South Carolina has played a significant role in Black history in the United States. The state has a deep and complex history tied to slavery, the Civil War, Reconstruction, the civil rights movement, and beyond.

One notable aspect of South Carolina's Black history is its role in the antebellum slave trade. Charleston was a major port for the transatlantic slave trade, with enslaved Africans being brought to the city and sold at markets such as the Old Slave Mart Museum.

During the Civil War, South Carolina was the first state to secede from the Union in 1860, leading to the start of the conflict. The state was also home to many significant events during Reconstruction, including the establishment of post-Civil War rights and freedoms for formerly enslaved individuals. This period saw the election of many Black politicians to local and state offices, a development that was met with backlash from white supremacists.

The civil rights movement also had a significant impact on South Carolina, with events such as the Orangeburg massacre in 1968, where police shot and killed three Black students during a protest at South Carolina State University. The state was also the site of important civil rights milestones, such as the Briggs v. Elliott case that was one of the five cases combined into Brown v. Board of Education, leading to the desegregation of public schools.

Today, South Carolina continues to honor and preserve its Black history through various museums, monuments, and cultural events that highlight the contributions and struggles of African Americans in the state.