A variety of commemorative sites mark South Carolina’s complicated role in the civil rights movement
By McCartney Walsh
From a church built by freed slaves to a school that educates people about earlier struggles, South Carolina is the birthplace of many influential organizations and institutions that were pivotal to the civil rights movement.
South Carolina State House
Located in downtown Columbia, the South Carolina State House was built from 1855 to 1907. It was here, in March 1961, that several hundred protesters gathered to make their opposition to segregation and unequal treatment of African Americans be heard. Many of the protestors had participated in Columbia’s sit-ins. Nearby a monument commemorates the history, and contributions and actions of South Carolina African Americans. Additionally, guided tours are available through Columbia SC 63, a historic preservation organization at the University of South Carolina, of the State House and along Main Street where the demonstrations took place.
Springfield Baptist Church
The oldest, active African American Baptist church in Greenville was founded in 1867 after once enslaved people broke off from a predominantly white church to create their own place of worship. It served as a hub for nonviolent civil rights protests and was a starting point for many marches, one of them beginning after Jackie Robinson, the first black player in the MLB and guest speaker for a state-run NAACP convention, was denied access to an airport waiting area. Springfield Baptist Church continues to be a beacon for those who carry on the same spirit and want to honor its history.
Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church
Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church in South Carolina
The oldest AME church in the southern U.S., Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church has seen more than its fair share of atrocities. Back in 1822, it was burned down by white oppressors who executed 35 men for their involvement in a slave revolt plot. More recently on June 17, 2015, a white supremacist massacred nine church members. In between, the church has played host to a number of notable African American leaders, including Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Booker T. Washington and Rev. Wyatt T. Walker. Today, the church continues its role as a social and spiritual stronghold in the community.
Columbia ’63
Columbia ‘63 is a walking tour of downtown Columbia, where markers are placed to commemorate pivotal events that took place there during the civil rights movement. The project began in 2012, when mayors of seven cities banded together to create an impactful documentation of the struggles, triumphs and perseverance that had taken place before, during and after the height of the civil rights movement.
South Carolina’s Penn Center
The Penn School on Saint Helena Island was built for those who were formerly enslaved. Despite the many barriers that were placed on the school when it first opened it persisted and for 161 years continued to spread knowledge. The Penn School was the only place in South Carolina where interracial civil rights groups could gather and have safe sanctuary when mandated segregation was in effect.
Top photo: South Carolina State House
Photo courtesy U.S. Civil Rights Trail
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