Five South Carolina grown prominent African Americans
Meghan Salinas, Associate Writer
Photo courtesy: pixabay.com
The month of February is Black History Month and this is truly something to be celebrating.
Harriet Tubman once said, “Every great dream begins with a dreamer. Always remember, you have within you the strength, the patience, and the passion to reach for the stars to change the world.”
Here are some Prominent African Americans who are from The Palmetto State.
Darius Rucker
Imagine students at USC Columbia forming a rock band in 1986 called “Hootie and the Blowfish.” The band gave people hope with their upbeat music and charm. Darius Rucker was the lead singer for the band and eventually went off and pursued his solo career, in country music. Talk about a jack-of-all-trades. “Alright” and “Wagon Wheel” are some of his biggest hits in country music.
James Brown
Also known as the “Godfather of Soul” Brown was a singer, songwriter, activist and bandleader for the Famous Flames. He was one of the most prominent figures in the genre of funk and soul music. Born in Barnwell, SC in 1933, James Brown was a man who used his music to speak to problems of social injustice and education.
Anna DeCosta Banks
Banks was a pioneer in the nursing profession during 1869 in Charleston, SC. She served as the first head nurse at the Hospital and Training School of Nurses, which was a segregated institution organized for the purpose of training African American nurses. A wing at the Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC) is named in her honor for the acts of service that Banks showed to others.
Viola Davis
From St. Matthews, SC, Davis is the only African American performer to win an Oscar, Emmy and Tony Award. She is famous for starring in movies like “Enders Game”, “The Help”, “How To Get Away With Murder”, “Fences” and even Broadway productions of “King Hedley III” and “Fences.”
Chris Rock
Born in Andrews, S.C., Rock is a brilliant actor who has played in the Madagascar films, “Grown Ups”, “Head of State” and even narrated the beloved sit-com called “Everybody Hates Chris.” Rock has won a total of four Emmy Awards and three Grammy Awards.
So, let’s celebrate. God calls His children to be unified. Let’s use this month to remember the contributions and achievements of these talented people, famous or not.
