North Carolina A&T State University alumni Ezell Blair Jr. (now Jibreel Khazan), Franklin McCain, Joseph McNeil, and the late David Richmond, collectively known as the “A&T Four,” were recently announced as the newest inductees into the 2013 class of the National Black College Alumni Hall of Fame.

On Feb. 1, 1960, these four men made history when they sat in protest at the segregated lunch counter of the F.W. Woolworth store in downtown Greensboro. This single act of courage and the chain of protests that would follow led to significant changes in the existing laws that banned African Americans from receiving equal treatment in this country. Their efforts led to the desegregation of Woolworth later that year and were a major contributing factor in the passage of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.

“As an African American and especially an Aggie, I take great pride in the courage that these young men had to make a stand in the face of such racial injustice and adversity,” said Frances Peppers, president of the North Carolina A&T State University Alumni Association. “To be recognized by our own is the greatest testament to the A&T Four…they exemplify the true meaning of Aggie Pride.”

Established in 1986, the National Black College Alumni Hall of Fame recognizes the outstanding accomplishments of alumni from Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) in the fields of Arts/ Entertainment, Athletics, Business/Industry, Civil Rights, Community Service, Education, Faith/Theology, Government/Law, Medicine, Science, and Lifetime Achievement.
The A&T Four will be honored in the category of civil rights at the 28th annual Hall of Fame Weekend Conference in Atlanta, Ga., Sept. 25-29. The conference will also feature a competition of black college queens, alumni/student leader workshops, invitational black college golf tournament and gospel choir competition.

Past inductees from North Carolina A&T include the late Dr. Ronald McNair (1987), Joe Dudley (1995), James F. Garrett (2003), Rev. Jesse Jackson (2005), Elvin Lamont Bethea (2006), Royall Mack Sr. (2006), Donna James (2007), Dmitri Stockton (2008), Willie A. Deese (2010), Dr. Goldie S. Byrd (2010) and Dr. Velma Speight Buford (2012).