BLACK INK
The essence of freedom is understanding
Volume 12, Number II
STL'DF.NT MOVEMENT OF FK IAI. NEWSPAPER University of North Carolina. Chapel Hill,
February 25,1980
*^Greensboro Four’ honored on 20th anniversary
MICHAEL FAIRLEY
The Greensboro Four, four freshmen who initiated the Woolworth sit-ins,
were honored at a convocatin commemorating the 20th anniversary of the
event, Friday, February first.
Jibreel Khazan (Ezell Blair, jr.), Franklin Eugene McCain, Joseph Alfred
McNeill, and David Leinail Richmond were invited to breakfast at the same
counter where they were refused service twenty eyars ago, an event which
focused the eyes of the nation on Greensboro.
Khazan is a native of Greensboro and was graduated from Dudley High
School. He earned a bachelor’s degree in Sociology from A&T in 1963.
Khazan is currently an evaluator for the CETA program in new Bedford,
mass, he has also worked with the AFL-CIO Trade Council in Boston, and
with the Opportunities Indsutrialization Center and at the Rodman Job
Corps Center.
‘The friendship that existed between the four of us played a big part in our
success,” said Khazan. “The whole thing came about as a dare and, after we
had discussed the matter for a number of days, we decided to do it,” he said.
McCain was born in Union County, but he grew up in Washington, D.C.
After graduating from Eastern High School, he entered A&T and earned a
bachelor’s degree in chemistry and biology in 1964.
he joined the Celanese Corporation in Charlotte, in 1965 as a chemist, he is
currently group leader in the Marketing Technical Department.
McNeill, a native of Wilmington, was graduated from Williston Senior
high School, he earned a degree in engineering physics from A&T in 1963. he
spent six years as a U.S. Air Force officer, attaining the rank of captain.
Since then he has worked in computer sales for IBM, as a commercial
banker for Bankers Trust in New York City and currently as a stockbroker
for E.F. Hutton in Fayetteville.
"The thrust of this event was for more than just a cup of coffee,” he said.
"We had constitutional rights to pursue our pleasure and work in any form
we chose: and the ability to go and do what we saw best was our main
thrust,” he said.
"We have made relative gains during the past twenty years and we will
lose them again if we are not careful,” McNeill said.
Richmond was born in Greensboro and graduated from Dudly High
School, he majored in business administratin and accenting at A&T.
After leaving A&T, he became a counselor-coordiantor for the CETA pro
gram in Greensboro, a position which he used to assist disadvantaged youth
qnd adults Richmond currently resides in Franklin.
Summer financial aid
available for students
Unlike last year, students wishing
to attend summer school will not have
to find other alternatives because of
the school's inability to fund them.
According to Will Geer, UNC Direc
tor of Financial Aid, the school has
adequate funds for the loans and
work-study programs through which
summer school students are normally
funded.
"There is no problem about funding
students for the summer sessions.”
said Geer, “and i do not foresee any
problem in the future.”
I^st year due to a change in olicy in
the US office of Education, the school
suffered a year-long reduction in
funds.
However this year, according to
Geer, "that problem is now in the past
and not likely to reoccur.”
One change made last year
however, a new eligibility rule, is still
in effect. It states that unless a stu
dent is making “satisfactory progress
toward a degree” he cannot be funded
* r ^ / A ^
by federal money.
Geer said that since most of the
money available to students through
the financial aid office comes from
federal sources, federal law and
guidelines must be adhered to by the
office. Therefore, students
academically ineligible to return in
the fall cannot receive any money and
cannot be funded further until
academic eligibility is reestablished.
“Our funds are limited by policy to
those students who must attend sum
mer school for academic reasons,”
Geer said. “We need the money for
our students in order (that they)
secure required credits.”
Students who plan to attend either
sesion should pick up financial aid
forms and summer session atten
dance certificates, and return them,
completed, to Vance Hall on or before
the March 1 deadline.
Franklin McCain, Joseph McNeill, Jibreel Khazan (Ezell Blair Jr.) and David Richmond
were Um f«ur - Bit-in freshmen” during the 1960’s (A&T Register).
Andrew Young delivers
King Memorial Lecture
BEVERLY SHEPARD
Special Projects Editor
Civil rights lecturer and former United Nations Ambassador Andrew
Young presented the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Lecture sponsored
by the Carolina Forum and the UNC Established Lectures Committee on
Wednesday, January 30. Young’s appearance brought a capacity crowd and
a standing ovation upon his introduction.
Young commemorated the memorial service for providing a forum for the
discussion of the issues for which the Rev. Martin Luther King lived and
died. He favors making King’s birthday a national holiday.
The civil rights movement began on college campuses, Young said,
because of the indignity of not being served at a lunch counter after many
Black Americans had fought and died for democracy. The Greensboro sit-
ins were successful. Young feels, because they non-violently challenged
American laws using social and economic pressure to bring about a change.
“Human rights and human dignity are the focus around which a revolution
should emerge,” Young said.
Young said that most Black participation in politics is on the local or na
tional level with little participation in state affairs. He stressed the im
portance of the Black vote in national elections by saying that no Democrat
could be elected without receiving substantial Black support. He attributed
John F. Kennedy’s victory to the endorsements of Martin Luther King Sr. in
Black communities.
Young described the civil rights movement as “the inevitable emergence
of a Black middle class.” He said that as opportunities for the Black and
white middle class have increased, the poor have been overlooked. He said
that the tremendous economic spendature during the Vietnam war could
have aided the poor Black and the frustrated white. America’s goal in the
1980’s is "to bring about a full employment economy so that everyone could
have an access to fulfilling the American dream in their lives and those of
their children.”
On international affairs. Young said. "Afghanistan is a terrible an
noyance but certainly not a threat.” He feels that the Soviets are not
threatening because the geographic limitations of Afghanistan do not render
its possibility for a launching pad on the Persian Gulf.
(Contliiued on pege 4)