51st Commemorative Luncheon: Honoring Unsung Heroes

January 31, 2011

Stallings Ballroom – Campus

12:00 Noon

12:00 noon Presiding & Welcome Mrs. Leonora C. Bryant, Director of Alumni Affairs

12:03 p.m. Invocation Dr. Franklin E. McCain, A&T Four

12:05 p.m. Greetings Chancellor, Harold L. Martin, Sr.

Mrs. Pamela McCorkle Buncum,

Chair- Board of Trustees

Mr. Wayne Kimball, President SGA

12:10 p.m. Occasion Dr. Joseph McNeil, A&T Four

12:15 p.m. Spoken Word

Lunch

1:00 p.m. Introduction of the Unsung Heroes

& Medal Presentation

1:20 p.m. Salute to the Unsung Heroes Musical Selection

1:30 p.m. Remarks Dr. Jibreel Khazan, A&T four

2:00 p.m. Closing Mrs. Leonora C. Bryant

Olivia Campbell -Sophomore Print Journalism,

Malik Canty, Junior Public Relations, Mya Ervin, Sophomore Electronic Media and Journalism, Margarita Phannovong Sophomore, Electronic Media and Journalism

Joseph Escobar Senior, Broadcast Production

Contestant Winner

Stallings Ballroom – Campus

12:00 Noon

12:00 noon Presididid nini g & WeWeW lcome Mrs. Leonora C. Bryant, Director of Alumni Afffff airs

12:03 p.m. InInI vocatitit on Dr. Franklin E. McCain, A&T Four

12:05 p.m. Greetintinti gs Chancellor, Harold L. Martin, Sr.

Mrs. Pamela McCorkle Buncum,

Chair- Board of Trustees

Mr. Wayne Kimball, President SGA

12:10 p.m. Occasion Dr. Joseph McNeil, A&T Four

12:15 p.m. Spoken WordWordW

Lunch

1:00 p.m. IntroIntroI duction of ththt e Unsung Heroes

& Medadad l Presentantant tion

1:20 p.m. Salute to ththt e Unsung HeroHeroHer es Musical Selection

Olivia Campbell -Sophomore Print Journalism,

Malik Canty, Junior Public Relations,

Mya Ervin, Sophomore Electronic Media and Journalism,

Margarita Phannovong Sophomore, Electronic Media and Journalism

Joseph Escobar Senior, Broadcast Production

Contestant Winner

Ezell Alexander Blair Sr., and Corene Lee Williams Blair – father and mother of Ezell A. Blair, Jr., (Jibreel Khazan). Ezell Sr. was born on December 14, 1919, in Greensboro, North Carolina. He graduated from Dudley High School. Ezell earned a bachelor’s and Master of Science degrees from North Carolina A&T State University, as well as a second master’s degree in mathematics from North Carolina State University. He served in the United States Army during World War II. Ezell Sr. was employed by the Greensboro Public Schools for thirty years. Corene, his wife was born February 8, 1923 in Chatham County, North Carolina. She is a graduate of NC A&T twice; she received her undergraduate degree in 1956 and her master’s in education in 1964. After 30 years of service, she retired from the Greensboro Public School System. Mr. and Mrs. Blair provided a great deal of support to A&T and Bennett students who were involved in the Civil Rights Movement. Two

of the Blair’s own children participated in the 1960 Sit-In Movement; their son Ezell (Jibreel Khazan), who is one of the Greensboro Four and daughter Gloria Jean who was a Dudley High School student at that time. The Blair’s played a major role in the fight for social justice in the city of Greensboro.

Ezell Alexander Blair Sr. and Corene Lee Williams Blair

Unsung Heros

Mrs. Bowden was the first African-American School Guard out of three School Guards hired by the City of Greensboro Police Department in the 1950’s. Her application and subsequent hiring was indicative of her pioneering spirit and a willingness to seek equal safety and protection for children walking to and from school, during the era of the segregated South. Her courageous act paved the way for approximately twenty African-American guards to be hired by the

City. Her service spanned 24 years of service and she retired in 1974.

Johnnie Dell Bowden(Posthumously)

(Posthumously)

On Tuesday, February 2, 1960, Mrs. Anathanette Thomas Clark along with her younger brother Alvin Thomas assisted their older brother, William Thomas in organizing hundreds of James B. Dudley High School students to help support the four students at A&T College and other colleges who participated in the Sit-In Movement. Their efforts from February 2, 1960 through the summers and remaining years until 1966 assisted in keeping the Greensboro

Sit-In Movement in the forefront of the fight for racial equality and justice even after college students left school for summer.

Anthanette Thomas-Clark

Ingrid is a native from Liberia, West Africa. Her role in the fight for justice and equality during the 1960 Sit-In Movement began as a student at Bennett College for Women. Ingrid remembers well planned and rigorously thought through meetings with her classmates, Sharon Mizelle and her colleague Jibreel Khazan (Ezell Blair). Ingrid also recalls the picket lines of 6-8 students carrying “peace signs” and walking courageously the sidewalk in front of the F. W.

Woolworth (5) & (10) store for hours daily. Despite the abuse from white hecklers, she and her fellow protestors kept their heads and signs held high. Not only is Ingrid a positive role model for the children and youth at Khepera Charter School in Philadelphia, PA she is also an exemplary woman in the history of the civil rights movement.

Ingrid Wynn Catlin

Dr. Warmoth T. Gibbs, fourth president of North Carolina A&T State University, has been described as a quiet soldier and one who played a pivotal role in the sit-in that occurred on February 1, 1960, at the segregated downtown Woolworth’s lunch counter in Greensboro, N.C. He is referred to by some as a man who exercised his strength by what he did not do. During the Woolworth sit-in, many of the Greensboro college presidents threatened

to expel their students for their participation in the movement. This was not the case for President Gibbs. He would often visit, call or send messages to the four A&T freshmen inquiring about their needs and welfare. One of the A&T Four/Greensboro Four tells the story of how a powerful leader in Greensboro, one who attended Harvard University with the president, called him to his office to ask him to tell his students to call off the march, but Dr. Gibbs explained to the gentleman that at A&T, “We don’t teach our students what to think but how to think.” A&T continues to teach its students by this motto. However, Gibbs did tell the four students, “I am not going to tell you what to do, but if you are half the men I think you are, I know what you will do.” Dr. Warmoth T. Gibbs served as president of A&T from 1955 to 1960.

Dr. Warmoth T. Gibbs (Posthumously)

James Johnson was a 2005 invitee to the dedication of the New Civil Rights Center and the Wall of Tolerance in Montgomery, Alabama on the eve of the death of Rosa Parks. This honor reminded him of the 50 years he has worked tirelessly to improve the quality of life for all people. James recalls that his real turn around began on February 2nd – 3rd, 1960 following the events of the four young men from A&T College who sat down at the F.W.

Woolworth store on February 1, 1960. Their brave act sent out a call to action that resulted in a movement that swept across the entire South. Later in the sixties, and early seventies, when the 1954 Brown vs. Board of Education decision was being enforced against such obstacles as the Pearsall Plan and student choices, he worked with American Friends, the YMCA and the Chamber of Commerce to ease the tensions associated with integrating the Greensboro schools. His work with these groups, cell discussions and public meetings resulted in the Greensboro schools being integrated without incident.

James C. Johnson (Jim)

Ralph was a store owner at the time of the sit-in. He is credited with encouraging the participants. Born to Syrian immigrants in 1916, Johns was a bit player in movies during the 1930’s in California. Johns settled in Greensboro in 1944 after he was discharged from the Army Air Corps. While in Greensboro, he opened a clothing store on East Market Street. Many A&T students were his customers. Johns hired black people to work in his store

as sales clerks, which was a practice unheard of during that time. Ralph Johns was the first white person to join the local NAACP chapter here in Greensboro. Johns attended and was recognized at the 30th Anniversary of the Sit-In Movement Celebration on February 1, 1990 held in Greensboro on A&T’s campus. In his later years, Johns returned to California where he died in 1997.

Ralph Johns(Posthumously)

A native of Greensboro, North Carolina Robert L. Moore was born in 1940 to Thomas Moore, Sr. and Irma Pleasant Moore at the old L. Richardson Memorial Hospital. A young activist at heart, Robert was the first minority to integrate Lake Brandt which at that time, was owned and operated by the City of Greensboro. This act resulted in Lake Brandt permitting Black teenagers to fish and work at what was then a private facility where

no blacks were allowed. In 1960, while a student at NC A&T State University, Robert worked at F.W. Woolworth as a busboy. His face is also listed in many history books and other Sit-In memorabilia. While a student at A&T, Robert demonstrated along with his fellow classmates against the shooting of Willie Grimes. Today, he is an active voice in many of the Warnersville community projects.

Robert L. Moore

Mr. Miller is a 1990 graduate of North Carolina A&T State University. He served as A&T SGA President and Vice President and was a founding member of the Students United for a Free South Africa. David Miller was one of the A&T students who responded when the City of Greensboro refused to honor the Martin Luther King Holiday. He led a 500 student march to downtown Greensboro on King’s birthday to protest against the City

for a paid King Holiday. During his tenure as an A&T student, Mr. Miller was a constant player in the fight for justice, equality and peace in this city, state and nation. Since graduating he has continued to fight for justice and equality while focusing on youth and their education. He is a male mentor and currently serves as principal of The Academy at Smith High School in Greensboro.

David J. Miller, II

This certificate is awarded to

Unsung H

eroes

CERTIF

ICATE

OF A

PPRECIA

TION

N

orth Carolina A&

T State U

niversity

Celebrating T

he 51st Sit-In Anniversary:

SALUT

ING

OU

R PAST; SE

CU

RIN

G O

UR

FUT

UR

E

January 31, 2011

Corene Lee W

illiams B

lair E

zell A. Blair, Sr.

Johnnie Dell B

owen

Anthanette Thom

as-Clark

Ingrid Wynn C

atlin

Warm

oth T. Gibbs

Ralph Johns

James Johnson

David J. M

iller, II R

obert L. Moore