Civil rights photographer and Orangeburg, S.C. native Cecil Williams had a front-row seat to South Carolina's Civil Rights history. This week on the show, Williams reflects on capturing history in real time and explains why the state's early role in the movement is sometimes forgotten.
Cecil Williams had a front-row seat to South Carolina's Civil Rights history.
Look up photos of major events from the Civil Rights Movement, and his name will be on the photos.
Starting in his very early teens, he captured images of iconic people and moments: Thurgood Marshall getting off a train in Charleston, protestors marching outside All-Star Bowling Lanes before the Orangeburg Massacre and hospital workers in Charleston striking for fair pay.
In 2019, Williams opened his own Civil Rights museum in his hometown of Orangeburg. His photos fill the walls.
He'd become frustrated after advocating for years to have a museum like that built and figured if he was going to see it happen, he probably had to do it himself.
This week on the show, Cecil Williams reflects on his experience capturing history in real time and shares why he thinks Black South Carolinians who fought for equal rights during that era haven't been given their due in the history books.
Listen now for more.
To learn more about the Cecil Williams Museum or to take a virtual tour, visit cecilwilliams.com.
Post and Courier coverage celebrating Black History Month can be found at postandcourier.com/BlackHistory.
Understand SC is a weekly podcast from The Post and Courier that draws from the reporting resources and knowledge of our newsroom to help you better understand South Carolina. This episode was hosted and edited by Emily Williams.