In June 1961, Malick Sow, the new ambassador from Chad, was refused service at a diner on Route 40 in Maryland, setting off an international crisis. Other African diplomats were kicked out of Route 40 restaurants. On Nov. 11, 1961, hundreds of Black and white college students from across the Northeast flocked to Baltimore and Annapolis, Maryland, to conduct sit-ins, aiming to draw attention to segregated restaurants along one of the nation’s most popular travel routes. Hundreds of demonstrators were arrested. Their campaign – along with international pressure to desegregate a route frequented by African dignitaries visiting the United Nations and Washington – would eventually push Maryland lawmakers to ban racial discrimination. This is “Seven Days of 1961.” Read the full series at sevendaysof1961.usatoday.com. Link is in bio. 📷: USA TODAY Illustration by Andrea Brunty, Photos by @apnews and Jasper Colt