Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee

Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee
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Name	Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee
Formation	1960
Extinction	1970s
Type	Civil rights organization
Headquarters	Atlanta, Georgia
Region served	Southern United States
Key people	Martin Luther King Jr., Ralph Abernathy, Julian Bond, Stokely Carmichael, John Lewis

Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee was a prominent civil rights organization in the United States during the 1960s, playing a significant role in the American Civil Rights Movement. The organization was formed in 1960 at Shaw University in Raleigh, North Carolina, with the goal of promoting nonviolent civil disobedience and direct action to achieve civil rights for African Americans. The committee was influenced by the Montgomery Bus Boycott, led by Martin Luther King Jr., and the Greensboro sit-ins, which were inspired by the Congress of Racial Equality and the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People. The organization's early years were marked by collaborations with other prominent civil rights groups, including the Southern Christian Leadership Conference and the National Council of Negro Women.

● History

The organization's history is closely tied to the broader American Civil Rights Movement, with key events including the Freedom Rides, the Birmingham Campaign, and the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom. The committee's members, including Diane Nash, James Bevel, and Bernard Lafayette, worked closely with other prominent civil rights leaders, such as A. Philip Randolph, Bayard Rustin, and Whitney Young. The organization's activities were often supported by Northern liberals, including Hubert Humphrey, Walter Mondale, and Jacob Javits, who advocated for civil rights legislation, such as the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Voting Rights Act of 1965. The committee's work was also influenced by international events, including the African independence movements and the Cuban Revolution.

● Founding and Early Years

The organization was founded in 1960 by a group of African American students, including Ella Baker, James Lawson, and Charles Sherrod, who were inspired by the Sit-in movement and the Freedom Riders. The committee's early years were marked by a focus on nonviolent direct action, including sit-ins, freedom rides, and voter registration drives. The organization's members worked closely with other prominent civil rights groups, including the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, the Congress of Racial Equality, and the Southern Christian Leadership Conference. The committee's early activities were supported by Northern liberals, including Harry Belafonte, Sidney Poitier, and Harry Golden, who advocated for civil rights legislation and provided financial support.

● Civil Rights Activism

The organization played a significant role in several major civil rights campaigns, including the Albany Movement, the Birmingham Campaign, and the Selma to Montgomery marches. The committee's members, including Stokely Carmichael, John Lewis, and Julian Bond, worked closely with other prominent civil rights leaders, such as Martin Luther King Jr., Ralph Abernathy, and Andrew Young. The organization's activities were often supported by labor unions, including the AFL-CIO and the United Auto Workers, which advocated for civil rights legislation and provided financial support. The committee's work was also influenced by international events, including the Vietnam War and the Cuban Missile Crisis.

● Notable Members and Leaders

The organization had several notable members and leaders, including Stokely Carmichael, John Lewis, and Julian Bond, who played significant roles in the American Civil Rights Movement. Other notable members included Diane Nash, James Bevel, and Bernard Lafayette, who worked closely with other prominent civil rights leaders, such as Martin Luther King Jr., Ralph Abernathy, and A. Philip Randolph. The organization's leaders were influenced by a range of figures, including W.E.B. Du Bois, Thurgood Marshall, and Paul Robeson, who advocated for civil rights and social justice. The committee's members also worked closely with Northern liberals, including Hubert Humphrey, Walter Mondale, and Jacob Javits, who supported civil rights legislation.

● Impact and Legacy

The organization had a significant impact on the American Civil Rights Movement, playing a key role in the passage of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Voting Rights Act of 1965. The committee's activities also influenced the Black Power movement, with leaders such as Stokely Carmichael and Huey Newton drawing on the organization's experiences. The organization's legacy can be seen in the work of later civil rights groups, including the Black Panther Party and the National Black Feminist Organization. The committee's members, including John Lewis and Julian Bond, went on to become prominent leaders in the Democratic Party and the Congress of the United States.

● Decline and Dissolution

The organization began to decline in the late 1960s, as internal conflicts and external pressures took their toll. The committee's leaders, including Stokely Carmichael and H. Rap Brown, became increasingly radicalized, leading to a split with more moderate members, such as John Lewis and Julian Bond. The organization's activities were also affected by the FBI's COINTELPRO program, which aimed to disrupt and discredit civil rights groups. The committee eventually dissolved in the 1970s, but its legacy continues to be felt in the American Civil Rights Movement and beyond. The organization's members, including Diane Nash and James Bevel, went on to become prominent leaders in the Southern Christian Leadership Conference and the National Council of Negro Women.

Category:Civil rights organizations in the United States