lang: en
Summary
In 1960, African Americans in New Orleans, Louisiana, organized a boycott of white-owned stores on Dryades and Canal Streets to protest employment discrimination and segregation. Led by the Consumers’ League of Greater New Orleans and later joined by CORE and student activists, the campaign used picketing, sit-ins, and leafleting to pressure storeowners. The boycott achieved some short-term gains, including the hiring of black workers and the desegregation of some facilities, and helped build black community solidarity that contributed to the broader civil rights movement.
Background
In 1960, nearly 40% of New Orleans’ population was African American, but white-owned stores on Canal and Dryades Streets either refused to serve blacks at lunch counters or employed them only in menial jobs. The Consumers’ League of Greater New Orleans (CLGNO), an all-black organization formed in late 1959, sought to end employment discrimination through negotiation, but made no progress. The campaign aimed to force storeowners to hire black workers and desegregate facilities.
What happened
In April 1960, the Consumers’ League launched a boycott of Dryades Street stores that refused to employ blacks in non-menial jobs. [source: nv-database] The boycott was effective, with streets empty on Good Friday and picketers replacing shoppers. [source: nv-database] A few stores began hiring blacks, and the League claimed credit for thirty jobs. [source: nv-database] Students from black colleges and white allies joined the picket lines. [source: nv-database] In September 1960, a new CORE chapter staged a sit-in at Woolworth on Canal Street, leading to arrests. [source: nv-database] Mayor Chep Morrison banned further sit-ins, and police arrested picketers and leafleters. [source: nv-database] Angry white crowds attacked demonstrators with beatings, hot coffee, and acid. [source: nv-database] Despite repression, support rallies drew thousands, and the boycott continued. [source: nv-database] By late 1961, economic pressure led business leaders to negotiate with black community representatives, resulting in gradual desegregation and increased black employment [source: nv-database].
Key people & organizations
- Rev. Avery Alexander
- Rev. A.L. Davis
- Dr. Henry Mitchell
- Consumers’ League of Greater New Orleans (CLGNO)
- Congress of Racial Equality (CORE)
- Rudy Lombard
- Oretha Castle
- Jerome Smith
- Hugh Murray
- Lolis Elie
- Nils Douglas
- Robert Collins
- Ernest “Dutch” Morial
- Raphael Cassimire
- NAACP Youth Council
- John P. Nelson
- Jim McCain
- Cecil Carter
- Sydney Goldfinch
Tactics used
- boycotts-and-strikes
- nonviolent-direct-action
- civil-resistance
- coalition-building
- petitions-and-e-campaigning
The campaign combined a sustained consumer boycott with direct-action tactics like sit-ins and picketing, which disrupted business and drew public attention. Legal support and community rallies helped sustain momentum despite arrests and violence. [source: nv-database]
Outcome
Verdict: partial.
The campaign achieved 4 out of 6 specific demands, including some hiring and desegregation, but racial employment discrimination persisted into the 21st century. The boycott built black community solidarity and inspired further protests, though long-term success was limited by ongoing discrimination. [source: nv-database]
Lessons
- A sustained economic boycott can pressure businesses to negotiate even when initial negotiations fail.
- Coalitions between community organizations, students, and legal allies strengthen a campaign’s resilience against repression.
- Nonviolent direct action, even when met with violence, can build solidarity and attract broader support.
Sources
- Global Nonviolent Action Database —
[[nv-database]]
Disclaimer: Included as a teaching example of campaign craft, not as endorsement.
Sources & verification
nv-database— grounding: primary — license: link-only- Rewritten: 2026-06-25 via
worker_casestudies_v2.py