Sit-ins were a form of nonviolent protest used during the civil rights movement in the United States. Specifically, sit-ins were used as a tactic to challenge racial segregation and discrimination in public spaces such as restaurants, lunch counters, and other facilities.

One of the most famous sit-ins occurred on February 1, 1960, when four African American college students—Ezell Blair Jr., David Richmond, Franklin McCain, and Joseph McNeil—sat down at a whites-only lunch counter at a Woolworth's store in Greensboro, North Carolina. Despite being denied service, the four students remained seated and peaceful in protest. This led to a wave of sit-ins and protests at lunch counters and other segregated establishments across the South.

The sit-in movement quickly gained momentum and brought national attention to the issue of segregation. Sit-ins were not only a powerful act of resistance but also a way for Black Americans to assert their rights and demand equal treatment under the law.

The success of the sit-in movement ultimately played a significant role in the desegregation of public accommodations and helped pave the way for the passage of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which outlawed discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, or national origin.

Sit-ins remain an important part of Black history and the broader struggle for civil rights and social justice in the United States.