Greensboro Sit-In Photos

Jack Moebes didn’t just document history—he helped shape how it was remembered.

Moebes was a remarkable press photographer whose lens captured some of the most pivotal moments of the 20th century—especially in the American South. His most iconic work includes a photo of the 1960 Woolworth’s lunch counter sit-in in Greensboro.

On February 1, 1960, four North Carolina A&T University freshmen—Ezell Blair Jr. (later Jibreel Khazan), Franklin McCain, Joseph McNeil, and David Richmond—walked into a Woolworth’s store in Greensboro, NC, and sat down at the “whites-only” lunch counter. They asked to be served. When denied, they simply stayed seated. This quiet act of defiance sparked a movement.

The sit-in quickly gained momentum, spreading to over 55 cities in 13 states within just a few months. It led to the formation of the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC), which became a major force in civil rights activism.

The first pictures of the four African American college students who sat at the segregated Woolworth’s lunch counter were taken by Moebes. His image showing the students calmly defying segregation became a visual catalyst for the Civil Rights Movement.

Moebes, whose photos can be seen in the Museum of American History in Washington, died in 2002. Many of us have seen his photographs of the Woolworth’s sit-in in museums and online.

It is important to note that the two photos shown are actually of six different individuals. The photos are often captioned incorrectly.

Ezell Blair Jr. (now Jibreel Khazan), Franklin McCain, Joseph McNeil, and David Richmond are widely documented as the Greensboro Four, the students who initiated the historic sit-in on February 1, 1960. They are shown walking on the street.

Here are the photos, along with the correct captions identifying each of the students.

Seated at the Woolworth’s Lunch Counter

This photo was taken on the second day of the sit-ins, February 2, 1960, by Jack Moebes for the Greensboro Daily News. It shows two of the original demonstrators, Joseph McNeil and Franklin McCain seated with two other students, Billy Smith and Clarence Henderson.

Walking on the Street

Jack Moebes took this photo of the four young men who began the sit-in on February 1, 1960, after Woolworth closed for the day. This is the only photo of all four original protesters together.

The photo of the four young men walking inspired the February One Monument, a larger-than-life bronze representation of the four NC A&T freshmen.