“The Dockum Drugstore Sit-In,” a presentation and discussion by Prisca Barnes
Garden City Community College will host “The Dockum Drugstore Sit-In,” a presentation and discussion by Prisca Barnes on Thursday, September 19, 2024, at 3:30 PM in the Saffell Library Lobby at Garden City Community College and via Zoom. Community members are invited to attend the free program in person or online. The program is made possible by Humanities Kansas.
Seeking racial equity and an end to segregation, Wichita’s Black students organized and staged a sit-in in 1958 at Wichita’s Dockum Drugstore. Long denied entry into the city’s movie theaters and restaurants, students exercised their right to peacefully protest over a three-week period at the popular lunch counter. What transpired, how it ended, and the lasting impact it had on race relations in the city is the focus of this talk. More broadly, the talk will explore how these types of protests transformed the struggle for racial equity in America.
Prisca Barnes is the founder of Storytime Village, Inc., a nonprofit organization in Wichita that promotes reading among low-income children and families. She is a passionate advocate for equity in education and literacy.
“The Dockum Sit-in was one of the first student-led lunch counter protests of the Civil Rights era, and it happened here in Kansas,” said Barnes. “It is important to revisit its circumstances.”
“The Dockum Drugstore Sit-In” is part of Humanities Kansas's Speakers Bureau and “21st Century Civics,” a collection of resources that invite Kansans to participate in community discussions and learn more about the history of American democracy and the shared responsibilities of citizenship. “21st Century Civics” is made possible with support from “A More Perfect Union: America at 250,” an initiative of the National Endowment for the Humanities.
As a security measure, the Zoom room will lock 10 minutes after the start time. Meeting ID: 857 5203 1607 and Zoom link: https://gcccks-edu.zoom.us/j/85752031607
For more information, contact Julia Proctor, GCCC Director of Library Services, at julia.proctor@gcccks.edu.
About Humanities Kansas
Humanities Kansas is an independent nonprofit leading a movement of ideas to empower the people of Kansas to strengthen their communities and our democracy. Since 1972, our pioneering programming, grants, and partnerships have documented and shared stories to spark conversations and generate insights. Together with our partners and supporters, we inspire all Kansans to draw on history, literature, ethics, and culture to enrich their lives and serve the communities and state we all proudly call home. Visit humanitieskansas.org.
