SNCC

The Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC) is an organizations associated with the Civil Rights Movement. It was founded in April of 1960 after Ella Baker, a student at Shaw University began holding student meetings.

Ella Baker

Sign at Shaw University

 Within a few years SNCC's numbers grew and it was especially supported by volunteers from the North who helped to raise funds and volunteered their time to help the Southern efforts. 

SNCC played a major role in several well-known events of the Civil Rights Movement, such as the sit ins, the March on Washington,  and the Mississippi Freedom Summer

Crowd at the 1963 March on Washington

 SNCC was largely known for its efforts to register blacks to vote and they held voter registration drives throughout the South to encourage and help African Americans to do so.

Voter registration drive organized by SNCC

In 1966 Stokely Carmichael became the chairman of SNCC. Under his leadership SNCC began to advocate for the idea of black power and organizing protests against the Vietnam War.

Carmichael in 1966 

Carmichael giving a speech at the University of California

In 1969 SNCC officially changed its name to reflect their changing beliefs and idea. It's acronym and nickname remained "SNCC" but the official name became the Student National Coordinating Committee. The group continued into the 1970's, when it eventually came to an end.

 

 

SNCC's Legacy - Video Clip

 

 

 

 

 

 

The SNCC legacy has been said to live on due to present day "The Wall Street Movement". The goal of the SNCC was non violence in actions and for their voices to be heard not through violent action but through large demonstration. The SNCC consisted of mostly southern students who wanted to live on not like their parents and grandparents, but as new free individuals. Both black and white individuals joined the SNCC movement. Sit-ins and walking protests were the most common form of non-violent protest conducted. SNCC was brought together to bring students and young individuals together who wanted their voice heard. The organization typically just supported with large numbers other non-violent protests already held. SNCC also helped voting rights and to get the word out nation wide.

This video is a look into the overall goal of the SNCC, reasons behind their decisions regarding demonstrations and the events leading up to the establishment of the SNCC. The commentary is depicted by past members and organization founders of the SNCC and told through their eyes.This video is a glimpse into the long history of the SNCC and the legacy that it has left on America today. CNN created this special on the members of the SNCC for the 50th anniversary since the beginning of the SNCC.

These individuals were brave, determined and strong individuals who sometimes put their lives on the line, to go up against societies norms and gain equality the American way.