Black history

“L” is for Littlejohn, Nina (1879-1963). Hospital administrator. Aware that African Americans did not have access to suitable medical care, Littlejohn created the John-Nina Hospital in 1913.

“L” is for Littlejohn, Nina (1879-1963). Hospital administrator. Aware that African Americans did not have access to suitable medical care, Littlejohn created the John-Nina Hospital in 1913.

The original version of Edmund Thornton Jenkins’ Lowcountry-inspired orchestral rhapsody is set to be performed for the first time in the composer’s home state on Saturday, part of a Gaillard Center presentation culminating the Colour of Music Festival's Black History Month Concert Series.

“E” is for Emancipation Day. The tradition of marking the end of slavery with Emancipation Day celebrations began in South Carolina on January 1, 1863.

“E” is for Emancipation Day. The tradition of marking the end of slavery with Emancipation Day celebrations began in South Carolina on January 1, 1863.

The new International African American Museum in Charleston shares the untold stories of enslaved Africans in America at the site where nearly half first set foot in this country.

“M” is for Mays, Benjamin Elijah (1894-1984). Civil rights activist, writer, college president. Born in what is now Greenwood County, Mays—from early childhood—had an insatiable desire for education.

“M” is for Mays, Benjamin Elijah (1894-1984). Civil rights activist, writer, college president. Born in what is now Greenwood County, Mays—from early childhood—had an insatiable desire for education.

Mable Owens Clarke is the sixth-generation steward and matriarch of Soapstone Baptist Church in the rural Pickens County community of Liberia. In 1999, a few days before she died at the age of 104, Mable’s mother, Lula Mae, made her daughter promise never to let the historically Black church close.Mabel, along with Carlton Owen, President of the Soapstone Preservation Endowment, join Walter Edgar this week to tell the remarkable story of how she set out to keep that promise through her monthly, fundraising fish fries held at the church - and how word of her delicious, traditional foods spread the word about Soapstone Church around the world.

Mable Owens Clarke is the sixth-generation steward and matriarch of Soapstone Baptist Church in the rural Pickens County community of Liberia. In 1999, a few days before she died at the age of 104, Mable’s mother, Lula Mae, made her daughter promise never to let the historically Black church close.Mabel, along with Carlton Owen, President of the Soapstone Preservation Endowment, join Walter Edgar this week to tell the remarkable story of how she set out to keep that promise through her monthly, fundraising fish fries held at the church - and how word of her delicious, traditional foods spread the word about Soapstone Church around the world.