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Alachia Gilmore

History 112_016

Melissa Develvis

9 November 2017

Student Activism in South Carolina

If one were to Google the Civil Rights Movement it would tell them that the movement began in

the early 1950’s and ended in the late 1960’s. If one were to speak to any of the featured guest that

spoke at Benedict college Monday evening or any African Americans, they would tell you that the Civil

rights movement began long before that and unfortunately is ongoing to present day. The panelist

discuss the rights that they stood up and spoke out against back in the 1960’s and continue to speak on

today because there is much more room for improvement as far as Black equality goes.

Monday evening, several activists shared their accounts on what racial inequality was like in the

1950’s and how they delt with it. Majority of the speakers explained their case in which they fought for

integration of schools, eateries, and other public areas. The speakers spoke about their experiences and

what actions they took to change the issues present at that time. They spoke of their roles in student

activism, which is when a group of students gather together to make a change in society, and the efforts

that were used to make political, social, and economical changes for the good of the African American

race.

Activist Constance Curry was among the speakers who participated in student activism. She

attended an all white girl college but somehow took an interest in racial inequality. Thankfully it helped

to have members outside the African American race alongside them in the fight of racial inequality.

Curry helped make a point to the fearful and discriminatory Caucasian Americans that discrimination is a

real issue and integration and equality reform is key to a free nation. In addition to the added diversity,

Constance Curry advised a group of students known as the Student Nonviolent Coordinating
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Committee (SNCC) whom organized sit-ins in various areas to challenge discrimination and

segregation. Members of the SNCC felt they needed the, “Jail, no bail” rule in place to show White

Americans how serious they were about reform and the Civil Rights Movement.

Furthermore, Charles McDew, cofounder of the SNCC and student of South Carolina state

had various run-ins with the law in the south. Partly because of his demeanor and Northern

candor but also because of the fact that he was a young black man. His first few occurrences with

the law were violent ones, convincing him that the “South” was just not for him. However, he soon

realized that those occurrences were not singled out towards him and majority, if not all, of the

black race suffered from this violence and discrimination. Therefore, McDew began to speak out

against the injustices of the black men and women in a much more peaceful manner. McDew, as

well as other black activist, hoped that their peaceful attempts would ease the tension and fear

associated with the movement.

Other Civil Rights activist such as, Annie Hackett Ritter and Cleveland Sellars Jr. were

apart of the SNCC and fought for racial inequality in social and political aspects. Annie Ritter

participated in the sit-ins to thwart segregation with her peers. Cleveland Sellars was apart of the

SNCC at Howard University and fought for African American voting rights in Mississippi where he

soon became the leader of the SNCC.

Unfortunately, even with all of the speakers’ accounts and efforts there is still a lot of work

that needs to be done in America and worldwide. There is much room left for improvement in the

racial justice system and as a young black female in South Carolina it is a privilege to learn of all

the events that occurred in the past and be able to help bridge the gap in racial inequality. I am

grateful that I was able to hear the speaker’s stories and I am determined and excited to be apart

of this well needed change.