1. Slavery in the United States (1619-1865)

• National: The arrival of enslaved Africans to the American colonies in 1619 marked the beginning of centuries of forced labor, brutality, and systemic exploitation. Enslaved people were subjected to unimaginable physical and psychological abuse, economic exploitation, and family separations. The institution of slavery became deeply embedded in American society, particularly in the South, fueling the economy through agriculture, especially in cotton, tobacco, and sugar production.

• Local (South Carolina): South Carolina was one of the largest centers of the transatlantic slave trade and held one of the highest percentages of enslaved African Americans. Charleston, specifically, became a major port for the importation of enslaved Africans, and by the mid-1800s, enslaved people made up more than half of the state's population. South Carolina was the first state to secede from the Union, partly in defense of slavery, leading to the Civil War.

2. Post-Emancipation and Reconstruction (1865-1877)

• National: The Emancipation Proclamation (1863) and the end of the Civil War (1865) formally ended slavery. However, after the abolition of slavery, Southern states enacted "Black Codes," laws that limited the freedoms of African Americans, trapping many in exploitative labor systems like sharecropping.

• Local (South Carolina): During Reconstruction, Black South Carolinians briefly achieved political gains, with some elected to local and state offices. However, these gains were swiftly reversed with the rise of white supremacist groups like the Ku Klux Klan, which used violence to suppress Black political and economic progress. Reconstruction’s collapse saw the systematic dismantling of Black rights and opportunities across the state.

3. Jim Crow Era (Late 1800s-1960s)

• National: The Jim Crow laws institutionalized racial segregation and inequality, relegating Black Americans to second-class citizenship and denying them access to quality education, fair employment, housing, and political representation. Through voter suppression tactics like poll taxes, literacy tests, and violent intimidation, African Americans were effectively barred from civic participation.

• Local (South Carolina): South Carolina embraced Jim Crow laws, enforcing strict racial segregation in schools, public facilities, and transportation. The state's leadership actively resisted federal efforts at desegregation, even after the Supreme Court's Brown v. Board of Education decision in 1954. Segregation in schools, workplaces, and neighborhoods became entrenched, and Black South Carolinians faced brutal repercussions for resisting these racist policies.

4. Civil Rights Movement and Resistance (1950s-1970s)

• National: The Civil Rights Movement saw African Americans mobilize to challenge racial injustice and demand equal rights. Landmark legislation, including the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Voting Rights Act of 1965, formally dismantled Jim Crow laws and made discriminatory practices illegal.

• Local (South Carolina): South Carolinians played significant roles in the Civil Rights Movement, with local leaders organizing boycotts, sit-ins, and protests. For example, the Charleston Hospital Strike in 1969, led by Black women hospital workers, highlighted issues of labor rights, racial discrimination, and inequality. Despite legal advances, resistance to desegregation persisted, and many South Carolinian Black communities continued to face de facto discrimination in areas such as housing, education, and employment.

5. Ongoing Systemic Discrimination (1970s-Present)

• National: After the Civil Rights Movement, racial disparities continued through redlining, mass incarceration, and unequal access to education, healthcare, and economic resources. The War on Drugs in the 1980s disproportionately affected Black communities, leading to mass incarceration and long-term impacts on families and neighborhoods. These systemic issues continue to affect Black Americans, as they face disparities in wealth, health, education, and criminal justice outcomes.

• Local (South Carolina): South Carolina has consistently seen racial disparities across socioeconomic indicators, including high incarceration rates for African Americans, lower levels of educational attainment, and greater barriers to homeownership. Policies such as redlining limited Black South Carolinians' ability to buy homes in certain areas, contributing to lasting wealth inequality. The criminal justice system continues to disproportionately target Black individuals, and Black communities often lack equal access to healthcare, quality education, and economic opportunities.

6. Modern Reparations Movement

• National: The modern reparations movement seeks redress for the enduring impacts of slavery, Jim Crow, and systemic racism. This includes financial restitution, educational and economic investments, and structural changes. Influential reports like The Case for Reparations by Ta-Nehisi Coates (2014) reignited national discussions on reparations.

• Local (South Carolina): South Carolinians have increasingly organized around reparative justice, with initiatives seeking recognition, education, and reparative action for Black communities. Local movements focus on addressing historical injustices and current inequities in housing, employment, and education. The Reparations Alliance in South Carolina, along with similar groups, works to educate, mobilize, and advocate for policies and actions that aim to repair past harms.