Oral History Interview with Joseph McNeil by William Chafe
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@ University of North Carolina at Greensboro
McNeil, Joseph
Description
This transcript of a 1978 interview conducted by William Chafe with Joseph McNeil primarily documents McNeil's participation in the 1960 Woolworth's sit-ins in Greensboro, North Carolina. Topics include his surprise at not being arrested the first day of the sit-ins; turning to other local colleges for support; the participation of female students; financial support from the black community; the role of Edward Zane; waiting for the community response; assumption the sit-ins would end when students left in the summer; arrests in April; having no one leader; and avoiding becoming "personalities" in the movement.McNeil also denies both the influence of Gandhi and his total committment to nonviolence, but briefly describes his childhood; the influence of teachers in black high schools; participating in a boycott of Pepsi-Cola during high school; an experience at a concert motivating him to become more involved in nonviolent civil rights protest in Greensboro; and the support of Ralph Johns. Of the 1963 demonstrations, McNeil mentions the importance of the economic boycott and filling the jails as a tactical method.
Text
Interviews
Chafe, William H., 1942
Rare Book, Manuscript, and Special Collections Library, Duke UniversityIN COPYRIGHT. This item is subject to copyright. Contact the contributing institution for permission to reuse.
