Diane Nash

By Caleb Jones

Wagner class of 2018

Diane Nash

May 15, 1938 -present

“I think there is no greater invention of the 20th century than

Mohandas Gandhi’s invention of a way of making social change

without killing and maiming each other,”

BIO

Diane Nash was a pioneer of the nonviolent civil rights movement. Nash had always

experienced Racism, like most other African Americans.She grew up in Chicago, Illinois.

As she grew up she attended Howard University for one year in Washington DC, but then

transferred to Fisk University an HBC in Tennessee. At this time the schools and buses in

Tennessee where integrated however racial discrimination still occurred regularly. Nash

gained knowledge of students in Greensboro, North Carolina doing sit-ins, so she and

fellow Students from Tennessee did the same. They were beaten, abused, and ended up

getting arrested. Nash refused to pay the $50 fine, she felt it went against her cause. She

then spent 30 days in jail for her righteous efforts. After her continual protest Nash then

began to branch out. She helped found the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee

otherwise known as SNCC. Students from who wished to make a change where recruited.

 Accomplishments

Jail no Bail-

One Accomplishment was when Diane Nash along with nine other students where arrested

and jailed because of lunch counter sit in, The accomplishment was that despite having

others offer her bail money she refused to accept it and instead would rather spend that

time in jail. To Nash her giving over bail money was her supporting segregation and abuse

towards African Americans. This Idea of persevering through struggle became a constant

theme with Nash and she spread it to all of her fell SNCC members as they traveled on their

Journey SNCC was a movement. Black and White students traveling together, fighting for

what they believed in, was a huge statement. Not only did they band together but they

endured together as they traveled through the south. When the rides where supposed to

stop she made them continue.When the students learned of the bus burning in Anniston

and the riot in Birmingham Nash argued that it was their duty to continue.

 Leadership style

Endurance:

Nash’s leadership style was shown through her non-violent efforts. No matter

what pain or abuse she had to experience she never retaliated or acted out of character.

She never showed fear nor weakness because she solely believed in her cause, Even

throughout the constant threats given to her, the jailing, beating, bombings, and abuse she

would continue to move forward. She spent countless hours in jail for her efforts and never

once put up bail.

Video

Bibliography

Robnett, Belinda, “African-American Women in the Civil Rights, 1954-1965: Gender, Leadership and Micromobilization,” American Journal of Sociology, Vol. 101, No. 6 (May, 1996), pp. 1661-1693.