Almost Forgotten History: An Update

Nearly two years ago I wrote what has become this site's most-read post, about the 1958 Dockum Sit-In in Wichita, Kansas that ushered in an historical movement only to nearly vanish from memory. That post was titled Almost Forgotten History.

Thanks to the Youth Council of the Wichita banch of the NAACP the events of August 1958 and the ground-breaking efforts of their Youth Council predecessors are no longer in any danger of being forgotten. Their persistence and dedication in finding and preserving and gaining recognition for the Dockum Sit-in succeeded enormously. Not only have the surviving protesters been found and interviewed for posterity, but the national NAACP has since recognized and honored these early pioneers who inspired the Greensboro sit-ins. The sculpture park has been re-named to honor Chester I. Lewis, and has become a landmark spot in civil rights history.

Next Saturday, August 9th, the Wichita NAACP is holding a memorial march and celebration to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Dockum Sit-in. It's a celebration that's long overdue. When you come right down to basics this is a story of two generations of teenagers separated by nearly half a century in time, one generation that was not afraid to stand up (or rather, sit down...) for what was right, and another generation that refused to let a landmark moment in American history go ignored and forgotten, to fade away forever.

For those who want to catch some highlights of the events and learn more about the history, HDNet will be doing a special report in the near future, and we will link as it becomes available.

Much local press coverage from the Wichita Eagle here, including the story of the national NAACP now acknowledging the Dockum Sit-ins as the first successful sit-in of the civil rights movement. (Take that, Greensboro!)

[Oh, lookie, the Wichita NAACP used one of my pictures! I'm honored, but I wish they'd abide by the published terms of usage and provide a link back to the original post...then again, if anyone has a right, they do.]