Interracial Student Activism in Jackson, Mississippi in the 1950s: Early History of the Kneel-in Movement

• In Event: Postwar Racial Liberalism from Mississippi to Okinawa

Abstract

The Kneel-in Movement of the early 1960s, a campaign of integrated groups attempting to worship in all-white churches, became a crucial part of the Civil Rights Movement in Jackson, Mississippi. This paper explores the origins of the movement, tracing it back to interracial student activism in the 1950s, particularly between Tougaloo College, a historically Black institution, and Millsaps College, a predominantly white Methodist college. Through initiatives like the Mississippi Intercollegiate Fellowship and Social Science Forums, students and faculty engaged in interracial dialogues that laid the groundwork for later protests challenging segregation in white Protestant churches.

The 1961 arrival of the Freedom Riders reignited such efforts, leading to “church visit” campaigns organized by Tougaloo students to appeal to white Christians’ consciences. While some denominations, such as the Episcopal and Catholic churches, integrated under higher authority mandates, Baptist and Methodist churches resisted, often involving arrests. Despite significant opposition, these efforts influenced federal civil rights legislation and inspired further activism.

Drawing on existing scholarship, including works by James Marshall, Maria Lowe, Stephen R. Haynes, and Carter Lyon, this paper identifies a gap in understanding the 1950s interracial networks’ impact on the Kneel-in Movement. By analyzing church records, interviews, and media representations, it examines how early student activism shaped racial debates and why momentum for broader coalitions waned. Ultimately, this study seeks to contribute to the broader discourse on segregation and white churches’ roles in the Civil Rights Movement.

Author

• Hiraku Abe, University of Alabama