Final answer:
The sit-ins were a series of nonviolent protests aimed at ending segregation in public spaces, notably at lunch counters in the southern United States. They sparked widespread action against segregation and led to the formation of SNCC, advocated by Ella Baker, enhancing grassroots campaigns and participatory democracy.
Step-by-step explanation:
The purpose of the sit-ins was b. to bring about an end to segregation. These were nonviolent protests that took place during the civil rights movement to challenge racial segregation in public spaces. The first notable sit-ins during the 1960s civil rights movement occurred on February 1, 1960, when four African American students from North Carolina Agricultural & Technical College sat at a segregated Woolworth's lunch counter in Greensboro and refused service as they anticipated. They selected Woolworths because it was a national chain and believed to be vulnerable to negative publicity. Despite threats and humiliation from hostile whites, they persisted, and the movement grew rapidly. This led to the creation of the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC) by civil rights activist Ella Baker, which played a significant role in combating segregation and empowering the African-American community.
Civil rights activist Ella Baker was instrumental in the movement, encouraging participatory democracy and grassroots involvement. She recognized the sit-ins for their simplicity and rapid spread, which required less organization than other forms of protest such as boycotts, albeit at greater risk to the participants. These student-led demonstrations sparked further nonviolent protests, such as "sleep-ins," "read-ins," and "pray-ins," and highlighted the plight of African Americans seeking desegregation and equal rights across public spaces.