Franklin McCain facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Franklin McCain
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McCain c. 1960
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| Born |
Franklin Eugene McCain
January 3, 1941 |
| Died | January 9, 2014 (aged 73) Moses Cone Hospital, Greensboro, North Carolina, US
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| Resting place | Oaklawn Cemetery, Charlotte, North Carolina, US |
| Education | North Carolina A&T State University (BS, MA) |
| Occupation | Civil rights activist |
| Known for | Staging the Greensboro sit-ins |
| Spouse(s) |
Bettye Davis McCain
(m. 1965; died 2013) |
| Children | 3 |
Franklin Eugene McCain (born January 3, 1941 – died January 9, 2014) was an American civil rights activist. He was one of the famous group known as the Greensboro Four.
In 1960, Franklin McCain and three other students from North Carolina A&T State University started a brave protest. These students were Ezell Blair Jr., Joseph McNeil, and David Richmond. They went to a Woolworth's store in Greensboro, North Carolina. At the lunch counter, they were refused service because they were Black.
Their action on February 1, 1960, helped start the Greensboro sit-ins. This was a huge protest movement across many states. Mostly students took part. They stood up against unfair treatment in restaurants and stores. They refused to leave when they were not served.
The sit-ins worked! Woolworth's changed its policy of racial segregation in its southern stores. This movement also helped more people across the country support the fight for equal rights for African Americans.
Contents
Early Life and the Sit-in Protest
Franklin McCain was born in Union County, North Carolina, on January 3, 1941. He went to James B. Dudley High School for a year. There, he first met Ezell Blair Jr., who would later join him in the sit-in. Later, Franklin's family moved to Northeast, Washington, D.C.. He graduated from Eastern High School in 1959.
In the fall of 1959, McCain started college at North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University. He lived in the same dorm as David Richmond. Ezell Blair Jr. and Joseph McNeil lived in the same building too. The four young men became very close friends.
They often met in their dorm rooms for long talks. They discussed the unfair treatment of Black people in America. These talks sometimes lasted so long that they would fall asleep right where they were chatting. McCain felt they were being "hypocritical" by not doing anything. They decided it was time to take a stand.
Planning the Protest
McCain was a tall and strong young man, standing 6'2" and weighing over 200 pounds. Even with his strong build, he was known for being quiet. He preferred spending time with his friends over playing sports.
He and his three friends came up with a plan. They would sit at a "whites only" lunch counter in a store. They would not leave until they were served. McCain later said that stores like Woolworth's would advertise for everyone to shop there. But once Black people arrived, they were treated badly. He felt this was very insulting.
When his friends started to get nervous, McCain was the one who pushed them forward. He famously asked, "Are you guys chicken or not?" Moments later, the four friends left to start their important mission.
The Sit-in Begins
In February 1960, the four young men went to Woolworth's. This was one of the biggest stores in the world. They sat at the lunch counter and were refused service. But they refused to leave.
McCain later said he felt like it "could be the last day of my life." But he also felt they "had absolutely no choice." Even though they were scared, the men stayed strong. McCain compared them to "Mack trucks" because they could not be moved from their seats.
The longer they sat, the more McCain realized that no one was stopping them. He thought, "Maybe they can't do anything to us, maybe we can keep it up." Just ten days later, the protest had spread to fifteen cities in five different states.
The success of the sit-ins showed that peaceful, organized citizens could make a big difference. Even Martin Luther King Jr. said that the sit-ins gave new energy to the Civil Rights Movement.
Education and Career
In 1964, McCain graduated from North Carolina A&T. He earned degrees in both biology and chemistry. He later earned his Master of Arts degree from A&T as well. He also continued his studies at other places like North Carolina State University and Princeton University.
After college, McCain moved to Charlotte, North Carolina. He worked at the Celanese Corporation, a company that makes chemicals. He worked there for 35 years. McCain also served on the boards of trustees for several universities. He was known for meeting with teenagers in Charlotte. He encouraged them to stay in school and get an education.
Later Life and Legacy
On January 9, 2014, Franklin McCain passed away. He died from breathing problems in Greensboro, North Carolina, just six days after his 73rd birthday. After McCain's death, Ezell Blair (now Jibreel Khazan) and Joseph McNeil were the only two living members of the Greensboro Four. David Richmond, the fourth member and McCain's college roommate, had passed away in 1990.
Not long before he died, McCain was interviewed by his granddaughter, Taylor. She asked him to explain what freedom meant to him. McCain simply replied that freedom means being able to "be oneself in society at large."
Personal Life
Franklin McCain was married to Bettye Davis McCain from 1965 until she passed away in 2013. They had three sons: Franklin Jr., Wendell, and W. Bertrand McCain. He was also a member of Sigma Pi Phi, which is the oldest African-American Greek-letter organization.
Honoring the Greensboro Four
The part of the lunch counter where McCain and his friends sat is now kept at the National Museum of American History. In 2002, North Carolina A&T created a monument to honor McCain and the other three members of the Greensboro Four. This sculpture is called February One. It was shown for the first time during the 42nd anniversary of the Greensboro Sit-ins.
Also, the university named residence halls after each of the four men on campus. In 1991, McCain received an honorary Doctor of Philosophies degree from NC A&T State University. He also held positions on important boards, like the NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund Board.
Franklin McCain's grandson, Franklin "Mac" McCain III, was a starting football player for North Carolina A&T. He later played in the National Football League (NFL) for teams like the Denver Broncos and Philadelphia Eagles.
