The year 2002 marks the 55 years since the Congress of Racial Equality (CORE) introduced the concept of nonviolent encounters to fight the racial discrimination in public places.

In 1942, a group of persons at the University of Chicago, many pacifists and members of the Fellowship of Reconciliation (FOR) believed that Mohandas K. Gandhi's technique of nonviolent civil disobedience could be used against policies of segregation.

James Farmer, the field secretary for FOR, a pacifist organization, made a suggestion to A.J. Muste of the FOR leadership that a nonviolent direct action group be formed within FOR to fight racial discrimination. Muste asked Farmer to write up his idea. Meanwhile, almost by accident, something happened.

Jimmy Robinson, White and James Farmer, African American, after a meeting decided to go out for coffee and donuts to Jack Spratt Coffee Shop nearby. Inside, seated at the counter, they watched the manager approach. He spoke to James Farmer, "You have to leave, we can't serve you."

Farmer knew this would happen someday.

He asked why.

Robinson told the manager that if he refused service he'd be breaking an Illinois Civil Rights Law and they could sue him. So the manager agreed to serve them but warned that the donuts would cost $1.00 each instead of the usual two for a nickel. Again Robinson threatened. They got their coffee and donuts for the regular price.

Back at Fellowship House, the interracial men's co-op where they were living, Farmer and Robinson spoke with the other tenants about their experience at Jack Spratt. Everyone agreed they should all go next time.

They planned to bring dates. Bernice Fisher, Robinson and Farmer gave instructions; be careful, orderly, stay calm and smile. These ideas came from Gandhi's tactics.

A group of eight to 10 persons equally represented between Blacks and Whites walked into Jack Spratt Coffee Shop. The manager, recognizing Robinson and Farmer, stood with his arms folded across his chest for a good five minutes.

Upon a polite request from Bernice Fisher, waitresses appeared and took orders.

After seating, tipping, paying the bill and leaving, the group in shock saw the manager follow them outside and throw their money into the street, shouting, "We don't want your money."

Farmer warned them to leave the money fearing the manager might say they did not pay.

Again analyzing Gandhi's method, they attempted negotiating. Farmer tried to contact the manager at Jack Spratt by phone and by mail. He then sent two female students, one White and one Black, to negotiate. They met a female manager and talked but to no avail.

About this time Muste suggested Farmer bring his organizational idea to the National Council meeting of FOR in Columbus, Ohio. Bernice Fisher, Homer Jack and Jimmy Robinson drove with Farmer to the meeting of FOR representatives from all over the country.

Their idea, presented by Farmer, created much discussion. Finally, the Council reached a compromise. FOR would not sponsor the organization but they would allow James Farmer to set it up while on salary from FOR.

Back in Chicago, plans to become official required a name. One of the men at Fellowship House, Bob Chino, suggested the acronym CORE, "because it will be the center of things, the heart of the action." From there the name Committee of Racial Equality emerged.

In May 1942, the very first "official" sit-in in American history happened at Jack Spratt. (At that time, it was called a sit-down strike, the third event at Jack Spratt.)

Twenty-eight people, trained in nonviolent civil disobedience, in groups of two, three and four with one Black in each group entered Jack Spratt. An older White woman got served but didn't eat. When asked, she said she couldn't eat until her friends received service. An older White man passed his food to a Black man sitting next to him.

An elderly White couple, who were not part of CORE, quit eating until all the others were served. Other customers joined the sit-in.

The manager suggested the colored go to the basement to be served. Farmer said no. The next suggestion, that all the colored sit in the two rear booths, Farmer again rejected. Then the manager threatened to call the police. Farmer agreed to that idea. He had previously informed the police of the sit-in reminding them of the little used Illinois Civil Rights Law.

The police refused to do anything. At last, all received their food.

Jimmy Robinson wrote to Jack Spratt thanking them for the service and congratulating them on the policy change. During the next two weeks small groups tested and confirmed the change of policy.

In 1942, one small coffee shop near the University of Chicago campus, served all who came in. And that was just the beginning of a long struggle to open all public facilities to all persons.