Joseph McNeil, known for his role in the 1960 Greensboro lunch counter sit-in, has died at age 83. His death marks the end of a pivotal chapter in civil rights history, with the anniversary of the protest passing in 2025-09-05 03:03:00.
- Joseph McNeil helped ignite civil rights sit-ins
- He was a two-star general and investment banker
- The Greensboro sit-in inspired nationwide protests
- McNeil's legacy promotes nonviolent social justice efforts
- He grew up in Wilmington and served in the Air Force
- McNeil's family will announce a tribute to him
In 1960, McNeil and three fellow students from North Carolina A&T sat at a “whites-only” Woolworth’s counter in Greensboro. They refused to leave after being denied service, sparking protests that spread across the US. Despite health challenges, McNeil attended the 65th anniversary event this year. He later became a two-star general and worked as an investment banker. His death leaves Ezell Blair Jr (Jibreel Khazan) as the last surviving member of the original group. McNeil’s family did not specify his cause of death, but he had lived in New York.
- McNeil and his classmates stayed at the lunch counter until closing, then returned daily, inspiring hundreds of protesters.
- The sit-ins led to protests in over 50 cities across nine states, shaping civil rights laws in the 1960s.
- A monument on A&T’s campus honors McNeil and the other students’ courage and leadership.
- McNeil’s legacy exemplifies peaceful protest’s power to promote social justice worldwide.
His death signifies the loss of a civil rights icon whose actions helped change American society. The movement’s influence continues through ongoing efforts for equity and justice.
