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A&T Celebrates 45th Anniversary of Sit-Ins

By Patrice Withers
Black College Wire

Photo credit: A&T Register Dr. Jibreel Khazan, left, Dr. Joseph McNeil, and Dr. Franklin McCain, three of the A&T Four, sing the North Carolina A&T school song at this year's commemoration.

The four men at North Carolina A&T State University who started the sit-in movement in the Greensboro area were honored on its 45th anniversary as February began.

Each year, A&T honors the four -- Franklin McCain, Joseph McNeil, Ezell Blair Jr., later known as Jibreel Khazan, and the late David Richmond -- with a breakfast and other events to kick off Black History Month.

This year's theme was "Equality and Justice for All Times."

Students, faculty, alumni and friends began to pack Williams Cafeteria as early as 6 a.m. The Rev. Jesse Jackson, a 1964 graduate of A&T, and his son Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr., D-Ill., who graduated magna cum laude in 1987, attended. This year's activities culminate in July with the opening of the International Civil Rights Center and Museum.

On Feb. 1, 1960, the four A&T freshmen went to the F.W. Woolworth lunch counter in downtown Greensboro. Along with women at Bennett College, they refused to leave until they were served at the whites-only lunch counter.

Lateria Streeter, Miss N.C. A&T 2004-2005, told more about the four in biographical presentations.

Khazan, a native of Greensboro, earned a B.S. degree in sociology from A&T in 1963. He is a master storyteller, oracle, oral historian and lecturer.

McCain was born in Union County, N.C., and earned a B.S. in chemistry and biology in 1964. Now retired, he worked as a chemist for the Celenese Corp. in Charlotte, N.C.

McNeil, a native of Wilmington, N.C., earned a degree in physics in 1963. He served in the U.S. Air Force, attaining the rank of captain and becoming a major general in the Air Force Reserve.

Richmond, who died in 1990, was born in Greensboro and majored in business administration and accounting. He became a counselor-coordinator for the CETA (Comprehensive Employment and Training Act) jobs program.

The four were awarded honorary doctorates from A&T at the 1994 commencement.

"They sat down so the world could stand up," was a common theme from this year's speakers.

"We love each other but don't always agree with each other," Blair said.

"We had one goal in mind on Jan. 31, 1960, and that was to see that all people get their full rights in this country. We thank God, we thank our parents, we thank our professors here at A&T . . . train up a child in the way that he or she should go and when they are old they will not depart from you," Blair said, quoting Scripture.

McNeil encouraged students to take advantage of the opportunities available on the A&T campus.

"Each year we get together, and what a splendid opportunity for the second generation to get together and talk to these old warriors, what a splendid opportunity for mentorship," McNeil said.

"I would encourage all the students to take advantage of this opportunity and to go up to the Jesse Jacksons . . . and say, 'brother and sister let's share this moment and give and receive'."

The guest speaker for the sit-in celebration was Thomas N. Todd, a lawyer known as "TNT" for his oratorical skills.

"Education and freedom are like Siamese twins," Todd said.

"Education is the down payment on freedom . . . 45 years ago the A&T Four made a down payment but we didn't keep up with the payments."

"Your mama may have, your papa may have, but God bless the child that got his own," Todd said. "A&T, don't give up and don't give in."

Patrice Withers is a student at North Carolina A&T University who writes for The A&T Register.

Posted Feb. 14, 2005