NC A&T marks 61 years since the sit-in that fueled the Civil Rights Movement
North Carolina A&T State University honored four students Monday who took a seat to stand up against racism.
Monday marks 61 years since Jibreel Khazan (formerly known as Ezell Blair Jr.), Franklin McCain, Joseph McNeil, and David Richmond, known as the A&T Four, staged a sit-in at the segregated Woolworth's lunch counter in Greensboro.
Their simple, non-violent action sparked the nationwide civil rights movement.
NC A&T students and alumni, along with relatives of the A&T Four, took part in a wreath-laying ceremony.
During today’s virtual ceremony North Carolina A&T awarded the Human Rights Medal to North Carolina Supreme Court Associate Justice Anita Earls. The Human Rights Medal is awarded annually to "recognize individuals who have endeavored to correct social injustice and have significantly contributed to the betterment of the world."
Earls said the Greensboro Sit-Ins had a profound impact on her life.
"It was inspirational to me to see that young people could stand up for what they think is right and can have a huge impact on changing our society," Earls said. "So that was a model for me and has led me throughout my life to try to stand up for what I think is right.”
Now Rep. Kathy Manning is spearheading a congressional resolution to honor the four men.
"It took enormous courage and it was also something that they did with great thought," Manning said. "They studied what peaceful movements required and they trained for it. They prepared."
Rhyann Gray is a junior at A&T and is the president of the campus chapter of Black Girls Vote, a student organization encouraging civic engagement.
"People who participated in the sit-ins were 17, 18, 19 years old. So we literally walk on the campus of legacy," Gray said. "So our campus really thrives on that activism, social skills and things of that nature. We are the spitting image of our ancestors."
