Abstract:

In 1960, a wave of national independence swept across Africa, and 17 countries were freed from colonial rule by the white man. However, the United States, which claimed to be the “leader of the free world”, was stumbling towards the abolition of racial segregation. This sharp contrast irritated African Americans to change their ways of struggle. In 1960, four black college students launched the Albany Movement in Greensboro, North Carolina, to boycott racial segregation at lunch counters. The movement quickly spread to other southern states, expanding the struggle to all public places. It grew far larger, lasted longer, involved more cities, and covered a wider range of areas than previous civil rights struggles. The movement attracted a large number of black and white college students, who replaced professional civil rights activists and became the main participants in the civil rights movement. They regarded the struggle experience of being arrested and imprisoned as an honor. The Albany Movement pushed the civil rights movement from courtroom struggles to large-scale nonviolent direct actions. It reshaped the civil rights movement and marked the climax of the civil rights movement.

Key words: the Albany Movement, Cold War, African National Independence Wave, direct action, civil rights movement