Sit-In

David Leinail Richmond, Joseph Alfred McNeil, Franklin Eugene McCain, and Ezell A. Blair Jr. were students at North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University, a historically Black college.  Frustrated by segregation and eager to bring about a change, they sparked a series of sit-ins that lasted for a period of years, and spread from the South to the northern and western states throughout America.  By August 1961, more than 70,000 people took part in sit-ins.  They were black and white, men and women, young and old, all passionate about the cause for equal rights.

During the sit-ins, the student demonstrators left Woolworth's each evening and returned the following day.  The first set of four friends-David, Joseph, Franklin, and Ezell, who became known as the "Greensboro Four"- sat down on February 1, 1960.  On February 2, 1960, more students joined the protest.  This was the beginning of a groundswell of friends, coming together, making a difference, changing the world.
excerpt from  Sit-In  by Andrea Pinkney and Brian Pinkney

*"There had been sit-ins previously in other communities in the South, most notably in 1957 in Durham at the Royal Ice Cream shop.  The Rev. Douglas Moore from Asbury Temple Methodist Church and six others sat at "white only" booths at the Royal.  When they refused to leave, they were arrested, charged and found guilty of trespassing.  In 1958, the U.S. Supreme Court refused to hear their case.  "  excerpt from "Icons of the Civil Rights Movement."

Read more