Orangeburg Massacre: How things have changed in my lifetime

Parent Cafe
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<p>My daughter is going to Charleston, SC for Spring Break, so I made sure to send her this article I saw just today. 45th anniversary of 3 students killed after trying to integrate a bowling alley.</p>

<p><a href=“http://www.nytimes.com/2013/02/08/sports/ncaafootball/south-carolina-state-stand-unmatched-by-any-made-on-a-field.html?pagewanted=all&_r=0[/url]”>http://www.nytimes.com/2013/02/08/sports/ncaafootball/south-carolina-state-stand-unmatched-by-any-made-on-a-field.html?pagewanted=all&_r=0&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

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<p>Thank you for posting this. I had never heard of it, possibly because I was living outside the US when it happened, and it amazes me that this horrible event is not better known.</p>

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<p>First heard about it a few years ago, from friends in South Carolina. PBS had a documentary about the incident, too. If I recall correctly, the Police Officers were never held liable for the deaths.</p>

<p>The good thing about the City of Orangeburg today is that the university gets good support from the community at large, in that the powers that be realized that S. Carolina State U is the largest economic engine in the Orangeburg region. Not mammoth but certainly significant in a rural area such as Orangeburg. Old Strom Thurmond delivered dollars to SCSU. Incidentally, his Black daughter, an SCSU alumnae, passed away earlier this week.</p>

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<p>Here is a partial list</p>

<p>[Civil</a> Rights Martyrs | Southern Poverty Law Center](<a href=“http://www.splcenter.org/civil-rights-memorial/civil-rights-martyrs]Civil”>http://www.splcenter.org/civil-rights-memorial/civil-rights-martyrs)</p>

<p>She was left off the list.</p>

<p><a href=“http://www2.indystar.com/library/factfiles/crime/homicides/1968/jenkins_carol/index.html[/url]”>http://www2.indystar.com/library/factfiles/crime/homicides/1968/jenkins_carol/index.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

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<p>Another interesting tidbit of SC segregationist history, the obituary of Strom Thurmond’s secret daughter:</p>

<p>[Essie</a> Mae Washington-Williams dies at 87; black daughter of segregationist Strom Thurmond - Los Angeles Times](<a href=“http://articles.latimes.com/2013/feb/04/local/la-me-essie-mae-washington-williams-20130205]Essie”>Essie Mae Washington-Williams dies at 87; black daughter of segregationist Strom Thurmond)</p>

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<p>In a similar vein, if you search for it, the NYT Disunion blog about the Civil War ran a piece this week about Elizabeth Keckley, Mary Lincoln’s close friend who appears in the movie. Turns out her mother was owned by the man who fathered her and Elizabeth’s son was the product of another rape. You learn in the movie he died in the war. He was able to enlist at the war’s start because he looked white - because he was at least 3/4 white. Elizabeth bought her freedom through dressmaking and the help of customers. Amazing story. Amazing that a person born into slavery, raised for years in a household run by the man who raped and owned her and her mother, became the President’s wife’s closest friend and that she raised a son who wanted to fight for this country. Anyone who thinks ill of African-Americans should ponder that. Elizabeth was not only raped but beaten and beaten.</p>

<p>When I think of Strom Thurmond, I think of the entire history of white male oppression of black women and the deepest levels of hypocrisy in opposing human rights for your own progeny.</p>

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<p>We’re in SC at the moment and I saw a story about this on the news last night. The college was commemorating the tragedy with a panel discussion today, including one of the men who were injured. There was also to be a memorial ceremony this afternoon.</p>

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<p>Nine state troopers were charged after an investigation by the FBI but all were acquitted at trial.</p>

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<p>Thanks for sharing this. It is always wise to know our history, good or bad.</p>