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22. George Hopkins, Interview by Patrick Duggan, 24 March, 2021
- Date:
- 2021-03-24
- Description:
- George Hopkins was born in Chicago, Illinois in 1947. He is a College of Charleston professor emeritus. This interview focuses on his family background, his anti-war activism, and his academic career. Hopkins’ parents were WWII veterans. The family resided in mostly suburban, white Republican areas. He worked in a steel mill and attended Miami University in Oxford, Ohio. These life experiences expanded and changed his worldview. In his college years, Hopkins participated in the anti-Vietnam War movement and declared himself a conscientious objector. His activism continued in graduate school at University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill, where he studied urban and labor history. There, Hopkins and other students supported the work of Fort Bragg’s GIs that opposed the war. In 1976, he moved to Charleston with a one-year contract that became a thirty-two-year teaching career. Hopkins talks about his teaching and his research and writing. Some of the works he focuses on are his dissertation on Miners for Democracy; his essay on Charleston and the metropolitan military complex included in Martial Metropolis, edited by Roger W. Lotchin, an article about historians’ interpretations of the Vietnam War, and others focused on pop culture.
23. George Hopkins, Interview by Patrick Duggan, 1 April, 2021
- Date:
- 2021-04-01
- Description:
- George Hopkins was born in Chicago, Illinois in 1947. He is a College of Charleston professor emeritus. This interview focuses on George Hopkins' long commitment to social justice and labor rights in Charleston. Initially, Hopkins' activism was mostly related to the College of Charleston and focused on racial issues and academic freedom. By the end of the seventies, he got involved with Carolina Alliance for Fair Employment (CAFE). Since then, he has been a member and has served as president of the organization. He remembers significant labor-related events such as the closing of the Navy Base in the nineties and the longshoremen protest in January 2000 that ended with the five men known as "The Charleston Five" arrested and charged with felonies. He also reflects on the crucial role the ILA 1422 and CAFE - now Charleston Alliance for Fair Employment - have played for Charleston's intersectional organizing and coalition development. Finally, Hopkins talks about his participation in other social justice endeavors in Charleston, such as the Quality Education Project and the Charleston Area Justice Ministry.
24. Kayla Gilchrist, Interview by Hannah Cowan Jones, 15 April, 2021
- Date:
- 2021-04-15
- Description:
- Kayla Gilchrist was born in 1988 in Hershey, Pennsylvania, and grew up in Minnesota. After graduating from high school, she moved to Spain to attend the Universidad de San Luis to study Spanish and international relations. During her junior year, she lived in Cairo, Egypt. After graduation, she remained in Spain for another year and a half and then returned to the United States to attend graduate school at The Monterey Institute of International Studies in California. She graduated with a MA in International Policy Studies with a focus on conflict resolution and community development and a MA in Translation-Interpretation. Right after, she moved to Charleston, South Carolina to join Charleston Area Justice Ministry (CAJM) as an associate organizer. Gilchrist reflects on the life events that shaped her interest in organizing people and communities for social justice, including her experiences with school disparities as a child and living overseas. She describes her work with CAJM and Midland's Organized Response for Equity and Justice (MORE Justice). In 2020, she moved to Washington, D.C. and joined National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI).
25. Marcus McDonald, Interview by Mills Pennebake, 21 April, 2021
- Date:
- 2021-04-21
- Description:
- Marcus McDonald was born in Silver Springs, Maryland, and grew up in Columbia, South Carolina. He moved to Charleston in 2014 to attend the College of Charleston, where he graduated with a degree in finances. McDonald is the founder of Adesso Entertainment. In 2020, after the killing of Ahmaud Arbery and George Floyd, he felt compelled to act and started organizing with Black Lives Matter. McDonald talks about the marches organized in downtown Charleston right after the video of George Floyd’s police killing was released and about the police repression that followed up. He discusses the challenges of being a new face in the Charleston organizing scene, the process of forming the Independent Charleston Black Lives Matter Chapter, and how he became identified as its leader. In the interview, McDonald reflects on teaching at Burke High, his work with the Eastside Community Development Corporation, and his participation in several local coalitions that focus on police brutality, racism, and gentrification.
26. Melissa Moore, Interview by Victoria Steagall, 22 April, 2021
- Date:
- 2021-04-22
- Description:
- Melissa Moore (they/them) grew up in Mt. Pleasant, South Carolina, and they earned a bachelor’s degree in sociology at the College of Charleston. In college, they got engaged with feminist and queer groups. When they were 22 years old, they joined the Alliance for Full Acceptance and were hired as its Assistant Director. Soon after, they joined SC Equality and were actively engaged in a campaign against the marriage amendment and other policies issues related to the LGBTQ+ community. Moore was approached by the board of We Are Family, an organization focused on LGBTQ+ and straight ally youth, and became its Executive Director. Moore takes pride in the organization's progress made under their tenure that includes opening the Close Case Thrift store and work to end homeliness in Charleston. Later Moore worked with Housing for All in Mt. Pleasant and at the time of the interview, they were WREN Lowcountry manager. In the interview, they reflect on their experience as a queer person growing up and living in South Carolina. They reflect on the progress made by the LGBTQ+ community as well as the limitations of their political demands when the demands do not include addressing poverty and access to housing and health care.
27. Harry B. "Chip" Limehouse III, Interview by Joseph Williams, 13 April, 2021
- Date:
- 2021-04-13
- Description:
- Harry B. "Chip" Limehouse III was born in 1962 in Charleston, South Carolina. His family has a long history in politics, and he grew up attending electoral campaign events. He earned a bachelor's degree in political science at USC. In the interview, Limehouse remembers his close relationship with Senator Strom Thurmond, tells about his experiences working with him in Washington DC as a high school and college student, and states he was one of the most influential people in his political career. In 1994, he won his first election to the South Carolina House of Representatives where he served for over twenty years. Limehouse takes pride in his work as an elected official and the legislation he helped pass, particularly the South Carolina Transportation Infrastructure. He talks about the Tea Party's beginnings and its impact on the Republican Party. He states he participated in the Tea Party events and supported its ideas but disagreed with its electoral strategy. Finally, Limehouse reflects on the present and future of the Republican Party.
28. Fred Lincoln, Interview by Timothy St. Pierre, 21 March, 2021
- Date:
- 2021-03-11
- Description:
- Fred Lincoln is a resident of the Jack Primus community in Cainhoy, South Carolina. He lives on the land owned and passed down by his formerly slaved ancestors. Lincoln discusses the protest organized by John "Sammy" Sanders to save the Meeting Tree in Daniel Island that got the attention of the local media but received limited support from the local Black community. He affirms the most pressing issue is protecting Black residents’ property rights. Lincoln has been a member of the Wando-Huger, Community Development Corporation since 1992. This organization has worked since its inception to ensure black residents receive adequate compensation when development is unavoidable. Lincoln takes pride in their work with Charleston County to zone 150 acres for affordable homes, as well as, stopping the Port Authority’s plan to open railroad and truck access through their community. He affirms that their ability to show up as an organized community with deep roots in the region earned them the political support they needed to succeed. Finally, Lincoln states they are currently working with the Department of Health and Environmental Control to bring city water and sewer services to the community.
29. Karla Martinez, Interview by JonahTrimnal, 4 April, 2021
- Date:
- 2021-04-04
- Description:
- Karla Martinez was born in 1981 in Zacatecoluca, El Salvador. Escaping the civil war, her family went to Mexico, stayed there undocumented for several years, and then crossed the border into the United States. Martinez grew up in Los Angeles, California. She remembers her life in Mexico and Los Angeles and shares her struggles as an undocumented student aspiring to attend college. Martinez attended UCLA and focused on economics and Latin American studies. Then, she attended law school at the University of Iowa. After graduation, she moved to Florida, where she practiced farmworker law. In 2016, Martinez relocated to Charleston, South Carolina, and joined South Carolina Legal Services and a few years later, the Charleston County Public Defender’s Office. Martinez talks about how she became involved with Charleston Immigrant Coalition (CIC). She reflects on the importance of ending the 287(g) program in Charleston County and the role the CIC had in the process. Finally, she reflects on the changes she would like to see including the law enforcement agencies providing appropriate cultural and linguistic services and South Carolina becoming more accepting of the Latino community.
30. Ruby Murray, Interview by Kieran W. Taylor, 20 September 2021
- Date:
- 2021-09-20
- Description:
- Ruby Murray was born in Kingstree, South Carolina, and raised in St. Stephens, South Carolina. In the interview, she recalls her first day of employment at The Citadel’s Daniel Library on January 17, 1994, the same day Shannon Faulkner started taking full-time classes. Murray talks about her nuclear and extended family and remembers the construction of the Cooper River Rediversion Project and the impact it had on the community. She describes her experiences visiting Charleston as a child and later as a College of Charleston student in the mid-eighties. Murray reflects on her work at the Daniel Library and the changes she has witnessed over the years, including the Daniel Library and the Citadel's evolving relationships with the larger community. She defines her leadership style as “servant leadership” and stresses the importance of building relationships and genuinely caring for others.
31. Christina Butler, Interview by David G. Stringer III, 8 December 2021
- Date:
- 2021-12-08
- Description:
- Christina Butler is a historical preservationist, a professor at the College of Charleston, a horse-drawn carriage tour guide in Charleston, and an equine enthusiast. Growing up in Ohio, she spent considerable time around horses and stables. When she moved to Charleston at the age of 19, Butler recognized that becoming a tour guide would be the ideal opportunity to combine her love of history and her passion for horses. In this interview, Butler describes her background working with mules and draft horses and how she first became interested in these creatures. She also delves into Charleston's history regarding horses and the part they have played throughout the years. Butler also addresses the contentious issue of horse-drawn carriage trips, which many people feel are cruel and exploitative of the animals. She disagrees stating these horses have been bred to work, and asserting that they are treated with respect, and care. She hopes that by sharing accurate information and raising awareness about this issue, the city of Charleston will continue offering these tours that are worthwhile experiences for visitors.
32. Jonathan W. Lyon, Interview by John Rosenblum, 7 December 2021
- Date:
- 2021-12-07
- Description:
- Johnathan Lyon is a Dock Master at the Detyens Shipyard located in North Charleston, South Carolina. Lyon was born in 1958 in Awendaw, South Carolina, and has been employed at the shipyard since 1974 when he was 16 years old. With an extensive background working at Detyens, Lyon has witnessed the shipyard growth, has seen new safety measures put into place over the years, and has worked his way up in the ranks from his start in the carpenter shop to now as a Dock Master. Lyon provides a rundown of the day-to-day basis as a Dock Master and what some of these tasks might entail. He also discusses some of the challenges that are faced such as hurricanes and ship repairs. In addition to this, he praises his late mentor, Mr. Stewart, who taught him life lessons that he has remembered for years.
33. John Gardner, Interview by Olivia Williams, 1 May 2021
- Date:
- 2021-05-01
- Description:
- John Gardner was born in Hilton Head, SC, and raised in a tight-knit Black community in Beaufort, SC. In this second interview, Gardner recalls memories of the Penn Center, his father’s store, and describes his mother's community involvement. He also brings up his time at Morehouse University, including his memories of the jazz club Paschal's. After graduation in 1970, Gardner relocated to Rochester, NY. At the time of the interview, Gardner was a historical interpreter at McLeod Plantation and Historic Site on James Island in Charleston, South Carolina.
34. John Holenko, Interview by Daniel Reeves, 7 December 2021
- Date:
- 2021-12-07
- Description:
- John Holenko is a musician from New Jersey with a master’s degree from the University of Southern California in classical guitar. In this interview, Holenko explores how his interest in music began, his journey of getting into gigging in Boston and California, and then eventually settling in Charleston, South Carolina. He now owns his own studio, Hungry Monk, where he gives music lessons to others. The name of his studio has its own story of how it came to be, as Holenko encountered actual Tibetan monks in a café that inspired the name. He also lists some of the places he has performed himself, including an Early Music Festival in Germany. Furthermore, Holenko touches on how COVID-19 affected his business, his personal music influences, and even provides some advice for those that are interested in getting into music.
35. Juan Fernando Soto, Interview by JonahTrimnal, 30 March, 2021
- Date:
- 2021-03-30
- Description:
- Fernando Soto was born in 1984 in San Pedro de las Colonias, Coahuila, Mexico. When he was seven years old, his family immigrated to the United States. Soto remembers growing up on Johns Island, South Carolina, and reflects on how this small rural community has changed over time. He attended Spring Hill College in Alabama and earned a bachelor’s degree in Journalism. Soto talks about his decision to follow this professional path and states his family background informs his interest and passion for the field. He asserts he is not an activist but a journalist reporting on issues relevant to the Latino community. He talks about the Charleston Immigrant Coalition (CIC), explaining its beginnings and the issues it championed, particularly the end of the 287(g) program in Charleston County. Soto addresses the impact of COVID 19 in the Latino community and the disparities in access to care, stressing these same Latinos who are ignored by the government are the essential workers that keep the city alive and thriving. Finally, he reflects on the multilayered and complex scenarios Latinos face when they decide to leave home and cross the border.
36. Nick Rubin, Interview by Jason Pack, 15 April, 2021
- Date:
- 2021-04-15
- Description:
- This interview with Nick Rubin focuses on his political work with the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA). An organizer in leftist spaces for most of his adult life, Rubin got engaged with Charleston DSA in 2017. The organization became an official chapter in 2018 and was incorporated as a non-profit 501(c) 4 in 2021. Rubin reflects on the challenges and opportunities involved with forming the chapter. He talks about the many issues Charleston DSA members have been part of included the end of the 287(g) agreement between the Charleston Sheriff Office and ICE, the campaign for Medicaid for All, and the Bernie Sanders campaign. He states Charleston DSA members are active on many issues including environmental, housing, and labor rights among others. He is optimistic about the organization's potential to continue growing in South Carolina.
37. Diana Salazar Guzmán, Interview by Christian Merida, 11 March, 2021
- Date:
- 2021-03-11
- Description:
- Diana Salazar Guzman was born in 1964 in Homestead, Florida. In this interview, she reflects on her Chicana identity and her family roots. Salazar Guzman remembers her role in leading the 2006 immigrant-rights march in Charleston and the challenges she confronted. She talks about her continued community work and the changes she has observed with the growing presence of the Latino community in South Carolina.
38. Thomas Dixon, Interview by Jennifer Curtis, 23 March, 2021
- Date:
- 2021-03-23
- Description:
- Thomas A. Dixon (b. September 1952) grew up in the projects in Chicago and was educated in the Catholic faith. Thinking priesthood could be his calling, Dixon attended Archbishop Quigley Preparatory Seminary. There, he was part of the United Black Seminarians and became interested in the civil rights movement. He loved music and was a member of a performing trio. During his teen years, he started abusing alcohol and drugs. In 1982, he joined the Navy hoping the structured environment would help him to overcome his addictions and improve his life. Dixon talks in length about the variety of experiences he had while serving, included his two years onboard the USS Mahan. He continued struggling with addictions that prevented him from having the successful career he had envisioned. When he got discharged, Dixon joined his family in Charleston, South Carolina. At the end of the interview, Dixon remembers his parents and siblings and expresses gratitude for his present life, particularly his relationship with his wife and adult children.
39. Thomas Dixon, Interview by Jennifer Curtis, 16 March, 2021
- Date:
- 2021-03-16
- Description:
- In this interview, Thomas A. Dixon (b. September 1952) focuses on the first years of his community and political work in Charleston, South Carolina. As an ex-felon, he encountered many barriers to find employment and assert his rights as a worker. Dixon reflects on his life experiences and how they informed his activism. He states why he joined organizations that focused on decreasing recidivism, addressing gun violence, and promoting workers' rights. He explains why he left the pulpit to take his social work activism to the streets. He talks about his church ministry and his work with South Carolina Crime Reduction, Brady United Against Gun Violence, The Coalition to Take Back Our Community, and CAFE.
40. Joshua Parks, Interview by Mills Pennebaker, 18 April, 2021
- Date:
- 2021-04-18
- Description:
- Joshua Parks was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and grew up in Jacksonville, Florida. He attended Howard University in Washington, DC and worked at the Sankofa Bookstore owned by filmmakers Haile Gerina and Shirikiana Aina Gerina. While in college, he was the chair of the NAACP college chapter and engaged in community organizing with Pan-African Community Action (PACA). His traveles to Cuba, Haiti, and South Africa contributed significantly to his political education. After graduation, he returned to Florida and worked as a teacher for two years. In 2019, he moved to Charleston, South Carolina to attend graduate school. He became involved in local organizing and was one of the founding members of the Lowcountry Action Committee. He reflects about the work Lowcountry Action Committee had done in collaboration with Eastside Community Development Corporation focusing on mutual aid, food distribution, and education. The Lowcountry Action Committee is also among the founding organization of the People's Budget Coalition and frequently partners with the Center for Heirs Property in educational programs for community members affected by development and gentrification.
