Lunch Counter Leadership

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Considering the countless influential moments of United States history, the courage, character and steadfastness of four college freshmen who humbly and deliberately sat down at an everyday Woolworth's lunch counter in Greensboro, North Carolina shine among the brightest.  Being Black in the south in 1960, the four were refused service at the Whites-only lunch counter.  

The exhilarating moments and uncertain hours that followed their extraordinarily brave act of conscience - of simply sitting at a lunch counter - eventually led to days, weeks and months of other emboldened youth joining their cause.  This momentous act resulted in common people having to confront the abhorrent restrictions that characterized a segregated society, and ultimately, to sweeping changes regarding certain aspects of racism and segregation across the south.

This inspirational act and the powerful movement it created provide compelling lessons in leadership and cultural change that can help guide any of us as individuals, as leaders and as organized communities seeking to improve.  

While this website centers primarily on leadership and improvements within a public school context, the lessons of leadership demonstrated by the Greensboro Four and other extraordinary people and events associated with the sit-in movement that began in Greensboro hold immense value for any leader. 

As the four freshmen worked together and strengthened each other in their convictions, they sought to do something that would change the world.  And change the world they did.  

We all can benefit from the lessons in leadership manifested by four commoners - regular people without any recognized  standing - who took deliberate action on a regular afternoon at an everyday lunch counter.  Each of the principles listed below contributed to the final resolution and societal impact that helped to make a better - though still recognizably imperfect - America.  In the coming weeks and months, each of these leadership factors, along with other reflections related to leadership moments and influences, will be expounded in my blog called Lunch Counter Courage. 

You can receive my weekly blog reflection by providing your name and email address on the contact page.  

Principles of Lunch Counter Leadership

A. Set Out to Change the World

B. Band Together Tightly 

C. Always Adhere to Your Guiding Principles - No Matter What

D. Recognize Help in All Its Forms

E. Be Strategic in Your Patience

F. Remember that Finances Could (And Likely Will) Rule the Day