On February 1, 1960, four African American college students challenged racial segregation by sitting down at a "whites only" counter lunch counter in Greensboro, N.C. Politely asking for service, their request was refused. When asked to leave, they remained in their seats. Their sit-in inspired others to engage in nonviolent protests, which drew attention to the inequalities in civil rights at the time.

Many of the men who worked together to write the Constitution expressed that protesting was an important patriotic duty and an important part of a working democracy. The first amendment of the Constitution’s Bill of Rights specifically protects some rights that are tied to protest, including the rights to petition the government, gather together peacefully, and speak freely.

The National Museum of American History added a portion of the Greensboro lunch counter to its collection after it was announced that the store would be shut down. Today it is on display as one of the landmark objects in the Museum and the centerpiece of a museum theater piece called "Join the Student Sit-Ins." More information on the lunch counter.

Freedom on the Menu: The Greensboro Sit-Ins is a historical fiction story about the lunch counter from the point of view of a young girl named Connie. Her perspective weaves emotions together with the historical details of the protests. You can learn more about the civil rights movement by reading Freedom on the Menu: The Greensboro Sit-Ins and by trying some of the activities below.