Ezell Blair, Jr.
| Ezell Blair Jr. | |
|---|---|
| Born |
Ezell Alexander Blair Jr. October 18, 1941 Greensboro, North Carolina, United States |
| Citizenship | United States |
| Alma mater | North Carolina A&T State University Howard University Law School Massachusetts University New England Conservatory of Music |
| Known for | Staging Greensboro sit-ins during Civil Rights Movement |
| Spouse(s) | Lorraine France George |
| Children | 3 |
Jibreel Khazan (born Ezell Alexander Blair Jr.; October 18, 1941) is a civil rights activist who is best known as 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 service to non-white customers. The protests, and the subsequent events were major milestone in the Civil Rights Movement.
Khazan was born Ezell A. Blair Jr. on October 18, 1941 in Greensboro, North Carolina. Khazan received his early education from Dudley High School; where his father, taught. The senior Blair was very vocal on the subject of racial injustices and would be an early influence on his son. It was said that when he experienced unjust treatment based on color, he "stood up." In addition to his father, Khazan was also influenced by Martin Luther King Jr. In 1958, Khazan would hear King speak at the local Bennett College. He was captivated as King addressed the audience in attendance. At that speech, King called for an escalation of nonviolent protests to end segregated accommodation. King's words had made a huge impact with Khazan; so much so that he later remarked "that he could feel his heart palpitating" and that the words of King "brought tears to his eyes."
In 1959, Khazan would graduate from James B. Dudley High School, and enter the A&T College of North Carolina for his freshmen year. It was during his freshmen year that Khazan and his roommate, Joseph McNeil; along with two other associates, Franklin McCain and David Richmond, devised a plan to protest against the policies of the segregated lunch counter at the downtown Greensboro F. W. Woolworth’s store. On February 1, 1960, Blair, along with McNeil, Franklin and Richmond, took the bold step of violating the Greensboro Woolworth's segregation policy. Khazan stated that he had seen a documentary on Mohandas Gandhi's use of "passive insistence" that had inspired him to act. Each of the participants in the sit-in had different catalysts, but it is clear that the four men had a close friendship that mutually reinforced their desire to act.
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