2 Equals 12

2 Equals 12

Topic: Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee

The Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC) was a key organization in the Civil Rights Movement of the 1960s. Founded in April 1960, SNCC emerged from a wave of student-led sit-ins at segregated lunch counters in the South. The organization was comprised mainly of young Black activists who were committed to nonviolent direct action to challenge racial segregation and inequality.

SNCC played a vital role in organizing and leading civil rights campaigns throughout the South, including voter registration drives, freedom rides, and grassroots organizing efforts. SNCC members worked alongside other civil rights organizations, such as the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC) and the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), to challenge segregation and fight for racial justice.

One of the most notable SNCC campaigns was the Mississippi Freedom Summer in 1964, which aimed to register Black voters in the state and increase political participation. SNCC members faced violent opposition and intimidation from white supremacists but persisted in their efforts to empower Black communities and challenge the status quo.

SNCC's emphasis on participatory democracy, grassroots organizing, and youth leadership made it a unique and influential force in the Civil Rights Movement. The organization helped to shape the strategies and tactics of the movement and was instrumental in pushing for the passage of the Voting Rights Act of 1965, which aimed to eliminate barriers to Black voting rights in the South.

Although SNCC disbanded in the 1970s, its legacy lives on in the ongoing struggle for racial justice and equality. The organization's commitment to nonviolent resistance, community organizing, and grassroots activism continues to inspire activists and organizers fighting for social change today.