African American Historial Alliance of South Carolina
Veterans Day 2010 Program
Charleston, SC – As part of its ongoing efforts to recognize the service of African Americans in the US Civil war in South Carolina, the African American Historical Alliance held a Veterans Day commemoration on Thursday, November 11th, for US Navy veteran Henry Benjamin Noisette. It was held at the Friendly and Charitable Society Cemetery, near the corner of Mechanic and Oceanic Streets in Charleston. Henry, a Charleston native, was in action against Confederate batteries aboard the USS Huron in the Stono River during the war. The hour-long program featured the unveiling of a Civil War veterans marker by his descendents. Cadets from the Citadel Naval ROTC participated in the service that recognized the contributions of all veterans of US Military Service. 54th Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry re-enactors served as the color guard, and Rev. John Paul Brown of the Mt. Zion A.M.E. Church officiated.
African American Historical Alliance helps sponsor conference on African Americans in the Post-Emancipation Carolinas
Charleston, South Carolina
On March 11-13, 2010 The College of Charleston, in partnership with the After Slavery Project, The Citadel, the African American Historical Alliance and the Southern Labor Studies Association, presented an international conference titled, "After Slavery: Race, Labor and Politics in the Post-Emancipation Carolinas."
The African American Historical Alliance of South Carolina presents the Charleston premiere of "The Congressman Robert Smalls: A Patriot's Journey from Slavery to Capitol Hill"
On Saturday, May 17, 2008, AAHA held a screening of "The Congressman Robert Smalls: A Patriot's Journey from Slavery to Capitol Hill" at the American Theater in downtown Charleston.
Adrena Ifill, producer of this wonderful documentary, was in attendance and answered questions from the attendees following the movie. All ticket sales
and donations will go toward purchasing copies of the documentary for South Carolina Schools.
Watch the trailer:
Legacy of Freedom Celebration
U.S. District Judge Matthew J. Perry, recently retired State Senator Kay Patterson, and former Supreme Court Justice Earnest A. Finney Jr.
On Friday, November 9, 2007, the African American Historical Alliance hosted
its 2nd Annual Legacy of Freedom Celebration to honor past and present
African Americans in their dedication to equal rights for all. The event
featured a symposium at the University of South Carolina (USC) followed by a
black-tie gala at the Columbia Marriott in downtown Columbia.
The symposium included a panel of eight historians and legal scholars
discussing the leading African American judges, legislators, and Congressmen
who served in South Carolina during Reconstruction and in the two decades
after Reconstruction.
The gala honored living legends that have continued to carry on the efforts
for freedom begun by early African American congressmen, legislators, and
jurists during the Reconstruction Period and the years following. Honorees
included Congressman James Clyburn, Retired Chief Justice Ernest Finney,
State Senator Kay Patterson and Judge Matthew Perry.
Watch the video from the symposium:Part 1 | Part 2
Alliance Honors a Forgotten American Hero
October 28, 2006
The Alliance hosted the Lt. Stephen Swails Memorial & Dedication Ceremony, a monument dedication for Swails, who was buried
in an unmarked gravesite in Charleston's Humane and Friendly Society Cemetery. The event was sponsored by the Magnolia Development
Group. Speakers included General Abraham Turner, Mayor Joseph P. Riley and Senator Glenn McConnell. Read event press release
Monument Dedication Ceremony for Private Isaac Sawyer
Veterans Day, November 11, 2005 Private Isaac Sawyer was recognized in a ceremony at Liberty Square and a headstone in his memory was dedicated at
the Monrovia Union Cemetery outside of Charleston. Both Charleston County Council and the City of Charleston provided
stirring proclamations of Isaac Sawyer's contributions. Although the exact site of his grave is not known, his
marker was placed beside his friend First Sergeant George Gregorie.
