Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC)

Definition

The Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC) was a key civil rights organization founded in 1960 to coordinate nonviolent protests against racial segregation and discrimination in the United States. SNCC played a significant role in the grassroots mobilization of young activists, particularly college students, who aimed to challenge and dismantle systemic racism through direct action and community organizing, marking a pivotal shift in the civil rights movement.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. SNCC was established after a successful sit-in at a Woolworth's lunch counter in Greensboro, North Carolina, where students demanded equal service.
2. The organization emphasized grassroots organizing and sought to involve young people from various backgrounds in the civil rights struggle.
3. SNCC's activism included voter registration drives, particularly targeting disenfranchised African Americans in the South, as part of their broader strategy for social change.
4. The group initially worked closely with established organizations like the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC) but later adopted a more radical stance, advocating for Black Power and self-determination.
5. SNCC faced internal divisions and challenges by the late 1960s, leading to shifts in leadership and ideology as some members sought to align with more militant movements.

Review Questions

• How did SNCC's approach to civil rights activism differ from that of other organizations at the time?
  • SNCC's approach focused heavily on grassroots organizing and empowering young people to take direct action against segregation and discrimination. Unlike other organizations that may have relied more on legal strategies or traditional leadership structures, SNCC emphasized nonviolent protests like sit-ins and freedom rides. This approach helped mobilize a diverse group of activists who were willing to confront injustice directly, leading to significant impacts on public awareness and policy.
• What role did SNCC play in voter registration drives during the civil rights movement, and why was this important?
  • SNCC played a crucial role in voter registration drives, particularly in Southern states where systemic barriers prevented African Americans from voting. The organization targeted areas with high populations of disenfranchised individuals, focusing on educating them about their voting rights and encouraging participation in elections. This effort was vital not only for increasing political representation but also for challenging the broader system of racial inequality that persisted in American society.
• Evaluate the impact of SNCC's evolution over time on the broader goals of the civil rights movement.
  • As SNCC evolved, it reflected significant shifts within the civil rights movement itself. Initially focused on nonviolent protest and integration, SNCC's later embrace of Black Power signified a move toward self-determination and empowerment for African Americans. This evolution impacted the broader goals of the movement by introducing new strategies that emphasized cultural pride and community control, thereby enriching the dialogue around race and justice. The internal divisions within SNCC also highlighted differing perspectives on how best to achieve equality, influencing subsequent civil rights activism and leading to a more diverse array of strategies.

Related terms

Civil Rights Movement:

A social and political movement aimed at ending racial discrimination and securing equal rights for African Americans in the United States, particularly during the 1950s and 1960s.

Sit-in: A form of nonviolent protest where participants occupy a space, often a segregated facility, to challenge racial segregation and demand equal service.

Freedom Rides:

Integrated bus trips taken by civil rights activists in 1961 to challenge segregation at bus terminals across the South, testing the enforcement of desegregation laws.