Orangeburg Jan. 25 event to commemorate 1964 Civil Rights Act

It was a decision he would quickly learn more about from his father, the Rev. Jack Dash, who made it a point to be active in the civil rights movement as it played out in the Orangeburg area.

At the age of 14, Dash’s protests and calls for justice resulted in his being jailed for as long as a week at one time at Orangeburg’s Pink Palace. It was not unusual for him to be in jail with his entire family at the same time.

“I was walking the picket lines, going to jail,” he said. “The movement was a very good movement in terms of a mixture of young and old, students in high school, college, and adults and parents.”

Though the Brown vs. Board of Education decision came down, it would be 10 more years before Orangeburg School District 5 opened its doors to Blacks in 1964 as part of the Civil Rights Act. The 1964 Civil Rights Act outlawed segregation in public places and prohibited discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, or national origin.

“We achieved a victory in when the Civil Rights Act was passed, but we never had ever gotten together to celebrate our victory,” Dash said. “I think it is an important thing to have.”

Seeing this need, Dash, who is a lifetime member of the NAACP, said he approached Orangeburg Branch NAACP President Barbara Williams about having an event do do just that. He said she liked the idea and put him in charge.

A steering committee was formed, and the Orangeburg Civil Rights Homecoming Celebration was born.

The free event, which is open to the public, is scheduled for Saturday, Jan. 25, beginning at 10 a.m. at the Orangeburg County Conference Center at 1643 Russell St.

Dash said his goal is to draw high school and college age students to the event to hear the stories presented.

“We want this to be a learning experience,” Dash said.

He is hoping the students will be able to take the information learned back to their respective classrooms and to use the information in an academic setting.

There will be panel discussions throughout the day, and they will all be moderated with an opportunity for attendees to ask questions.

The opening speaker will be the Rev. Nelson B. Rivers III. Rivers currently serves as the pastor of Charity Missionary Baptist Church in the Liberty Hill Community of North Charleston.

Rivers has been on the front lines of the civil rights movement in a number of leadership roles to include the vice president of religious affairs and external relations of the National Action Network (NAN).

He has also worked at every level of the NAACP including: president of the North Charleston NAACP Branch; executive director, South Carolina State Conference; director, Southeast Region; chief operating officer, twice as chief of field operations, and vice president of stakeholder relations.

He has received numerous awards for his civil rights and community work.

A fireside chat session will then be held including professors from Claflin and South Carolina State University’s providing an overview of the civil rights movement.

During the provided lunch, round table discussions will be held covering a variety of topics both looking at the past and at the future of civil rights.

The topics and round table discussion leaders will include:

• Retired United States Marine Corps two-star Major General Cornell A. Wilson. Wilson will discuss his rise through the military ranks despite challenges.

Wilson served as the U.S. Marine Corps Director, Reserve Affairs Division, Manpower & Reserve Affairs, at the Marine Corps Base headquarters in Quantico, Virginia.

• Dr. Dean Floyd will discuss his journey through medicine and the challenges as well as the future of Blacks in healthcare.

A South Carolina native, Floyd studied pre-medicine at Clemson and was a freshman during the height of the civil rights movement in 1968.

Floyd was one of 21 Black students entering that school year. During the challenging time, Floyd was involved in the Student League for Black Identity (SBLI), which had a “Black table” in the cafeteria where students sat together, and looked out for one another.

• Joe Taylor, USC treasurer. Taylor built wealth in real estate, stocks, bonds and annuities.

• Celestine Pressley, executive partner at Gartner, a technological research and consulting firm, will discuss the use of technology, artificial intelligence and its usage in business. Pressley has served as the Chief Information Officer for the Office of U.S. Trade Representative.

Pressley graduated from South Carolina State University with her bachelor of science degree in computer science. She also earned a masters in business administration from Winthrop University and a masters of divinity from Howard University.

A discussion will then be held by a panel of individuals who participated in marches, picket lines and who were jailed during the civil rights movement.

Individuals on the panel will include Reginald Thomas, Calvin Wright, Nelfred Tilly Blanding and U.S. Army Col. Dr. Leroy Zimmerman.

Another panel discussion will be held with individuals who integrated the public school system in Orangeburg County to include: Jacqueline Dash, Clarence Bonnette, Arthur Rose, Belinda Davis Branch and Tyrone Dash. There will be a moderator and opportunity for the audience to ask questions.

A closing speech will be made by the Rev. Dr. Luonne Abram Rouse. Rouse is a civil rights leader, retired United Methodist minister, author and licensed marriage and family therapist.

Breakfast will be served and lunch will be catered by D&B Fish and Barbecue. The event will also have musical entertainment with an opportunity for dancing.

For more information about the event call: Tyrone Dash at 843-442-7364.