Shelby in Cleveland County, North Carolina — The American South (South Atlantic)
Shelby Sit-ins
NC Civil Rights Trail
Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, April 23, 2022
1. Shelby Sit-ins Marker
African Americans, led by local high school students, held sit-ins and picketed businesses in Feb. 1960 to demand desegregation.
Erected 2021 by NC African American Heritage Commission; and William G. Pomeroy Foundation. (Marker Number 3.)
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: African Americans • Civil Rights • Industry & Commerce. In addition, it is included in the William G. Pomeroy Foundation series list. A significant historical month for this entry is February 1960.
Location. 35° 17.446′ N, 81° 32.368′ W. Marker is in Shelby, North Carolina, in Cleveland County. Marker is on East Warren Street just east of South Dale Street, on the right when traveling east. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 104 East Warren Street, Shelby NC 28150, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Cleveland County World War II Memorial (a few steps from this marker); The Earl Scruggs Center (within shouting distance of this marker); Plato Durham (within shouting distance of this marker); Earl Scruggs (about
Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, April 23, 2022
2. Shelby Sit-ins Marker
this page online
Also see . . .
1. Civil Rights history in Shelby.
Members of the 1960 Cleveland High School Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee organized the sit-ins at various businesses in downtown Shelby. About 70 Black students went from store to store in Shelby seeking the same service as white customers. Store workers refused the Black students service, shut doors in their faces and in some cases had them arrested.(Submitted on April 23, 2022, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.)
2. About the N.C. Civil Rights Trail.
An initiative of the N.C. African American Heritage Commission with support from Visit North Carolina and the International Civil Rights Center & Museum, the N.C. Civil Rights Trail will be developed with community involvement across the state. Forty to 50 sites will be designated with at least 10 in Tier I and 2 rural North Carolina(Submitted on April 23, 2022, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.)counties in alignment with Gov. Roy Cooper’s Hometown Strong initiative.Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, April 23, 20223. Shelby Sit-ins MarkerBuffalo Creek Gallery was home to Smith’s Drugs — where Black students held a sit-in on Feb. 18, 1960.
3. About the N.C. African American Commission.
Created in 2008, the African American Heritage Commission is a division of the N.C. Department of Natural and Cultural Resources. The commission works across the department to preserve, protect and promote the state’s African American history, art and culture for all people. Its endeavors include the identification of heritage sites, compiling resources for educators, extending the work of national programs such as the National Park Service’s Network to Freedom Underground Railroad.(Submitted on April 23, 2022, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.)
Credits. This page was last revised on April 24, 2022. It was originally submitted on April 23, 2022, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. This page has been viewed 113 times since then and 27 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on April 23, 2022, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.
