South Carolina Black History

St. Andrew's TeenSpot Salutes

Viola Davis

Actress

(1965-)

Davis was born on her grandmother's farm in St. Matthews, South Carolina, the daughter of Mary and Dan Davis. Her family moved to Central Falls, Rhode Island when she was two months old. Davis majored in theatre at Rhode Island College, graduating in 1988; in 2002 she received an honorary Doctorate in Fine Arts from the college. She also attended the Juilliard School for four years. She won Broadway's 2001 Tony Award as Best Actress (Featured Role - Play) for August Wilson's "King Hedley II." She had previously been nominated in the same category in 1996 for another Wilson play, "Seven Guitars."

 

South Carolina Black History

St. Andrew's TeenSpot Salutes

Larry Doby

Baseball Player

(1923-2003)

Born in Camden, South Carolina in 1923, Lawrence Eugene Doby was the son of David and Etta Doby. He was the first African-American to hit a home run in an All-Star game and was the first African-American to win a league home run crown. He is best remembered as power hitters, who like other power hitters, did strike out a lot. In May of 1948 he hit what would have been one of the longest home runs in history, estimated at over 500 feet, had it not hit a loud speaker hanging high over the center field fence in Griffith Stadium in Washington, D.C. Almost exactly a year later he hit another home run over 500 feet. It cleared the scoreboard in right center field in the same ball park.

South Carolina Black History

St. Andrews TeenSpot Salutes

Reverend Joseph DeLaine

Civil Rights Actvist

(1898-1974)

To the South, the United States Supreme Court's decision to end segregation in the nation's public schools was a calamity; for a middle age Methodist minister from Clarendon County, South Carolina, it was the fulfillment of a lifelong crusade. The Reverend Joseph Armstrong DeLaine, who died in 1974, was one of the true heroes in the civil rights struggle to break down the barriers of segregation. Ultimately, Briggs v. Elliott became one of five cases which were considered and heard collectively under the name of Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka, Kansas. Success came at a price for DeLaine. In Lake City, he was subjected to a reign of terror that eventually persuaded him to leave the state. "I am not running from justice but INJUSTICE," he told the FBI.

South Carolina Black History

St. Andrew's TeenSpot Salutes

 

Charles F. Bolden, Jr.

Astronaut (1946-)
A resident of Houston, Bolden was born Aug. 19, 1946, in Columbia, S.C. He graduated from C. A. Johnson High School in 1964 and received an appointment to the U.S. Naval Academy. Nominated by President Barack Obama and confirmed by the U.S. Senate, retired Marine Corps Major General Charles Frank Bolden, Jr., began his duties as the twelfth Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration on July 17, 2009. As Administrator, he leads the NASA team and manages its resources to advance the agency's missions and goals.

South Carolina Black History

St. Andrew's TeenSpot Salutes

J. Anthony Brown

Actor & Comedian

A native of Columbia, South Carolina, J. Anthony started his comic career in 1972 as a regular at an Atlanta comedy hot spot. He moved on to Los Angeles in 1989 where he became a staff writer for The Arsenio Hall Show. Later writing gigs included The Parenthood and Me and the Boys. His television acting credits include Comic View, Like Family, Living Single, The Parenthood, Sparks, Moesha, The Parkers, Def Jam, It’s Showtime at the Apollo, and Evening at the Improv. Movie credits include How to Be a Player, Drumline, Triple X, and Mr. 3000.

South Carolina Black History

St. Andrew's TeenSpot Salutes

Paul Benjamin

(1938-)

Actor

Benjamin was born in Pelion, South Carolina. On the big screen during the '90s, Benjamin worked with some well-known directors. He appeared in Spike Lee's Do The Right Thing, Robert Townsend's The Five Heartbeats, Bill Duke's Hoodlum, and John Singleton's Rosewood. On television, he appeared in the 1994 pilot episode of ER, which led to his recurring role of homeless man Al Ervin during the next few seasons.Benjamin also worked on the American Masters documentary of Pulitzer Prize-winning author Ralph Ellison, which aired on PBS.

 

February Happenings at St. Andrews TeenSpot!!!

February Happenings at

St. Andrews TeenSpot!!!

St Andrews Young Adult February 2011 Calendar of Events

All programs are Ages 12-17

Black History "I Admire” Essay Contest 

Entries have to be in by February 25, 2011

St. Andrews TeenSpot Ambassador’s Meeting Ages 12-17

Wednesday, February 2, 6pm

Come and chat with us about what you want your library to do for you. 

St. Andrews TeenSpot Theater Presents “THE WIZ” Ages 12-17

Monday, February 7, 5pm

An adaption of "The Wizard of Oz" that tries to capture the essence of the African American experience. Rated G; 134 min

African American Bowl Ages 12-17

Wednesday, February 9, 3pm

Outsmart all and win the prize package.

St. Andrews TeenSpot Theater Presents “DREAMGIRLS” Ages 12-17

Monday, February 14, 5pm

Based on the Broadway musical, a trio of black female soul singers crosses over to the pop charts in the early 1960's. Rated PG-13 130 mins

St. Andrews TeenSpot Theater Presents “PRIDE” Ages 12-17

Wednesday, February 16, 3pm

The determined Jim Ellis starts a swim team for troubled teens at the Philadelphia Department of Recreation. Rated PG; 104 mins

Bridging the Gap: My Family History All ages

Tuesday, February 22, at 6pm

Come and listen to Thomlin Martin-Polite trace her family history from her native country to the present.

Love for Spoken Word: Poetry Slam Ages 12-17

Monday, February 23, 4pm

Show your love for words by reciting your poetry to other. Listen to other guest poets share their work.

St. Andrews TeenSpot Theater Presents “SARAFINA!” Ages 12-17

Monday, February 28, 5pm

A South African musical by Mbongeni Ngema depicting students involved in the Soweto Riots, in opposition to apartheid. Rated PG-13 117mins

South Carolina Black History

St. Andrew's TeenSpot Salutes

Clayton "Peg Leg" Bates

(1907-1998)

Born in South Carolina in 1907, Bates lost his left leg at age 12 in a freak factory accident. Ever the entertainer, he was determined to continue dancing. And dance he did, to fame and massive acclaim. During his long career, Bates performed at Harlem’s Cotton Club, for the queen of England, and at least 20 times on The Ed Sullivan Show. He continued to tap-dance even after retirement, and until his death (in 1998) he lectured to audiences (particularly in the Ellenville area) about his life experiences, and the importance of tolerance among white and black, disabled and nondisabled.

South Carolina Black History

St. Andrew's TeenSpot Salutes

Charlotta Amanda Bass

(1874-1969)
Newspaper publisher-editor, civil rights activist

Bass was born in Sumter, South Carolina on February 14, 1874. She relocated to California in 1910 for health reasons. Charlotta Bass took over control of The California Eagle, upon the death of the paper's founder, John James Neimore, in 1912 and served as its publisher until 1951. Bass retired from the newspaper business in 1951. Her later years were devoted to politics. In 1952 she became the first African-American woman to run for national office as the Vice Presidential candidate on the Progressive Party ticket.

South Carolina's Black History

St. Andrew's TeenSpot Salutes

Marjorie Amos-Frazier

 

Community Leader

Born: 1926

Death: June 23, 2010

Marjorie Amos-Frazier, once described as "a one-person social service agency with a sweet demeanor and a will of steel," has spent her life breaking down barrier. Frazier was first woman to be elected to the Charleston County Council in 1974. Amos-Frazier was the first woman, the first African-American and the first non-legislator to hold a position on that body. As chairperson of the Human Services Committee, she spearheaded the negotiations between the county and the Medical University of South Carolina for indigent health care. She was instrumental in establishing a senior citizens center in Charleston County and in creating new facilities for substance abuse programs.

 

South Carolina's Black History

St. Andrew's TeenSpot Salutes

Kimberly Clarice Aiken

Human Rights Advocate

&

Miss America 1994

Born: October 11, 1976

In September of 1993, before a wildly cheering audience in Atlantic City, New Jersey, she was crowned Miss America. Aiken is committed to help solve the growing problem of homelessness. She is the founder and president of HERO (Homeless Education and Resource Organization), which offers assistance to agencies that provide aid to the homeless. Aiken has received countless awards and honors including the Order of the Palmetto, which is the highest honor bestowed upon individuals in South Carolina.