History of HBCU has little Impact on Students
The History of NorthCarolina A&T ‘s Greensboro four significance is rarely recognized by students. On February 1, 1960 four African American students – Ezell A. Blair Jr. , David Richmond, Joseph McNeil, and Franklin McCain – from at the time Agricultural and Technical College of North Carolina, a historically black college. The students sat at a segregated lunch counter in the Greensboro, North Carolina, Woolworth's store. This lunch counter only had chairs/stools for whites, while blacks had to stand and eat. Although they were refused service, they were allowed to stay at the counter. The four students were aware that Woolworth’s would not serve blacks at their lunch counter but they sat down anyway, engaging themselves in a plan they had been discussing for a month prior to the sit-in. This started a large peaceful protest and sit in involving many students, parents, and community activists.
The History of NorthCarolina A&T ‘s Greensboro four significance is rarely recognized by students. On February 1, 1960 four African American students – Ezell A. Blair Jr. , David Richmond, Joseph McNeil, and Franklin McCain – from at the time Agricultural and Technical College of North Carolina, a historically black college. The students sat at a segregated lunch counter in the Greensboro, North Carolina, Woolworth's store. This lunch counter only had chairs/stools for whites, while blacks had to stand and eat. Although they were refused service, they were allowed to stay at the counter. The four students were aware that Woolworth’s would not serve blacks at their lunch counter but they sat down anyway, engaging themselves in a plan they had been discussing for a month prior to the sit-in. This started a large peaceful protest and sit in involving many students, parents, and community activists.
This event is being commemorated in January through February 1, 2010. Many students around campus are unaware of the upcoming Aggie sit-in, and even more disappointing, they know nothing about the Greensboro four.
Freshman Charmaine Jensin was asked “if she will she be attending the Aggie sit-in next semester in memory of the Greensboro four?”, and she replied with a confused look asking “ What is that for, and What does the Greensboro four mean?” I thought to myself, did they not teach the new students about the history during orientation? Many people do say that you should always know the history behind any institution that you attend, because it is important and you contribute to the history of the school. Senior Janealle Watts expresses his thoughts about the upcoming sit-in “I am thinking about going , but only because my friend is in SGA. It is not a big deal to me, I know that I should care about it, but I just don’t.”
Freshman Charmaine Jensin was asked “if she will she be attending the Aggie sit-in next semester in memory of the Greensboro four?”, and she replied with a confused look asking “ What is that for, and What does the Greensboro four mean?” I thought to myself, did they not teach the new students about the history during orientation? Many people do say that you should always know the history behind any institution that you attend, because it is important and you contribute to the history of the school. Senior Janealle Watts expresses his thoughts about the upcoming sit-in “I am thinking about going , but only because my friend is in SGA. It is not a big deal to me, I know that I should care about it, but I just don’t.”
How can A&T students appreciate their school without appreciating the history behind it? It is clear that many students know little about the Greensboro four, and care even less about their amazing, peaceful and brave struggle for civil rights. Next semester this will be A&T’s 47th sit-in anniversary, hopefully this event will inspire students to want to learn more about the actual sit-in, and also inspire them to appreciate their history of North Carolina A&T.
