On February 1, 1960, four Black students from NC A&T sat at a segregated Woolworth’s lunch counter in Greensboro.
Black churches in cities like Durham and Charlotte offered safety, unity, and strategy for civil rights activists.
Born in Norfolk, raised in Littleton, NC—Ella Baker became a key strategist behind SNCC and the SCLC.
Brown v. Board reached NC slowly, but pioneers like Dorothy Counts helped integrate schools despite harassment.
Durham, known as "Black Wall Street South," was a hub for Black entrepreneurship and organizing.
NC’s civil rights leaders influenced national policy, inspired movements, and mentored younger activists.