The African-American Experience in America and in South Carolina

Goals for our time together: Give an overview of how we got to where we are Hear personal reflections on how this has impacted actual people Begin a dialogue for what this means for Grace Church in the upstate

Preliminary Thoughts: Obviously only touching the surface There are lots of nuances and differing perspectives on the details of the things we will talk about Several critical missed windows of opportunity

The Beginning First Africans in the British colonies arrived in Virginia in 1619 (indentured servants?) In 1662, law was passed saying a child had the status of his/her mother By 1691 all free blacks were kicked out of Virginia Rich planters making money off of crops and slaves were more reliable and a better long-term investment than indentured servants

The Beginning in South Carolina Charleston founded in 1670 by island planters with slaves Eventually, 40% of all slaves imported into North America came through Charleston Blacks outnumbered whites in South Carolina from the early 1700s to the Civil War Rich planters making money off of crops and slaves were more reliable and a better long-term investment than indentured servants

A Window – 1786 to 1800 1790 – approx. 700,000 slaves, total population 4,000,000

A Window – 1786 to 1800 1790 – approx. 700,000 slaves, total population 4,000,000 Importation of slaves banned by congress in 1808 Invention of the cotton gin - 1793

The Cotton Gin 1790 – 1.5 million pounds of cotton 1810 – 85 million pounds of cotton, accounted for 22% of the value of all US exports 1860 – 2.28 billion pounds of cotton, 57% of export revenue

Natural Population Growth The Population growth of slaves in America was unique. 700,000 slaves were brought to America and there were 4,000,000 slaves by 1860. 4,000,000 slaves were brought to Brazil and there were about 4,000,000 people of African descent in 1872.

A Second Window – 1865 to 1876 Reconstruction – 2000 African-Americans elected to public office in the south in ten years; 2 Senators, 16 Representatives, 1 Governor 72 years from when the last one left office to the next time an African-American was elected

Post Civil War – Negative Factors Sharecropping and tenant farming Black Codes Convict Leasing

13th Amendment “Neither slavery nor involuntary servitude, except as a punishment for crime whereof the party shall have been duly convicted, shall exist within the United States, or any place subject to their jurisdiction.”

Convict Leasing From 1874 to 1877, Alabama’s prison population tripled. 90% of new convicts were black Percentage of Alabama’s total state revenue from convict leasing: 1846 – 10%; 1889 – 73% 1873 – 25% of leased convicts died

Post Civil War – Negative Factors Sharecropping and tenant farming Black Codes Convict Leasing Racial Terror / Lynchings

Racial Terror / Lynchings Ratio of black victims to white victims: 1882 – 4 to 1; after 1900 – 17 to 1 Between 1880 and 1930, two black southerners died at the hands of a white mob every week

Post Civil War – Negative Factors Sharecropping and tenant farming Black Codes Convict Leasing Racial Terror / Lynchings Jim Crow / Segregation

Plessy vs. Ferguson, 1896, dissent Our constitution is color-blind, and neither knows nor tolerates classes among citizens. In respect of civil rights, all citizens are equal before the law. The humblest is the peer of the most powerful…It is therefore to be regretted that this high tribunal…has reached the conclusion that it is competent for a state to regulate the enjoyment by citizens of their civil rights solely upon the basis of race.

Plessy vs. Ferguson, 1896, dissent In my opinion, the judgment this day rendered will, in time, prove to be quite as pernicious as the decision made by this tribunal in the Dred Scott Case.

1932-1933 South Carolina school district expenditures… From Charles Houston’s research and video… “Expenditures for whites: $10,147,556 Expenditures for negroes: $1,366,379”

South Carolina – Isaac Woodard 1946, veteran with an honorable discharge, returning home

The Great Migration Between 1910 and 1970, 6,000,000 African-Americans left the South for the North and West

Post Civil Rights – Negative Factors Mass Incarceration

Going to Jail or Prison, Lifetime Chance White men: 1 in 17 Black men: 1 in 3

Some Historical Data and Perspective

Current Issues: Racism Overt Racism – Active (Example: White Supremacy) Overt Racism – Passive / Reactionary Structural and Systemic Racism

Current Issues Term: “White Privilege” Term: “Intersectionality” Poverty

Thoughts for Grace Church Overt racism as a discipleship issue Systemic / structural racism as a discipleship issue Unique geographic and historical context Unique opportunities because of size and footprint in the upstate