Hundreds gather to honor and celebrate 'A&T Four' during Feb. 1 anniversary breakfast ceremony
'A&T Four' remembered and honored during 64th 'sit-in' anniversary in Greensboro
'A&T Four' remembered and honored during 64th 'sit-in' anniversary in Greensboro
'A&T Four' remembered and honored during 64th 'sit-in' anniversary in Greensboro
Sixty-four years ago today, on Feb. 1, 1960, four freshmen at North Carolina A&T State University took a stand against racial injustice by taking a seat.
Four Black college students sat down at the whites-only lunch counter in Woolworth's in Greensboro, sparking a sit-in movement nationwide.
The community came together during the 64th anniversary with a breakfast and wreath-laying ceremony. Hundreds gathered at North Carolina A&T State University to honor the legacy of the A&T Four.
"There's always such a huge turnout," Associate vice chancellor for university relations Todd Simmons said.
Everyone took a moment to honor Joseph McNeil, Franklin McCain, Ezell Blair Jr., and David Richmond.
"We refer to them as men, but the truth is they were teenagers. They were all freshmen. We think that serves as an inspiration for our students who may question their own power at that age and what they accomplish by exercising their voice and standing up for what they believe in," Simmons said.
Among those in the crowd was the son of one of the A&T Four. Frank McCain Jr. said he hopes this generation will learn from their bravery.
"Young people have a voice and should use it. As a matter of fact, they have a larger voice now than in 1960. There was no social media in 1960," McCain Jr. said.
Aidan Palmer, an NC A&T student and a February One Scholar, said each year it's an honor to remember this important moment in time.
"It's just kind of amazing to see how four people can do something that was so simple, so out of tune with what society wanted them to do, and they still did it. That's an encouragement for us especially as them being freshman students, and that's an encouragement for everyone. Because if they can do it at that age, what can we do at ours," Palmer said.
The 64th anniversary event ended with a wreath-laying ceremony in front of the A&T Four monument.