William Anthony “The Refrigerator” Perry (1962- )

William Anthony “The Refrigerator” Perry was an American football defensive tackle in the National Football League (NFL). Perry was born on December 16, 1962, to Inez Perry and Hollie Perry in Aiken, South Carolina. He attended Aiken High School in Aiken, South Carolina where he … Read MoreWilliam Anthony “The Refrigerator” Perry (1962- )

Colored Farmers’ National Alliance and Cooperative Union (1886-1891)

The Colored Farmers’ National Alliance and Cooperative Union was established by a small group of Black farmers on December 11, 1886, in Houston County, Texas. The Colored Alliance was established because the Southern Farmers’ Alliance barred Blacks from joining their organization due to their race. … Read MoreColored Farmers’ National Alliance and Cooperative Union (1886-1891)

George F. Bowles (1844-1899)

George F. Bowles, born enslaved in 1844 in Charleston, South Carolina, was one of the most prominent figures in Reconstruction and post-Reconstruction era Mississippi. He was a lawyer, newspaper editor, politician, and businessman. His early life remains somewhat unclear, with conflicting accounts of his parent’s … Read MoreGeorge F. Bowles (1844-1899)

Charles DeLesline Foster (1948-1986)

On September 6, 1966, Charles DeLesline Foster became the first African American to enroll in The Citadel Corps of Cadets, the military institution in Charleston, South Carolina, founded in 1842. Foster was born on November 26, 1948, at St. Luke’s Hospital in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, to … Read MoreCharles DeLesline Foster (1948-1986)

The Charleston Cigar Factory Strike (1945-1946)

The Charleston Cigar Factory Strike was a labor strike that involved workers at the Charleston Cigar Factory in Charleston, South Carolina, from October 22, 1945, to April 1, 1946. The strike resulted from the company refusing to institute raises and racial discrimination. The modern version … Read MoreThe Charleston Cigar Factory Strike (1945-1946)

The Charleston Hospital Strike (1969)

The Charleston Hospital Strike occurred between March 19, 1969, and June 27, 1969, in Charleston, South Carolina. The leading causes of the strike were pay inequality based on race, racial discrimination, and racial segregation of African American hospital workers. On March 17, 1969, a group … Read MoreThe Charleston Hospital Strike (1969)

The Greenville Library Desegregation Crisis/ The Greenville Eight (1960)

The Greenville (South Carolina) Library Desegregation Crisis involved eight African American students who protested the segregated library system in Greenville, South Carolina, from March 1, 1960, to September 9, 1960. The eight students included future civil rights leader and presidential candidate Jesse Jackson, Dorris Wright, … Read MoreThe Greenville Library Desegregation Crisis/ The Greenville Eight (1960)