St. Stephen’s, Charleston, Sponsors Historical Marker for Charleston Race Riot
Inspired by a racial justice pilgrimage, members of St. Stephen’s, Charleston, led the efforts to acknowledge the 1919 race riot that killed three Black Charleston residents and left dozens injured near Archdale and Beaufain Streets. According to the article shared by the Charleston Post & Courier it was not clear why the altercation began between White naval sailors stationed in Charleston and local Black residents, but the terrifying event lasted for eight hours. Two sailors were punished for the crimes.
As noted in the Post & Courier article, “Members of St. Stephen’s congregation launched the effort of adding this historical marker after a group at the church went on a racial reconciliation pilgrimage across the Southeast and returned to Charleston with a desire to share this buried story, the Rev. Adam Shoemaker said.”
“‘(We were) trying to figure out how we could help move the ball along on telling the story in our own backyard,’ he said. St. Stephen’s is located a few blocks away on Anson Street. Barbara Pace, a parishioner at the church who helped lead the cause, said the marker allows residents and tourists alike to better understand American history.”
The marker is located at 49 Archdale Street in downtown Charleston. You can view videos of news coverage of the unveiling at Live 5 News at this link, and on WCBD News 2 at this link.