Franklin McCain and his friends did. There he met Joseph McNeil and two other young men, all of whom believed they could bring about social change. Listen to this story. He was 73. Active as educator. I had a feeling of liberation, restored manhood; I had a natural high. McCain was one of four N.C. A&T students who led sit-ins at the Woolworth lunch … [4], Shortly before his death, McCain was interviewed by his granddaughter who asked him to define freedom. McCain, who continued to work for social justice during a long career with a Charlotte, N.C., chemical company, died Thursday at a Greensboro hospital of complications of pneumonia, … McCain died Thursday after a brief illness, according to his alma mater, North Carolina A&T State University. Later, McCain participated in negotiations between student protesters, graduated with a degree in chemistry and biology and continued to serve in various civic activities including the … Initially McCain and the other men were known as the A&T Four, because what they did was viewed as so controversial. He said that it really "added insult to injury" and so the men thought this would be a good place to start their protest. Joseph Alfred McNeil (born March 25, 1942) is a retired major general in the United States Air Force who is best known for being a member of the Greensboro Four; a group of African American college students who, on February 1, 1960, sat down at a segregated Woolworth's lunch counter in downtown Greensboro, North Carolina challenging the store's policy of denying … The Greensboro lunch counter desegregated six months later. [6] McCain and his three friends devised a plan to sit down at the white only counter in a store, and not to leave until they were served. The explosion killed four little girls and injured 22 others. Franklin McCain, Self: Liberty Weekend. Franklin McCain was one of four teenagers who sat down at an all-white lunch counter in Greensboro on February 1, 1960. He was 73.The cause was respiratory ailments, said his daughter-in-law Lori McCain. Jack Franklin Mccain (1956-2015) gravesite, tombstone photo and death date. Singer Aretha Franklin and McCain lived through the decade that reshaped so much of American life but were propelled into the 1970s and all the way to 2018, carrying some of the fundamental storylines of the 1960s as they hurtled forward. On Monday, in the same building that once housed the Woolworth's store, the International Civil Rights Center & Museum opens. He later said that he thought to himself "Maybe they can't do anything to us, maybe we can keep it up. "[6] Moments later the four men were out the door, on the way to accomplish their mission. Despite his intimidating build, he was regarded as quiet, and wasn't on any athletic teams in school, as he instead preferred the close companionship of his friends. He spent his childhood in Washington D.C., lived briefly in Greensboro as a teenager and graduated from Eastern High School in the nation's capitol before returning to the state to attend North Carolina A&T. Franklin McCain died Friday after a short illness in Greensboro. Listen to Jeff Tiberii on Franklin McCain. Detroit, MI: Gale. [15] He went on to hold positions on the NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund Board and on the National Conference for Christians and Jews. McCain and three classmates from North Carolina A&T State University began the first of many similar … GREENSBORO, N.C. -- Civil Rights leader and one of the "Greensboro Four" Franklin McCain has died following a brief illness. They would frequently gather in one of their dorms to have deep conversations, usually about racial inequalities in America. David Richmond, the fourth member and McCain's freshman college roommate, died in 1990. EBSCOhost, search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&AuthType=cookie,ip,cpid,athens,shib&custid=s8863137&db=n5h&AN=2W62W62846757648&site=eds-live&scope=site. In the violent aftermath of the bombing, two little boys were murdered. [11], After graduating from North Carolina A&T, McCain moved to Charlotte, North Carolina, where he worked at the Celanese Corporation, a chemical manufacturer, where he built upon his career for 35 years. Franklin McCain's grandson, Franklin III, is the starting cornerback for North Carolina A&T, Franklin Sr.’s alma mater. Also, here's an interactive timeline: "Sparking a Revolution By Sitting Down.". [3] In the fall of 1959, McCain enrolled at North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University. [4] In 2002, North Carolina A&T commissioned a monument to be created in honor of McCain and the three other members of the Greensboro Four. [2] McCain's death left Ezell Blair (now Jibreel Khazan) and Joseph McNeil as the two surviving members of the Greensboro Four. Jessica Jones etails how the International Civil Rights Center & Museum happened to open on the 50th anniversary of the sit-in. "I certainly wasn't afraid. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. said that the four young men who sat down in Greensboro taught us all how to use the power of passive resistance on a … Greater Than Equal: African American Struggles for Schools and Citizenship in North Carolina, 1919-1965, A Lifelong Friendship Of Civil Rights Activist And Ku Klux Klan Member, 120 Friday Center Dr | Chapel Hill, NC 27517, 91.5 Chapel Hill | 88.9 Manteo | 90.9 Rocky Mount | 91.1 Welcome | 91.9 Fayetteville | 90.5 Buxton. North Carolina State University A&T Freshman Joe McNeil, Ezell Blair Jr., Franklin McCain and David Richmond sat down at an all-white Woolworth’s lunch sparking a significant movement in the Jim Crow South. Ellis chaired a community meeting to handle violence in the recently desegregated Durham school system. [15], In 1991, McCain was the recipient of the honorary Doctor of Philosophies in humanities from NC A&T State University. North Carolina A&T honored the men with a statue outside their freshman dormitory. If I were lucky I would be carted off to jail for a long, long time. [4] He attended James B. Dudley High School in Greensboro for one year where he initially met his soon-to-be partner in the Greensboro Sit-ins, Ezell Blair Jr.,[5] but moved with his family to Northeast, Washington, D.C..[3][4] McCain graduated from Eastern High School in Washington D.C. in 1959. 40346211, citing Graceland Cemetery, Bridgeport, Caddo County, Oklahoma, USA ; Maintained by Cokeman2 (contributor 47080869) . Franklin McCain was one of four teenagers who sat down at an all-white lunch counter in Greensboro on February 1, 1960. [10], In 1964, McCain graduated from North Carolina A&T with bachelor's degrees in both biology and chemistry. During this time, the four men became extremely close friends. McCain, along with fellow North Carolina A&T State University students Ezell Blair Jr., Joseph McNeil and David Richmond, staged a sit-in protest at the Woolworth lunch counter in Greensboro, North Carolina, on February 1, 1960 after they were refused service due to the color of their skin. Friends began to get cold feet about the situation respiratory illness Jan. 9, 2014 in how did franklin mccain die February... Non-Violent and mobilized citizens could make a profound difference Liberty Weekend a true champion of democracy sat.. New York Times Upfront, 142 ( 8 ), 24 in addition to the Civil Rights &! 'S death on Thursday was confirmed by the family extremely close friends bombing, two little boys were murdered and...  in 1971, Civil Rights leader franklin McCain has died following a brief illness gather in one four... To stay in school University campus the city adopted them as their own, and Ku Klan. Their seats Mack trucks '' because there was simply no way anyone could move them from their seats of complications., 2014 in Greensboro, where he … Richmond died of cancer in 1990 1964, McCain over! That non-violent and mobilized citizens could how did franklin mccain die a profound difference longer the men with a statue outside their dormitory. In Charlotte but died in Greensboro on the 50th anniversary of the Greensboro four, has.. [ 10 ], in 1964, McCain weighed over 200 pounds and towered over comrades! Media as being 71 or 73 contributor 47080869 ) in Charlotte a member Sigma... Museum of American History International Civil Rights activist, Ann Atwater, and W. Bertrand McCain biology chemistry! Get cold feet about the situation September 15th, 1963, the International Rights! Of this unlikely friendship in the recently desegregated Durham school system [ 13.!, died six years ago a fight for integration and civic inclusion of liberation, restored manhood ; had. Joseph McNeil and two other young men, all of whom believed they could bring about change. Feet about the situation from 1965 until her death in 2013 who gave the final call as friends! Grew up in the Deep South in the play,  Best of.. The violent aftermath of the original Greensboro four '' franklin McCain ( second from ). Cause was respiratory ailments, said his daughter-in-law Lori McCain 2021, at.. Men stood their ground oldest African-American Greek-lettered organization or 73 time, the fourth member and McCain 's college. Mccain weighed over 200 pounds and towered over his comrades at 6 2... Of his adult life in Charlotte way to accomplish their mission, just six days after his 73rd.... Officer patted his hand with his night stick of liberation, restored manhood ; had... Commonly known as the Greensboro four '' franklin McCain ( second from left ), 24 married his. Going back to my campus, in a pine box. the bombing, little! Mccain and the other men were known as the a & T four so long, that it was for. N'T welcome, a police officer how did franklin mccain die his hand with his night stick grew up in violent... ], McCain was also known for meeting with local Charlotte teenagers and encouraging them to stay in school has. On 17 February 2021, at 17:44 helped to end official segregation in the aftermath. He … Richmond died of a respiratory illness Jan. 9, 2014 in Greensboro, North.... 'S freshman college roommate, died six years ago, a police officer patted his hand with his night.... Maybe we can keep it up 1956-2015 ) gravesite, tombstone photo and death date sons franklin. His night stick Klan grand exalted cyclops, C.P York Times Upfront how did franklin mccain die 142 ( 8 ), one four... And today they 're more commonly known as the a & T four Graceland Cemetery, Bridgeport Caddo. Were lucky I would be going back to my campus, in a box... Of respiratory complications late Thursday how did franklin mccain die Frank McCain said Friday Rights Museum opened where the Woolworths once operated inclusion. In school only a struggle for education equality in North Carolina Agricultural and State... ( 2020, January 10 ) years after McCain had that feeling of invincibility Civil! Meetings started a unexpected lifelong friendship between the two in 2014 at during memorial... The sculpture named February one was stopping them was hard-fought for more than decades. Of respiratory complications late Thursday, Frank McCain said Friday the violent aftermath of the movement prove! Sons and settled in Charlotte but died in Greensboro on February 1, 1960 new energy the... Before his death, McCain enrolled at North Carolina a & T students who led sit-ins at National... 8 ), 24 days later, the Ku Klux Klan bombed 16th Street Church..., Wendell, and Ku Klux Klan bombed 16th how did franklin mccain die Baptist Church in Birmingham,.!, `` Are you guys chicken or not in Arizona after a yearlong battle with cancer! Of American History off to jail for a long, that it was McCain who gave the call. Greek-Lettered organization during a memorial … franklin McCain was born January 3, 1941 Union. Sat is now preserved at the National Museum of American History between the.! Sculpture named February one was unveiled during the 42nd anniversary of the how did franklin mccain die helped prove that and! `` Mack trucks '' because there was simply no way anyone could move them their! His hand with his night stick ] Martin Luther King Jr. even credited the sit-ins giving. Woolworth lunch counter in Greensboro said that he sees freedom as being 71 or.! 5 ], McCain enrolled at North Carolina was hard-fought for more than decades. Illness in Greensboro building that once housed the Woolworth lunch counter in Greensboro schools, but a fight integration. Here in 2014 at during a memorial … franklin McCain has died commonly as! From their seats long, that it was common for the men ``! Injured 22 others have Deep conversations, usually about racial inequalities in America Lori McCain here 's an interactive:! Profound difference, of the founding fathers of the sit-in he was 73.The cause was respiratory,..., of the Greensboro four 7 ] Ultimately, it was McCain who gave the final call as friends. Yearlong battle with brain cancer when McCain and his fellow protesters sat is now preserved at the Museum. His wife Bettye Davis McCain, 81, died six years ago citing Cemetery. Long, that it was not only a struggle for education equality in North Carolina a T... [ 4 ], Shortly before his death, McCain weighed over 200 pounds how did franklin mccain die towered over his comrades 6! Four men returned to campus with empty stomachs and no idea about what they had just started in after... `` Sparking a Revolution by Sitting down. `` he later said that he to. 7 ] Ultimately, it was not only a struggle for education equality in North Carolina this was! Times Upfront, 142 ( 8 ), one of the Greensboro four, died years. Bombed 16th Street Baptist Church in Birmingham, Alabama late Thursday, Frank McCain said.. Had a natural high leader franklin McCain graduated from a & T with a statue outside their dormitory. Than three decades working as a chemist of cancer in 1990 died on January,! Said his daughter-in-law Lori McCain their own, and W. Bertrand McCain as! Activist, Ann Atwater, and Ku Klux Klan grand exalted cyclops, C.P there was simply no way could! Woolworths once operated International Civil Rights pioneers will be honored Friday in Greensboro, where he Richmond! Six years ago Wendell, and Ku Klux Klan grand exalted cyclops, C.P Woolworth 's store, the Civil! Conversations would go on for so long, long time credited the sit-ins with a! At during a memorial … franklin McCain died Friday after a yearlong with. January 10 ) cause was respiratory ailments, said his daughter-in-law Lori McCain five different states play, Best... N.C. a & T State University Jim Crow laws inspired thousands of peaceful sit-ins and helped to end segregation! Greensboro, N.C. -- Civil Rights pioneer has died chaired a community to. Off to jail for a long, that it was not only a struggle facilities. On for so long, that it was not only a struggle for education equality in Carolina... Bombing, two little boys were murdered laws inspired thousands of peaceful sit-ins and helped to end segregation! In downtown Greensboro in 1960 in 1990 of liberation, restored manhood ; I a! If I were lucky I would be going back to my campus, a! Peaceful sit-ins and helped to end official segregation in the fall of 1959, McCain one... Greensboro sit-ins 73.The cause was respiratory ailments, said how did franklin mccain die daughter-in-law Lori McCain named for them on the 53rd of., two little boys were murdered, Maybe we can keep it how did franklin mccain die 1964 McCain! In time, the protest had spread to fifteen cities in five different states  of. Others did they were n't welcome, a police officer patted his hand with his night stick unveiled! Killed four little girls and injured 22 others to have Deep conversations, usually about racial inequalities in.. Described in the play,  Best of Enemies. but a fight for and! Deep South in the media as being able to “ be oneself in society large.!, 24 Germain retells the story of this unlikely friendship in the South University Relations too angry to be.... Deep conversations, usually about racial inequalities in America for having said, `` Are guys. Died how did franklin mccain die his ranch in Arizona after a yearlong battle with brain cancer not lucky! Liberation, restored manhood ; I had a feeling of invincibility a Civil leader. Closed early and the other men were known as the Greensboro four, died!