Katz Drug Store sit-in facts for kids

The Katz Drug Store sit-in was an important protest during the Civil Rights Movement. It happened on August 19, 1958, in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. This event was one of the first "sit-ins" where people protested unfair rules by sitting down and refusing to leave.

In this sit-in, Black schoolchildren and their teacher sat at a lunch counter. They asked for food and refused to leave until they were served. Their goal was to end racial segregation in restaurants in their city. This brave act helped start a sit-in movement in Oklahoma City that continued for many years.

Standing Up for Fairness

In 1958, many places in the United States still had unfair rules based on race. Even though a court decision had said "separate but equal" was wrong, Black people were often kept apart from white people. For example, Black people had to use different water fountains. They also had to sit at the back of buses. Sometimes, they could not eat inside restaurants. Instead, they had to take their food to go.

Clara Luper was a Black high school teacher in Oklahoma City. She was also a leader in the fight for civil rights. She advised the Youth Council of the Oklahoma City NAACP.

Luper took her students on a trip to New York City. There, they saw Black people living in a world without segregation. They could eat in any restaurant and enjoy other freedoms. When they returned to Oklahoma, Luper's daughter, Marilyn, asked a simple question. She wondered why she couldn't just go into the Katz Drug Store and ask for a drink and a hamburger.

This question inspired Clara Luper to plan a sit-in. She gathered thirteen of her Black students for the protest. The students included Marilyn Luper, Calvin Luper, Portwood Williams, Jr., Donda Williams, Richard Brown, Barbara Posey, Alma Faye Washington, Areda Tollivar Spinks, Elmer Edwards, Lynzetta Jones Carter, Gwendolyn Fuller Mukes, Lana Pogue, Linda Pogue, and Betty Germany.

Before the sit-in, Luper taught the students about peaceful protest. She trained them on how to react if people were unkind or tried to stop them.

The Protest at Katz Drug Store

The sit-in began on August 19, 1958. Clara Luper and the students sat at the counter of the Katz Drug Store. They ordered thirteen cokes. The staff refused to serve them because of their race.

The students stayed at the counter for hours. Some white people reacted unkindly, saying mean things or trying to make them leave. Despite this, the students remained calm and peaceful.

They returned to the store for two more days. On the third day of their protest, something amazing happened. One of the employees finally served them their food. This moment marked the end of segregation at that restaurant.

A Spark for Change

The successful sit-in at the Katz Drug Store inspired many more protests. Other sit-ins began in restaurants across Downtown Oklahoma City. These protests continued for six years.

Finally, in 1964, Oklahoma City passed a new rule. This rule made it illegal for restaurants to refuse service to anyone based on their race, religion, color, sex, or national origin.

Similar sit-in movements happened all over the country. Famous examples include the Greensboro sit-ins and Nashville sit-ins in 1960. These events helped bring national attention to the fight for civil rights.

Just one month after Oklahoma City's new rule, the Civil Rights Act of 1964 was passed. This important law made discrimination illegal across the entire United States. The brave actions of Clara Luper and her students played a part in this major change.