What action did the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC) primarily focus on in the 1960s?

The primary focus of the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC) in the 1960s was direct-action campaigns against segregation. SNCC was formed to coordinate and promote nonviolent protests and sit-ins aimed at ending racial segregation in public facilities and ensuring civil rights for African Americans. This organization played a significant role in the civil rights movement, organizing grassroots efforts to challenge discriminatory practices and advocate for social change.

Their tactics included organizing sit-ins at segregated lunch counters, participating in freedom rides to challenge segregation in interstate bus travel, and leading voter registration drives in the South. These direct-action campaigns were critical in drawing national attention to the injustices faced by African Americans and were instrumental in pushing forward civil rights legislation.

In contrast, political lobbying, establishing Black-owned businesses, and creating educational programs, while important in their own right, were not the core missions of SNCC during this period. The organization’s emphasis was firmly on direct action as a means of fostering change and empowering local communities to fight against the oppressive systems of segregation.