The F.W. Woolworth Co. Building in Greensboro, North Carolina, has officially earned National Historic Landmark status, recognizing its critical role in the Civil Rights Movement. On February 1, 1960, four North Carolina A&T State University freshmen Jibreel Khazan (formerly Ezell Blair Jr.), Joseph McNeil, Franklin McCain Sr., and David Richmond made history by sitting at the Woolworth’s whites-only lunch counter. Their brave act sparked a national sit-in movement, challenging segregation and advancing the fight for racial equality.
The A&T Four, joined by students from Bennett College, Dudley High School, and the University of North Carolina-Greensboro, peacefully protested for equal rights. Their actions inspired similar demonstrations across the country, driving the movement to end racial discrimination in public places.
Their sit-ins directly contributed to landmark changes, including the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which made public accommodations like lunch counters, theaters, and sports arenas protected under the law. The National Park Service emphasizes that their courage not only sparked mass participation in the fight for equality but also paved the way for youth leadership in the Civil Rights Movement. As the National Park Service noted, “Their sit-in inspired thousands of people to demand equal treatment in shops, restaurants, and other public places. It also opened new opportunities for Black youth to take on leadership roles in the Civil Rights Movement.”
Today, the former Woolworth’s building houses the International Civil Rights Center & Museum, which preserves a portion of the original lunch counter. The museum offers visitors the chance to reflect on the legacy of the A&T Four and their enduring influence. After Woolworth’s closed the lunch counter in 1993, Sit-In Movement Inc. worked relentlessly to save the building and secure its National Historic Landmark status.
In 2017, scholars and preservationists working with the Georgia State University (GSU) World Heritage Initiative identified the Woolworth’s site as a potential part of the UNESCO World Heritage serial nomination for U.S. Civil Rights Movement Sites. Since the World Heritage program requires a site to have achieved the highest federal designation, Sit-In Movement Inc., in partnership with the GSU World Heritage Initiative, resumed efforts to secure a National Historic Landmark designation for the site of the sit-ins led by the HBCU students.
The building, already listed on the National Register of Historic Places since 1984, now holds a new level of recognition as a symbol of the Civil Rights Movement.
To commemorate the 65th anniversary of the A&T Four’s courageous stand, North Carolina A&T will host a special event on January 31, titled “Perseverance: The Power of an Ageless Evolution.” The day will include a breakfast, an awards ceremony honoring the N.C. A&T Human Rights Medal recipients, a wreath-laying at the February One monument, and a high school engagement program.
The designation of the Woolworth Co. Building as a National Historic Landmark honors the lasting impact of the A&T Four. Their actions not only transformed the course of history but also continue to inspire new generations in the ongoing fight for justice and equality.
