Greensboro, North Carolina has a rich history in the Civil Rights Movement, particularly in the 1960s. One of the most significant events was the Greensboro sit-ins at the Woolworth's lunch counter on February 1, 1960. Four African American college students from North Carolina A&T State University staged a sit-in protest against segregation, sparking a wave of similar protests across the South.

The Greensboro Four – Franklin McCain, Joseph McNeil, Ezell Blair Jr. (later known as Jibreel Khazan), and David Richmond – inspired others to join the fight against racial discrimination. The sit-ins at Woolworth's eventually led to the desegregation of the lunch counter and played a key role in the broader Civil Rights Movement.

Greensboro was also the site of the 1963 Greensboro City Board of Education v. David Litton, a landmark Supreme Court case that challenged racial segregation in public schools. Litton, an African American student, was denied admission to an all-white school in Greensboro, leading to a legal battle that ultimately contributed to the desegregation of public schools nationwide.

Additionally, the International Civil Rights Center and Museum in Greensboro honors the legacy of the sit-in movement and educates visitors about the history of civil rights activism in the city and beyond. Greensboro continues to be a significant location for commemorating and celebrating Black history and the ongoing struggle for racial equality.