The Sit-In Protest: Milkshakes and Jail

In 1954, the decision of Brown vs. Board of Education to desegregate schools set the pace of what was to follow in 1960, heavily impacting Hughie’s future. Though the Supreme Court handed down the decision, many Southern states and school districts resisted the change, using delaying tactics for years–sometimes decades. Although Dunn High School was a mere five miles from Hughie’s house, the Harnett County Board of Education refused admission, citing improperly filled out applications as an excuse. Instead, Hughie and many other students were going to be shuttled to East Carolina Indian School–36 miles away. This unjust 72-mile round trip caused some people to take the matter into their own hands.

On New Year’s Eve of 1959, bus driver Mr. Joseph H Brewington was knocked from his chair from a loud explosive blast that occurred outside his home. The school bus parked on his property, a symbol of racial inequality, was demolished in this now-historic bus bombing.

Image description: Color photograph of the Harnett Regional Theater (Stewarts Theater) in Dunn, NC
– photo courtesy of Cinematreasures.org