On display through 2006

Student protestors conduct a sit-in at a Woolworth's lunch counter in March 1960. (Courtesy Office of Archives & History, Raleigh.)

Raleigh experienced a time of great conflict and change during the mid-1950s to the mid-1970s. One of the first steps toward integration was taken by local families in their efforts to desegregate the Raleigh City Schools. Later, university students became one of the most influential groups calling for change in Raleigh. The activism of these students, and others that joined them, soon forced institutions and businesses in Raleigh to recognize the inevitability of integration. Other groups also began to voice their desire to see change. Many religious leaders of both African American and white congregations spoke in favor of civil rights for all.

Protestors march downtown on May 27, 1963. (Courtesy Office of Archives & History, Raleigh.)

Still, change did not come easily or without protest from some. Although Raleigh is not normally considered one of the hotbeds of racial tension, this city did have its share of problems with integration. The progress made toward civil rights in this city was the result of the efforts of individuals who dared to stand up and demand change. Portions of their stories are here for you to read and hear. These individuals, African American and white, faced hostility and antagonism while holding strong to their convictions. As this exhibit will show, their beliefs were not always enough to allow them to triumph. Yet, even when success was not immediately experienced, the efforts of our local trailblazers began a process where integration became inevitable.

They took us on Raleigh's Journey Toward Civil Rights.

Members of the NAACP and supporters of civil rights march in downtown Raleigh on April 15, 1963. (Courtesy Office of Archives & History, Raleigh.)