marcellus Barksdale article: “Civil Rights Organization and the Indigenous Movement in Chapel Hill NC, 1960-1965.” Phylon (1986).
Historic Civil Rights Commemorations
Historic Civil Rights Commemorations
Town of Chapel Hill Task Force
Town of Chapel Hill Task Force
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