Contemporary consequences of a 19th century local event

The final part of our day on the 22nd of September was a panel discussion about the Hamburg Massacre (1876) and its repercussions. The event, which was one of a series of meetings focused on this issue, took place at the First Providence Baptist Church in North Augusta.

The diversified panel included: professor James Oscar Farmer, Jr, from the University of South Carolina; Reverend Dr. Nathaniel Irvin, a pastor and a civil rights leader; our dear friend, a USC professor, Valinda Littlefield; Wayne O’Bryant, an award-winning author and historian, whose paternal ancestors used to live in Hamburg; Bettis Rainsford, a local businessman and historian, as well as Dr. Robert Scott, an esteemed historian and a  great researcher of North Augusta history.

The debate focused on the impact of the Hamburg Massacre on the situation of the black community after the Civil War. However, the crucial question was how to commemorate the victims of the tragedy. The crux of the matter was the fact that one of the people who died in those riots was a white man who took part in the attack on the black militiamen.

This controversial issue was not settled by the experts. Yet the debate proved there is room for compromise and mutual understanding. Moreover, the way the audience spoke its mind showed the deep interest and knowledge of the problem among the local community.    

Ania and Asia