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'Rejoicing inside': Woolworth's busboy remembers witnessing Greensboro sit-ins

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A Lee Enterprises, Incorporated newspaper. Majority shareholder: David Hoffmann, Hoffmann Media Group.

Top Story Spotlight

'Rejoicing inside': Woolworth's busboy remembers witnessing Greensboro sit-ins

• Nancy McLaughlin
• May 15, 2026
• May 15, 2026
• 0

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The one-sentence note in the busboy's pocket weighed heavily on his mind.

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Joseph McNeil (from left), Franklin McCain, Billy Smith and Clarence Henderson take part in Day 2 of the sit-ins at Woolworth on Feb. 2, 1960. McNeil and McCain were members of the Greensboro Four, who initiated the protests. Busboy Charles Bess is behind the counter. 

(C) Jack Moebes Photo Archive, LLC

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Charles Bess at his home in Greensboro, N.C., on Wednesday, May 6, 2026. Bess was a busboy in February 1960 at the downtown Woolworth Department Store when the four A&T freshmen sat down at the segregated lunch counter.

WOODY MARSHALL, NEWS & RECORD

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Charles Bess at his home in Greensboro, N.C., on Wednesday, May 6, 2026. Bess was a busboy in February 1960 at the downtown Woolworth Department Store when the four A&T freshmen sat down at the segregated lunch counter.

WOODY MARSHALL, NEWS & RECORD

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The Greensboro Four walk out of Woolworth’s on the first day of the sit-in. David Richmond (from left), Franklin McCain, Ezell Blair Jr. (Jibreel Khazan) and Joe McNeil.

(C) Jack Moebes Photo Archive, LLC

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Charles Bess has a wall of awards and reconigtions at his home in Greensboro, N.C., on Wednesday, May 6, 2026. Bess was a busboy in February 1960 at the downtown Woolworth Department Store when the four A&T freshmen sat down at the segregated lunch counter.

WOODY MARSHALL, NEWS & RECORD

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Charles Bess at his home in Greensboro, N.C., on Wednesday, May 6, 2026. Bess was a busboy in February 1960 at the downtown Woolworth Department Store when the four A&T freshmen sat down at the segregated lunch counter.

WOODY MARSHALL, NEWS & RECORD

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Charles Bess has a wall of awards and recognitions at his home in Greensboro, N.C., on Wednesday, May 6, 2026. Bess was a busboy in February 1960 at the downtown Woolworth Department Store when the four A&T freshmen sat down at the segregated lunch counter.

WOODY MARSHALL, NEWS & RECORD

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The International Civil Rights Center & Museum, which opened in 2010 in the former Woolworth store downtown where four N.C. A&T students helped spark the sit-ins movement in the South.

The International Civil Rights Center & Museum, which opened in 2010 in the former Woolworth store downtown where four N.C. A&T students helped spark the sit-ins movement in the South.

News & Record archives

News & Record archives

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Charles Bess, a busboy in February 1960 at the downtown Woolworth Department Store when the four A&T freshmen sat down at the segregated lunch counter, points out his presence in the background of the iconic photo by Jack Moebes.

WOODY MARSHALL, NEWS & RECORD

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Nancy.McLaughlin@greensboro.com

336-373-7049

@nmclaughlinNR

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Joseph McNeil (from left), Franklin McCain, Billy Smith and Clarence Henderson take part in Day 2 of the sit-ins at Woolworth on Feb. 2, 1960. McNeil and McCain were members of the Greensboro Four, who initiated the protests. Busboy Charles Bess is behind the counter. 

• (C) Jack Moebes Photo Archive, LLC

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Charles Bess at his home in Greensboro, N.C., on Wednesday, May 6, 2026. Bess was a busboy in February 1960 at the downtown Woolworth Department Store when the four A&T freshmen sat down at the segregated lunch counter.

• WOODY MARSHALL, NEWS & RECORD

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Charles Bess has a wall of awards and reconigtions at his home in Greensboro, N.C., on Wednesday, May 6, 2026. Bess was a busboy in February 1960 at the downtown Woolworth Department Store when the four A&T freshmen sat down at the segregated lunch counter.

• WOODY MARSHALL, NEWS & RECORD

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Charles Bess at his home in Greensboro, N.C., on Wednesday, May 6, 2026. Bess was a busboy in February 1960 at the downtown Woolworth Department Store when the four A&T freshmen sat down at the segregated lunch counter.

• WOODY MARSHALL, NEWS & RECORD

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Charles Bess at his home in Greensboro, N.C., on Wednesday, May 6, 2026. Bess was a busboy in February 1960 at the downtown Woolworth Department Store when the four A&T freshmen sat down at the segregated lunch counter.

• WOODY MARSHALL, NEWS & RECORD

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Charles Bess, a busboy in February 1960 at the downtown Woolworth Department Store when the four A&T freshmen sat down at the segregated lunch counter, points out his presence in the background of the iconic photo by Jack Moebes.

• WOODY MARSHALL, NEWS & RECORD

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Charles Bess has a wall of awards and recognitions at his home in Greensboro, N.C., on Wednesday, May 6, 2026. Bess was a busboy in February 1960 at the downtown Woolworth Department Store when the four A&T freshmen sat down at the segregated lunch counter.

• WOODY MARSHALL, NEWS & RECORD

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The Greensboro Four walk out of Woolworth’s on the first day of the sit-in. David Richmond (from left), Franklin McCain, Ezell Blair Jr. (Jibreel Khazan) and Joe McNeil.

• (C) Jack Moebes Photo Archive, LLC

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The International Civil Rights Center & Museum, which opened in 2010 in the former Woolworth store downtown where four N.C. A&T students helped spark the sit-ins movement in the South.

The International Civil Rights Center & Museum, which opened in 2010 in the former Woolworth store downtown where four N.C. A&T students helped spark the sit-ins movement in the South.

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