Black Christmas boycott

The Black Christmas boycott, or Christmas Sacrifice, took place in Greenville, North Carolina during the Christmas buying season of November–December 1963.

Because of segregation laws and customs, during the Christmas season most of the businesses in Greenville refused to hire black employees. In response, the black population of Greenville, which was 33.4% of the town in 1963, decided on a Boycott to protest. They refused to purchase Christmas gifts, lights, decorations or special foods from the companies in downtown Greenville that didn't hire black employees. Later, they decided to only refuse to purchase or display Christmas decorations, especially Christmas lights.

"The only demonstration organized and enacted by local Negroes was "The Christmas Sacrifice" in December 1963. This was first designed by the Progressive Citizen's Council to be a boycott of the downtown businesses; but after much debate in the Interracial Committee and the Progressive Citizens Council, the boycott idea was amended to be a blackout of Christmas tree lights because it was strongly felt that a street boycott would be confusing to both whites and Negroes. The blackout was very successful. By actual count, there were only six Negro houses in Greenville which burned Christmas tree lights during the holidays. The experience gave the Negro a sense of unity that he has generally lacked."[1]

"The only organized demonstration by local African Americans, until 1963, was the “Christmas Sacrifice.” It involved a blackout of Christmas tree lights as a form of silent protest to racial prejudice. Only six African American houses in Greenville reportedly burned Christmas tree lights during the holidays that year."[2]

The next year, 1964, saw a large increase in Greenville with the hiring of black employees for the Christmas season.

References
  1. North Carolina and the Negro. North Carolina Mayors' Co-operating Committee, 1964. editors, Capus M. Waynick, John C. Brooks [and] Elsie W. Pitts. Page 94.
  2. NCpedia. "Denison Dover Garrett."
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