In 1961, Black college students fought segregation. Four years later, their Supreme Court case secured First Amendment rights for future protesters.

Sylvia Copper was a freshman at Southern University when she was suspended for her participation in the historic protest. She knew the risks involved but was steadfast in her decision. Sylvia met with producers on the VERY street where the protest took place.

In “Seven Days of 1961,” we hear about the civil rights movement from those who lived it. Visit sevendaysof1961.usatoday.com to learn more about these pivotal events of 1961.

On Nov. 11, 1961, hundreds of Black and white college students from across the Northeast flocked to Baltimore and Annapolis to conduct sit-ins, aiming to draw attention to segregated restaurants along one of the nation’s most popular travel routes. Frustrated by what they saw as a tepid federal response to the discrimination common along U.S. Route 40 in Maryland, they fanned across the region, hopping from restaurant to restaurant, angering white patrons and needling business owners who refused change. 

Joyce Barrett tells her story of being arrested during a sit-in at the Barnes' Drive-in in Annapolis, MD.

The “Seven Days of 1961” podcast features stories of resistance, told by the people who lived it. Learn more about the heroic civil rights activists and the danger they faced at 7daysof1961.usatoday.com.  

Brenda Travis was expelled from high school after serving time in jail for her bus station demonstration. Her Mississippi classmates walked out in support. The students wanted an end to racial violence, segregation and barriers to voting. Their activism helped rally young people across the state to challenge the system.

Brenda Travis tells the story of seeing her classmates surround her, sharing the she felt then that she "wasn't alone." They marched to City Hall, where they were arrested by police carrying billy clubs.

Episode transcript available here.

The “Seven Days of 1961” podcast features stories of resistance, told by the people who lived it. Learn more about the heroic civil rights activists and the danger they faced at 7daysof1961.usatoday.com.