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The Atlanta Inquirer
Atlanta, Fulton County, Georgia
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In Savannah, Ga., 60,000 Black residents resumed shopping in downtown stores after a 15-month NAACP boycott sparked by sit-ins against segregated lunch counters, leading to their integration and broader civil rights gains like higher voter registration and desegregated buses and parks.
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Resume Shopping
SAVANNAH, Ga.-- This city's 60,000 Negro citizens began shopping in 18 downtown stores this week after an absence of 15 months, marking a high point in NAACP history here.
The "no buying" drive, sponsored by the NAACP, was launched in March of last year after several Negro students had been arrested for staging sit-ins against segregated lunch counters. These counters have now been integrated.
A citizens committee, appointed by Mayor Malcolm Maclean, negotiated with NAACP officials under leadership of W. W. Law, president of the local and state NAACP units. Mr. Law also serves on the Association's National Board of Directors. A settlement opening the lunch counters to all customers was agreed upon.
Mrs. Mercedes Wright, co-chairman of the "Committee for Withholding Retail Patronage" reported that the Negro community is "extremely happy" and that 3,000 attended the victory mass meeting at St. Phillip's AME Church last week.
The 15-month NAACP drive in this 228-year-old seaport city, the population of which is one-third Negro, has had many by-products:
--Negro voter registration is climbing and now stands at 12,500.
--Two Negro bus drivers have been hired for the first time.
--Jim Crow signs have been removed from buses.
--NAACP members have seated themselves in the front of buses without incident, thereby encouraging the rest of the Negro community to follow suit.
--City park facilities have been opened on a non-segregated basis following arrest of seven Negroes for playing basketball in previously all-white Macon Park. This action followed an NAACP petition of protest.
--Rev. Oliver W. Holmes, NAACP official (uncle of Hamilton E. Holmes, first Negro to enroll at the University of Georgia) was named by the city council to a five-man park commission.
One downtown variety store has been closed and two men's shops have moved out of the main shopping district, although both said their actions had nothing to do with the NAACP withholding drive.
The Cloverdale, Ghana and Springfield Park segregated housing developments for Negroes are begging for tenants.
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Domestic News Details
Primary Location
Savannah, Ga.
Event Date
This Week
Key Persons
Outcome
lunch counters integrated; negro voter registration at 12,500; two negro bus drivers hired; jim crow signs removed from buses; city park facilities opened non-segregated; rev. oliver w. holmes named to park commission; one variety store closed; two men's shops moved; segregated housing developments seeking tenants.
Event Details
Savannah's 60,000 Negro citizens resumed shopping in 18 downtown stores after a 15-month NAACP-sponsored 'no buying' drive launched in March of last year following arrests of Negro students for sit-ins against segregated lunch counters. A citizens committee appointed by Mayor Maclean negotiated with NAACP officials led by W. W. Law, resulting in agreement to open lunch counters to all. The Negro community celebrated with a mass meeting attended by 3,000 at St. Phillip's AME Church. By-products include increased voter registration, hiring of Negro bus drivers, removal of segregation signs on buses, non-segregated parks after arrests and NAACP petition, and appointment of Rev. Holmes to park commission.