Final answer:
SNCC emphasized participatory democracy, empowering citizens through grassroots movements and direct civic action to achieve civil rights goals.
Step-by-step explanation:
The Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC) stressed participatory democracy in its decision-making process. This approach advocated for grassroots movements, empowerment of active citizens, and direct involvement in civic action rather than deferring to established authorities or waiting for change through legal challenges. Influenced by Ella Baker's vision, SNCC's preference for bottom-up change led to effective organization and action, including student-led demonstrations, sit-ins, and voter registration drives that contributed significantly to the Civil Rights Movement of the 1960s. SNCC was notable for its student leadership and its willingness to challenge even the most well-meaning adult leaders in pursuit of a more assertive and immediate approach to ending segregation and racial injustice.