Category Archives: News
Parallels between Native American and African slavery
By Dr. Thomas Cloer, Jr.
Special to The Courier
Last week, to celebrate Black History Month, we introduced the award-winning book “Barracoon: The Story of the Last Black Cargo,” by Zora Neale Hurston.
Barracoon is a Spanish word for the “barracks” where the human cargo from Africa was kept until their voyages. The book was a result of Hurston travelling to Alabama in the 1920s and recording the memories of Kossola (African name) or Cudjo Lewis (American name). He was the last living eyewitness former slave
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DeBois gets ‘Living Legend’ proclamation
EASLEY — World War ll Navy veteran Mildred DeBois, an Easley resident, has been proclaimed as a “Living Legend” in honor of her military service and her 100th birthday, which was on Dec. 1, 2021, by the Women in Military Service for America Memorial Foundation.
The ceremony was held at the Foothills Retirement Community on Jan. 26, with South Carolina Military Women’s Memorial ambassador Shelly Langston
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Fresh avocado takes center stage
By Olivia Fowler
For the Courier
ofowler@thepccourier.com
One of my favorite things to eat from almost any Mexican restaurant is guacamole, but avocado can hold its own in a variety of dishes.
This fruit has a rich, buttery taste, and paired with lemon juice and lightly salted makes a tasty snack. It’s rich in potassium, fiber, calcium and B6 and has no cholesterol.
It is a real bonus to know something this good is also good for you.
Please enjoy these dishes.
Changes coming?
City’s historic water tank to be evaluated
By Jason Evans
Staff Reporter
jevans@thepccourier.com
PICKENS — A piece of the city of Pickens’ branding is set to undergo an evaluation.
City administrator Philip Trotter said Pickens City Council has requested the city’s water tanks be evaluated.
Evaluations for the water tanks currently in service have been completed, and maintenance/repair schedules have been completed, he said.
Those tanks currently in use are the Blacksnake tank, the Fox Squirrel ground tank and the Fox Squirrel tank, the Tater Hill tank and the Main Street tank, Trotter said.
The out-of-service water tank behind Main Street will also be evaluated, he said.
American Tank Maintenance does the maintenance work for the city’s water tanks, Trotter said.
A report on the condition of the tank behind Main Street will also be presented to council once the evaluation is complete, he said.
In 2012, Pickens City Council voted to have the historic water tank behind Main Street repainted and to have the city’s logo — new at that time — applied to it.
Since then, the tank behind Main Street has become part of the city’s “Historic Pickens” branding.
Whitaker elected to Liberty council seat
LIBERTY — Local business owner Rhonda Whitaker is the newest member of Liberty City Council after a special election last week.
Whitaker received 45 write-in votes in the Feb. 8 election to earn an at-large council seat in an election to fill the unexpired term of Erica Romo Woods, whose seat was vacated when she was elected as mayor in November.
Whitaker, who owns Flamingo Threads on South Hillcrest Street, was sworn in Monday night by Pickens County Clerk of Court Pat Welborn.
Lions take down Seneca in OT
Michael Crouchley
Courtesy The Journal
michael@upstatetoday.com
SENECA — Despite leading by four points with just eight seconds left, the Daniel High School girls’ basketball team found itself heading to overtime on the road against Seneca with momentum against it on Friday night.
Deena Hassan hit a free throw for the Bobcats to cut Daniel’s lead to three with eight seconds left in regulation, and the
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Deep Winter Blues planned this weekend at Hagood Mill
PICKENS — Although the weather has been cold and bleak in recent months, The Hagood Mill is offering a chance to heat things up this weekend with its annual Deep Winter Blues event.
Set for 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday at the Hagood Mill Historic Site off U.S. Highway 178 north of Pickens, the event promises to give visitors “a great day of music and memories,” according to a
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Kidnapped from Africa: Last captured slave tells all
By Dr. Thomas Cloer, Jr.
Special to The Courier
I’ve often thought about how much I would have loved to read the last sad report by Cherokees whose homes and crops were burned in our Eastatoe Valley of Pickens County. As far as I know, such a report doesn’t exist from the Cherokee perspective.
I have read many slave narratives, but until now, had never read a firsthand account from a slave who was born, reared and stolen from Africa. I had never read a slave narrative written as this slave dictated. This former slave, Kossola, stolen from Africa, could neither read nor write. His remarkable memory has been corroborated historically by the academic world using other
sources. His easy-to-comprehend language is remarkably captured by the author.
For celebrating Black History Month, I want to feature this must-read for anyone
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African American oral history project planned for Pickens community Feb. 21
PICKENS — A group of community leaders is heading up an oral history project for the local African American community.
On Monday, Feb. 21, from 2-4 p.m., the group will be hosting a meeting at Smith Chapel FBH (209 S. Church St., Pickens) to collect historical information and interview individuals about their local history.
The primary goal is to capture the history relating to the African American community in general and the history of its churches, schools, music, groups and organizations and community leaders in the Pickens area.
The group is looking for letters, pictures, books, documents and stories that would shed light on the past. Any documents will be copied or scanned on site so no one will need to leave important documents.
This gathering of history evolved out of an award given to Pickens Mayor Fletcher Perry — the Riley Mayors’ Design Fellowship. For the project, funded by Art of Community, which is an initiative of the S.C. Arts Commission, Perry and his committee have planned an interpretive historical walking trail for Pickens, which includes important sites in the African American community. The project also includes plans for the construction of a pavilion at the Charles Johnson Memorial Park next to Griffin Ebenezer Church, which will include information about the history of the local community. While working on the project, the organizational group discovered very little documentation of the rich history of the local community, which prompted the oral history project.
“A community showcasing many of the pioneering but often forgotten black leaders is a dream come true. I am glad to be a part of this project,” said Cathy Breazeale, one of the organizers of the project. “As a child, I always knew there was a hidden GLARE in my community. Now the world will know.”
If you have any questions, would like to participate or provide historical information, contact Breazeale at cathybreazeale@hotmail.com.
