Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC)

Definition

The Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC) was a key civil rights organization founded in 1960, primarily composed of young activists dedicated to ending racial segregation and discrimination through nonviolent protest. It played a crucial role in mobilizing students and communities, organizing sit-ins, freedom rides, and voter registration drives, which significantly influenced public policy and civil rights legislation during the 1960s.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. SNCC was formed during a meeting at Shaw University in Raleigh, North Carolina, where student leaders gathered to discuss ways to combat segregation after the successful Greensboro sit-ins.
2. The organization emphasized grassroots organizing and was known for its commitment to nonviolence, inspiring many young activists to participate in civil rights activities across the South.
3. SNCC played a significant role in organizing the Freedom Rides in 1961, which challenged segregation on interstate buses and at bus terminals.
4. The group also focused on voter registration efforts in the Deep South, particularly in Mississippi, where they faced violent opposition while trying to empower African American voters.
5. By the late 1960s, SNCC began to embrace a more radical approach to activism and shifted away from its original nonviolent principles, partly influenced by the broader Black Power movement.

Review Questions

• How did SNCC contribute to the broader Civil Rights Movement through its methods and actions?
  • SNCC played a vital role in the Civil Rights Movement by organizing grassroots campaigns that utilized nonviolent methods like sit-ins and freedom rides. Their innovative approaches to activism galvanized young people and communities across the South, drawing national attention to issues of racial injustice. By mobilizing students and local citizens, SNCC helped shift public opinion and pressure lawmakers to address civil rights issues more urgently.
• Evaluate the impact of SNCC's voter registration drives on African American communities in the South during the 1960s.
  • SNCC's voter registration drives had a profound impact on African American communities in the South by empowering individuals to exercise their right to vote. These efforts highlighted the systemic barriers that prevented African Americans from participating in elections, such as literacy tests and intimidation. The successes of these drives not only increased voter turnout but also laid the groundwork for legislative changes like the Voting Rights Act of 1965, which sought to eliminate discriminatory practices.
• Assess how the evolution of SNCC's strategies reflected the changing landscape of the Civil Rights Movement by the late 1960s.
  • As the Civil Rights Movement evolved by the late 1960s, SNCC's strategies shifted from strict adherence to nonviolence towards a more radical stance that embraced Black Power. This change was influenced by disillusionment with traditional civil rights approaches and a growing emphasis on self-determination among African Americans. The shift reflected broader tensions within the movement as younger activists sought to address not only racial injustice but also economic inequality and systemic oppression, marking a significant transformation in civil rights activism.

Related terms

Civil Rights Movement:

A social and political movement in the United States aimed at ending racial discrimination and promoting equal rights for African Americans.

Sit-in: A form of nonviolent protest where participants occupy a space, often in restaurants or public facilities, to demand equal treatment and challenge segregation.

Voting Rights Act of 1965:

A landmark piece of federal legislation in the United States that prohibited racial discrimination in voting, ensuring greater access to the electoral process for African Americans.