Keeping with its traditions and rich history, North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University will host the 48th Sit-In Anniversary Celebration, Friday, Feb. 1, at Williams Cafeteria. Breakfast begins at 6 a.m. and the program begins at 7:15 a.m. The theme for the event is “Reclaiming Our Heritage: Redefining Our Legacy.” The breakfast is free and open to the public.

The annual event pays tribute to the four A&T freshmen - Ezell Blair (now Jibreel Khazan), Franklin McCain, Joseph McNeil and the late David Richmond - who sat down in protest on Feb. 1, 1960 at the segregated F.W. Woolworth store in downtown Greensboro. This single act of courage and the chain of protests that would follow led to significant changes in existing laws that barred African Americans from received equally treatment in this country. The A&T Four/Greensboro Four and members of the Richmond family will be in attendance at this event.

At the breakfast, the university’s Human Rights Medal will be awarded to an individual who has endeavored to correct social injustice and has significantly contributed to the betterment of the world.

This year's keynote speaker will be Rev. Dr. William Barber, II, president of the N.C. NAACP State Conference and pastor of Greenleaf Christian Church.

Barber is a graduate of North Carolina Central University in Durham, where he received a bachelor's degree in political science and graduated with honors. He received a master of divinity degree from Duke University and a doctoral degree from Drew University in Madison, N.J. He was a Benjamin Mays Fellow and dean scholar.

Barber has served as campus minister at NCCU and later as the executive director of N.C. Human Relations Commission. He has worked as an adjunct instructor at N.C. Wesleyan College and a joint adjunct instructor at NCCU with the Department of Public Administration and Duke Divinity School.

He is the recipient of the 2006 Juanita Jackson Mitchell, Esq. Award for legal activism (the highest award in the NAACP for Legal Redress for Advocacy). His efforts as the state NAACP President has led him to fight for social and legal injustice, affordable housing, sentencing laws and reparations. Barber and his wife, Rebecca, have five children.

At 3 p.m. in the Memorial Union – Stallings Ballroom, a Sit-In Roundtable discussion will take place with the A&T Four/Greensboro Four.