ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI
The MOWM group led the protest against U.S. Cartridge Plant on June 1, 1942. They demanded that the employer give all the African American employees better wages and promoted to higher positions.
The end of World War 2 marked the turning point for African American freedom. In 1947, the Sit-In Protest Movement started in St. Louis, Missouri. The historians recorded the first Sit-In Movement on Feb 1, 1960 in Greensboro, North Carolina. The different between the 2 events was limited publicity with the local media.
Mayor Joseph Darst integrated the outdoor public swimming pools during 1949-1950. He tried to keep the news out of the media, but failed. All of the pools except the Fairgrounds Park accepted the African American children without violent. At the Fairground Park, almost 200 white boys assembled outside the pool area. They verbally attacked and threatened them. The police came and escorted them home.
The end of World War 2 marked the turning point for African American freedom. In 1947, the Sit-In Protest Movement started in St. Louis, Missouri. The historians recorded the first Sit-In Movement on Feb 1, 1960 in Greensboro, North Carolina. The different between the 2 events was limited publicity with the local media.
Mayor Joseph Darst integrated the outdoor public swimming pools during 1949-1950. He tried to keep the news out of the media, but failed. All of the pools except the Fairgrounds Park accepted the African American children without violent. At the Fairground Park, almost 200 white boys assembled outside the pool area. They verbally attacked and threatened them. The police came and escorted them home.
In 1950, African Americans still faced unemployment and low wages. Majority of them held unskilled job positions.
Many companies located in St. Louis refused to hire African Americans.
The 1st victory was in 1953 when all the downtown lunch counters had desegregated
Margarat Dagen led a group consisted of only women to protest at the lunch counter in Katz drugstore in Kansas City, Missouri. She proved that women have better chance of being successful with day to day confrontations or sit-ins, and instrumental developing working relationships with store owner to negotiate desegregation.
Many companies located in St. Louis refused to hire African Americans.
The 1st victory was in 1953 when all the downtown lunch counters had desegregated
Margarat Dagen led a group consisted of only women to protest at the lunch counter in Katz drugstore in Kansas City, Missouri. She proved that women have better chance of being successful with day to day confrontations or sit-ins, and instrumental developing working relationships with store owner to negotiate desegregation.
The St. Louis Core led the Freedom Rides Protest during the last week of April 1961 in St. Louis and Columbia, Missouri.
During August 1963-March 1964, nonviolent tactics didn’t work during the Jefferson Bank Protest Campaign. The employer of the Jefferson Bank refused to obey St. Louis CORE’s demands about hiring African Americans. The protestors used picketed, blocked traffic, and sit-in to convince the employer to hire 84 African Americans.
During August 1963-March 1964, nonviolent tactics didn’t work during the Jefferson Bank Protest Campaign. The employer of the Jefferson Bank refused to obey St. Louis CORE’s demands about hiring African Americans. The protestors used picketed, blocked traffic, and sit-in to convince the employer to hire 84 African Americans.
The pictures on this pages are from A Life in the Struggle: Ivory Perry and the Culture of Opposition by Lipsitz, George.