Hobcaw Barony celebrates Black History Month with its ‘Fighting for Respect’ Program – February 22
February 18, 2020
Hobcaw Barony’s deep-rooted history of African American culture traces back to the 1700s, when the tract produced a substantial amount of rice for Georgetown County. This February, Hobcaw Barony embraces its journey and celebrates the lives that shaped this historic area of our nation.
“Fighting for Respect: African Americans in the Military” will be presented on Saturday, February 22, from 1 to 4 p.m. The lecture and tour explores the difference the military made in the lives of descendants of enslaved laborers in South Carolina. Prominent historian Dr. Fritz Hamer, curator of history at the South Carolina Confederate Relic Room and Military Museum, will lead the lecture, explaining how African American males from all over the country eagerly joined the war effort.
“During World War I and World War II, the nation experienced social and racial upheavals, and African American citizens saw an opportunity to not only win the respect of their white neighbors, but also escape the poverty of the South,” expressed Hamer. “The movement was a powerful change for our nation, and we are looking forward to sharing this under-told story with the class.”
Following the lecture, participants will receive a tour of the former Friendfield Village and hear stories gleaned from oral histories of former residents who served and returned. Tickets are available for purchase online at HobcawBarony.org in advance for $30. Reservations are required for this event.
For more information about Hobcaw Barony, visit the property’s website. To view the selection of activities, tours, lectures and seminars or to reserve your spot for any of these amazing programs, visit the website’s Seasonal Programs page.
About Hobcaw Barony
The Belle W. Baruch Foundation is a private nonprofit foundation created through the vision of Belle Wilcox Baruch and established as a trust at her death in 1964. Today, the Belle W. Baruch Foundation is the sole owner of Hobcaw Barony, the privately owned research reserve located on the coast near Georgetown, South Carolina. The foundation’s primary mission is to conserve Hobcaw Barony’s unique natural and cultural resources for research and education.
Hobcaw Barony’s 16,000 acres encompass a rich diversity of every common ecosystem found on the South Carolina coast, making it an unparalleled site for research in the environmental sciences. In addition, over 70 cultural sites on the former plantation grounds, including cemeteries, slave cabins and the Baruchs’ homes, all provide a time capsule for educators.
Currently, as many as 12 trustees serve on the foundation’s board and are responsible for all ownership decisions. The State of South Carolina Attorney General’s Office and the Probate Court of Richland County, South Carolina, provide oversight for the trust. Additionally, the South Carolina Secretary of State has oversight responsibility for charitable activities of the foundation in South Carolina. The foundation is recognized as a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization, as well as an exempt operating foundation. Contributions to the foundation are tax exempt to the extent allowed by current tax law.
