Cecil Carter ’62 and the CORE Four

Cecil W. Carter was a 1962 graduate of Dillard University. Carter was instrumental in several protests against segregation.

Inspired by the trailblazing actions of four students from North Carolina A&T in Greensboro on February 1, 1960, the CORE members implemented a simple yet powerful tactic. They strategically seated Black and White members at “whites-only” lunch counters during the sit-ins.

On September 9, 1960, at F.W. Woolworth on Canal and Rampart, Cecil Carter walked into the store with Sydney “Lanny” Goldfinch, a White Tulane student, Rudy Lombard of Xavier University of Louisiana, and Oretha Castle Haley of Southern University in New Orleans were arrested after a five-hour sit-in. The determination persisted, leading to another September 17, 1960, event at McCrory’s five-and-dime store on 1005 Canal. The ‘CORE Four’, including the visibly integrated group of White and Black students, stayed put until they were apprehended.

The spotlight intensified on the ‘CORE Four’ nationally, as their arrests resulted in a conviction of “criminal anarchy,” a case that ultimately reached the U.S. Supreme Court.

Despite its small size, the New Orleans CORE chapter was hailed for its unyielding courage, a quality attributed to the community’s historical roots. It’s noted that members drew strength from the city’s rich cultural heritage and its influential Black presence.

In contrast to cities where segregation practices quickly crumbled under the pressure of sit-ins, New Orleans stores clung to discriminatory policies for two more years. Undeterred, CORE members faithfully picketed and staged sit-ins along Canal Street daily.

The resolute efforts of these activists underscored the resilience and determination necessary to challenge systemic racism, paving the way for a more inclusive society.