South Carolina has a rich history of Black achievement and struggle. It was one of the first English colonies to import enslaved Africans in 1670 and became a major center of the transatlantic slave trade. The state played a significant role in the Civil War and Reconstruction era.

During Reconstruction, South Carolina saw the rise of Black political power with the election of African American legislators to the state legislature and the U.S. Congress. Robert Smalls, a formerly enslaved man, became a prominent political leader and even served as a U.S. Congressman.

South Carolina was also a key battleground during the Civil Rights Movement. In 1954, the landmark case Brown v. Board of Education originated in South Carolina when parents in Clarendon County sued for equal education for their children. The state also saw significant protests and activism against segregation and racial discrimination.

South Carolina's history is also marked by the achievements of prominent Black figures, such as civil rights leader Septima Clark, gospel singer Mahalia Jackson, and jazz musician Dizzy Gillespie, all of whom were born in the state.

Overall, South Carolina has played a crucial role in the history of Black Americans, both in terms of struggle and triumph, and its legacy continues to influence the state and the nation today.