Woolworth serves up anniversary breakfast

              4 welcomed this time
Woolworth serves up
anniversary breakfast
Back at the COUnter again Greensboro,  N.C.,  Friday, February 1, 1980
Woolworth Vice President Aubrey C. Lewis stands behind lunch
counter this morning during commemorative breakfast. The
original participants at the counter are, from left to right, Jo-
BY~JO SPIVEY
Record Staff Writer
From the size of the crowd, it could have been February 1960 at the Woolworth lunch counter this morning, except the faces weren't hostile and the talk was
friendly.
The occasion was breakfast for Jibreel Khazan
(Ezell Blair Jr.), David Richmond, Joseph McNeil and
Franklin McCain, who as A&T State University freshmen launched the sit-ins that triggered the 1960s civil
rights movement.
They were back at the invitation of the store that
refused to serve them 20 years ago today. Woolworth
vice president, Aubrey C. Lewis of New York, was behind the counter taking their breakfast orders. But no
one got to eat.
On hand were reporters, cameramen and talk show
hosts from across the nation who kept the four men
busy with questions of their recollections of 20 years
ago, their philosophies, and their views of what still
needs to be accomplished in the area of civil rights.
Khazan, who adopted an Islamic name several
years ago, was in white robes and turban. He ordered a
banana and warm water, but he ate only half the banana.
"That's the first time I've heard of that breakfast,"
said Lewis, "but it's on the menu from now on."
seph McNeU, David Richmond, Franklin McCain and Jibreel
Khazan, formerly Ezell Blair Jr., who returned for the anniversary of the original sit-in.
A waitress, recognized as one who had been employed at the store 20 years ago, termed the event
"really something, a real change" from the way things
were during the sit-in era.
The breakfast also was a reunion for the four with
Ralph Johns of Hollywood, Calif., formerly an East
Market Street merchant and civil rights advocate, who
was an adviser to the young men 20 years ago.
Asked about his thoughts as he sat at the counter
today, McNeil said he feels "very positive" about the
20th anniversary observance.
"Particularly do I feel good about the fact that it
was planned by a cross section of the community," he
said. "It is extremely encouraging to see diverse elements come together like this. It is truly a high moment."
The event was among those sponsored by the Feb.
1 Committee, a group of citizens organized last October
to commemorate the sit-ins.
If he had it to do over, would he still have taken
part in the sit-in movement? McNeil was asked.
"Yes, yes, indeed," said McNeil. "I'm proud to
have played a part, but I think there still is a great deal
to be done."
The three other men echoed McNeil's statement.
"I view it, however, as a separate thing from Frank