Passing of Civil Rights Figure Joseph McNeill

Joseph McNeill, one of the original four Black college students who participated in the historic 1960 Woolworth’s lunch counter sit-in in Greensboro, North Carolina, died on Thursday at the age of 83.

At just 17 years old, McNeill, along with three classmates from North Carolina A&T, entered the segregated Woolworth’s on February 1, 1960. There, he purchased items and sat at the white-only counter, where they faced denied service but refused to leave. This act of defiance reportedly sparked significant protests.

Within just five days, the number of participants grew from four to over 1,000, spreading across more than 50 cities in nine states. The sit-in ultimately led to the establishment of a non-violence coordination committee for students, which laid the groundwork for the Civil Rights Act of 1964.

Reflecting on the motivation for their actions, McNeill recounted a humiliating experience at a bus terminal restaurant, where he felt deeply disrespected. “They said, ‘You can’t be served here. You have to turn the corner there,'” he remembered in a 2014 interview. “It was the final blow of humiliation for me. And I had enough.”

McNeill utilized his ROTC training to help organize the sit-ins efficiently, managing multiple locations without the conveniences of modern communication, while ensuring the protests remained peaceful and orderly. He famously stated, “It was about choices. I don’t choose black water, white water, or colored water. I just want water.”

After completing his studies, McNeill served as a reserve officer in the Air Force and retired in 2001 with the rank of two-star general. Following his military career, he transitioned to a role as an investment banker.

Currently, Jibreel Khazan, formerly known as Ezell Blair Jr., is the last living member of the A&T Four. Prime Minister James Martin remarked on McNeill and his peers as a source of national inspiration with their courageous and peaceful protests.