"A Personal Account of the March 15, 1960 Sit-In at Sprayberry Cafeteria in Atlanta, Georgia", circa 1960

This personal account details the March 15, 1960 sit-in at Sprayberry Cafeteria in Atlanta, Georgia, as part of a well-planned student movement against segregation. The movement involved coordination with various community representatives, including the police chief, to ensure a peaceful and strategic protest. The author recounts entering the cafeteria to desegregate it, with some students lining up for service and others at the deli counter. A conversation with a friend of the cafeteria owners ensued, and despite being asked to leave, the students remained. The cafeteria employees removed food from the hot tables, but the students managed to place food on their trays. When attempting to pay, the cashier refused, claiming they were giving away food for the day. Reporters arrived, seeking statements, which the students declined to provide. After an hour-long standoff, police officers arrived, and negotiations led to a decision not to arrest the students. The narrative highlights the students' commitment to being served in a federal building despite the challenges they faced. The aftermath of the protest included political repercussions, including a governor's heart attack and legal action taken against the students based on an obscure statute. Despite these challenges, the students' persistence contributed to advancing civil rights in Atlanta.