Winfield Public Library will host “The Dockum Drugstore Sit-In,” a presentation and discussion by Prisca Barnes on Sunday, January 19th at 2:30pm. Members of the community are invited to attend this free program that is made possible by Humanities Kansas.
In July 1958, Black Students gathered at Wichita’s Dockum Drugstore to stage a peaceful protest against the unequal practice of segregation. Although this protest was not publicized in the newspapers in 1958, the students participating in the demonstration worked to gain access to public spaces, like movie theaters and restaurants. This presentation discusses the details of the sit-in, explores how these protests helped transform the struggle for racial equality, and considers contemporary non-violent protests.
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 important to revisit its circumstances particularly as we recognize the event’s anniversary.”
“The Dockum Drugstore Sit-In” is part of Humanities Kansas's Movement of Ideas Speakers Bureau, featuring
presentations and workshops designed to share stories that inspire, spark conversations that inform, and generate insights that strengthen civic engagement.
For more information about “The Dockum Drugstore Sit-In” or any of WPL’s other programs or offerings, visit wpl.org or like WPL’s Facebook page.... More >><< Less