Many students, faculty, guests, and Aggies alike filed into the Alumni Foundation Center today to celebrate the 52nd Sit-In anniversary honoring the A&T Four.
Over breakfast, guest speaker Darryl Towns spoke to the crowd under the theme of “Legacy to Legacy.” With this he began by reminiscing about his days at N.C. A&T. “The civil rights activist spirits runs in the Aggie family,” he said.
Despite the earliness of the breakfast event, the crowed was still greeted by smiling, well-dressed Aggies. As the crowd continued to file into the ballroom, the A&T choir warmed up their vocal chords with the serious and animated choir director leading the scales. When the breakfast lines opened, people walked to the tables stationed on both sides of the rooms and were met with assorted muffins, grits, eggs, turkey sausage and beef hash.
After the majority of the crowd had enjoyed their food the anniversary celebration committee chairperson, Judy Rashid, gave her welcome speech. Following her remarks the choir sung the black national anthem. Chairperson of the A&T Board of Trustees, Willie Deese, also gave a greeting. Following his greeting was the greeting from SGA presidents of Dudley High School and Bennett College for Women and then Miss A&T recognized special guest. After an introduction from Mr. A&T, Towns began his speech. He made a point to thank the A&T Four for their courageous acts because if it had not been for them he would not be able to hold the position as commissioner and CEO of New York State Homes and Community Renewal nor would we have a black president in office.
As the breakfast proceeded, the 2012 Human Rights Medal was presented to Mr. and Ms. Nelson Johnson for their endeavors to correct social injustices. Following the presentation of the medals, Parker Hudson from Ragsdale High School read his scholarship winning essay with the prompt “I would sit-in for.” Hudson’s powerful essay stated that he would sit in front of General assembly to protest the suspension of the Rental Unit Certificate of Occupancy (RUCO).
The A&T Four gave their remarks, which all tied into the theme of “Legacy to Legacy: Shared Leadership.” Franklin McCain went first and stated his concern for the lack of concern and urgency that the students have about the photo voter i.d. law that legislation wants to pass, and urged the students “do not allow the aggie spirit to die!” Son of the late David L. Richmond spoke about how his father inspired him to be a leader and the pride he felt when he would hear people talk so highly of his father. Ezell Blair Jr. gave a message about how Feb. 1 was the national freedom day according to Abraham Lincoln, it was the day that Lincoln signed the amendment outlawing slavery as well as the day the A&T four orchestrated the sit-in. As he is speaking his phone rings, and oddly enough he answered which made the crowd laugh and lightened the mood a little. The last of the four, Joseph McNeil, encouraged students to embrace the idea of “service before self” and never forget the legacy that Aggies have to speak up.
Precious Bradley, a junior at A&T spoke highly of the event and said that it was really engaging. “It is important to pay homage to the giants shoulders that we stand on today, programs like this inform us of leaders that came before us” she said. The very dedicated choir director also felt like it was an inspiring, uplifting program. When asked how he felt the choir performed he gave the very modest answer “they did alright, it was difficult due to the fact that it’s early so voices needed warming and there were no acoustics in the room.”
- Courtney Matthews Contributor