Segregated lunch counters were a common practice in the United States during the era of racial segregation, particularly in the southern states, from the late 19th century through the mid-20th century. These lunch counters were establishments, such as diners or soda fountains, that provided food and drinks but enforced strict racial segregation, with separate areas for white customers and Black customers.

Black customers were often required to sit in designated areas or were denied service altogether at white-owned establishments. This discrimination was a way to enforce and perpetuate white supremacy and maintain the social hierarchy of racial segregation.

One of the most famous protests against segregated lunch counters occurred during the Civil Rights Movement in the 1960s. Sit-ins were organized by Black students and their allies to challenge segregation laws and demand equal treatment and access to public accommodations. One of the most well-known sit-ins took place at the Woolworth's lunch counter in Greensboro, North Carolina, in 1960. The nonviolent protests at the lunch counter and other establishments across the country drew national attention and helped to bring about the eventual desegregation of public facilities.

The sit-ins and other forms of protest against segregated lunch counters played a significant role in the struggle for civil rights and equality for African Americans in the United States. These actions highlighted the injustices of segregation and helped to bring about legal changes that dismantled the system of racial discrimination in public spaces.