How an 1876 massacre of Black men in South Carolina turned racial terror into political power

How an 1876 massacre of Black men in South Carolina turned racial terror into political power

The men responsible for the bloodshed 150 years ago were never prosecuted; instead, they rose to South Carolina’s highest offices.

How an 1876 massacre of Black men in South Carolina turned racial terror into political power

by Jacob Ware, Georgetown University, [This article first appeared in The Conversation, republished with permission] As the U.S. celebrates its 250th anniversary, its citizens commemorate a democracy more diverse, free and inclusive than it’s ever been. The path to this milestone was imperfect and paved in blood and suffering. Still, few of the revelers will likely pay heed to the anniversary of another historic event: the 150th anniversary of t…