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The Will and the Way of the Boycotters
Caption: Amsterdam News reporter Gertrude Wilson wrote about how women and young people worked to make the February 3 boycott happen.
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On February 3, 1964, an estimated 464,400 students - almost half the city’s enrollment - boycotted New York City’s segregated school system. Getting that many people to stay out of school and walk on picket lines in front of schools, all peacefully, required a great deal of work. So did organizing Freedom Schools, where children who were out of school could be safe, have meals, and learn.
Categories: parent activism, community activism, student activism, K-12-education,
Tags: women's activism, protest, racial segregation, organizing, joy, autonomous educational spaces, multiracial organizing,
Date: Feb 8, 1964
Creator: Amsterdam News
Source: Amsterdam News
Copyright: Amsterdam News
How to cite: “The Will and the Way of the Boycotters,” in New York City Civil Rights History Project, Accessed: [Month Day, Year], https://nyccivilrightshistory.org/topics/boycotting-ny-schools/1964-boycotts/will-and-way-of-boycotters.
- Does the reporting of the Amsterdam News, one of New York’s Black newspapers, make the demonstration seem like a success or a failure? Why do you think so?
- Do those participating in the demonstration seem to be enjoying themselves? What evidence do you see in the text?
- Why do you think Gertrude Wilson and the Amsterdam News emphasize the racial and class diversity of those supporting the boycott? Why is this important?