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Awareness Cecil Williams, Renowned Civil Rights Photographer

All month long on Awareness we are highlighting Black history makers across the Midlands. Kicking off our series this week, is Orangeburg native and renowned photographer Cecil Williams. For decades, Cecil Williams has compiled one of the largest collections of Civil Rights events by any photographer in the country.

Civil Rights photographer and Orangeburg County native, Cecil Williams, talks about his influence and the brand new Civil Rights museum on Awareness.

All month long on Awareness, we are highlighting Black history makers across the Midlands. Kicking off our series this week, is Orangeburg native and renowned photographer Cecil Williams. For decades, Cecil Williams has compiled one of the largest collections of Civil Rights events by any photographer in the country. He’s the founder of South Carolina’s first and only Civil Rights museum which highlights a number of historic images he’s captured including the Briggs versus Elliott case in Clarendon County where petitioners lit the torch to end segregation in schools across the country, the Orangeburg Massacre and he even holds the title as President John F. Kennedy’s favorite cameraman. During this segment, Williams discusses capturing those historic moments, his favorite moment he’s captured and growing up in the segregated south.

We are continuing our conversation with Civil Rights photographer Cecil Williams who is the founder of South Carolina’s first and only Civil Rights Museum located in Orangeburg. The museum is an immersive view of a one-of-a-kind civil rights museum exclusively featuring South Carolina civil rights events. Visitors will have an interactive experience with each and every exhibit and every room. The museum is located at 1865 Lake Drive in Orangeburg. For more details about the museum, click here.

Awareness: 18th annual Black History Parade and Festival

Saturday February 25th, FUNDS which stands for Friends United as a Neighborhood Developmental Society, Incorporated is hosting their 18th annual Black history parade and festival in Downtown Columbia from 1pm- 6pm. This event will celebrate Black History Month and Black History makers across the Midlands. This year’s grand marshals are Congressman James Clyburn and House of Representative Annie McDaniel. The parade begins at Hampton and Harden Streets following by a festival at Martin Luther King park, 2300 Greene Street in Columbia.

Next week on Awareness

Next week on Awareness, I take you to my hometown of Clarendon County to explore the first public school for Black students in the county. Pleasant Grove School located in Alcolu, South Carolina.

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