"It was exciting, but saddening, to hear these tales as they have been passed down to the next generation,” said one student. “I hope I will always remember what went on here.”
It’s a shame that student didn’t carry away the truth. The truth always comes out. Sometimes it hurts. Sometimes to heal you have to hurt.
There were precious few copies of The Manning Times in Summerton racks by Thursday afternoon. News of a story containing comments made by a U.S. Congressman, a school district superintendent and a descendent of one of Clarendon County’s celebrated civil right’s heroes was the hot news.
A story appeared in the January 31 edition of the Times Extra reporting the lighter side of a visit to the birthplace of school desegregation by some 30 students from Spartanburg’s Wofford College. These students traveled to Clarendon County to learn the truth about the Briggs-DeLaine-Pearson equal school funding movement some 50 years ago. They walked away with something else.
Unknowingly, these students walked away with a truth that I believe did not exist, nor a truth that exists today. A U.S. Congressman was the leader of this disinformation campaign.
Summerton is a vibrant and growing community that has a great future. The best economic development plan for this area is encouraging more communities like Wyboo Plantation, Deekcreek and the proposed Beach Company and Royal Oaks projects. These communities will be full of retirees who buy houses, pay taxes, bring money, get involved, volunteer and do not burden our already over-burdened school systems.
The second best plan of action is industrial development spurred by fees in lieu of taxes deals. I welcome and encourage both. Any reasonable person would.
Our congressman is opposed to this type of development because it will change the face of his political landscape and his power base will disappear.
There are several dynamics spinning out of control after this story was reported in last Thursday’s edition of The Manning Times.
First, there are people using this story to advance their agendas. Some are using it for good. Others are using it for selfish endeavors. When you hear their story, try to evaluate it objectively.
One aspect of this story that is spinning out of control is that we are a bunch of Clarendon Hall haters. That is hardly the case.
The Manning Times paid no attention to Clarendon Hall when I got here almost seven years ago. We’ve changed that. We covered their cheerleaders going to state. We’ve covered the capital campaign and rededication. I once drove to Greenwood to cover the Saints taking on former Gamecock Steve Tanneyhill in the SCISA football playoffs. We supported the school as they tried to bridge the barriers in Summerton under the leadership of Doc Conners. We have covered hundreds of positive stories about Clarendon Hall. Very few weeks have gone by where we didn’t have a good story about Clarendon Hall. We are not Clarendon Hall haters.
Then came the day when we covered 30 college students hearing about “the historic and modern day ramifications of segregation.” I was appalled when I read my reporter’s account about what was said at this educational encounter.
As I read the story before we went to press, I thought about the progress that had been made in Summerton and even took out some of the more inflammatory statements made. I thought, “People need to know what is being said. We can’t let this go on.”
Maybe I should have killed the story. Maybe I should have let these 30 students go away believing what they heard is true. When these 30 students go and tell the story of Clarendon County and how it remains a hotbed of segregation to another 30 people who tell it to another 30 people and when it is left unchecked the whole state and the whole country believes that Summerton, South Carolina is not what it really is.
Summerton, South Carolina is not perfect, but it is a wonderful place. There are many great things going on here. The businesses that are growing and thriving and the spirit of cooperation that is ongoing is tremendous. The town government has cleaned up its act and is working together to build a better Summerton. A predominately black public school and a predominantly white private school have opened lines of communication and have worked together to make Summerton a better place.
When I read the story, I thought, “I can’t let a Congressman who does not care about the good going on here get away with spreading these stories. If we let the stories go unchecked, then the 50 years of progress is erased.”
I’m sorry I allowed my friends in Summerton to be hurt. Maybe it would have been better if we had let those 30 students go tell the story as they heard it on that day.
