A Slave of Circumstance

By James Brewton

A Slave of Circumstance is a true story of race, deception and revenge based on a forty-year struggle, since the 1964 Civil Rights Act,for control of a small once-thriving South Carolina county with a 70 percent black population. Allendale, South Carolina's newest, smallest and most heavily populated county, statistically ranks at the top or bottom in the state in some offensive or demoralizing category - from poverty, illitercy, teen-age pregnancy, infant mortality, HIV and AIDS - to educational attainment, unemployment and per capita income. In 1960, Allendale County had plenty to boast about - a thriving agriculture industry showcased by almost 450 farms, more than any county in the state. These farms averaged 500 acres and yielded enough soybeans and cotton to top the state average. The local economy was boosted in the late 1950's when U.S. Highway 301 became the favorite north-south corridor for tourist from Canada to Flordia. U.S.301 winded its way through the town of Allendale and, like the California Gold Rush,overnight the most modern in motels sprang up along the highway from one end of town to the other. Furthermore,the town began to attract manufacturing and textile industries. In 1960, the U.S. Census Bureau reported a county population of 11,362, over 8,000 of them black. In 2000 Allendale County's population was 11,211, over 7,960 of whom was black - a representation of 71 percent. With the onset of the Civil Rights Movement and, particularly, the passing of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Voting Rights Act of 1965, Allendale County became extremely polarized by race in every aspect of community life. Allendale County's uniqueness is centered on the fact that over 70 percent of its population was black in 1960, as is true today. This large black population created an abnormal racial climate in the county, especially between 1965-1975 when more and more blacks became registered voters. Blacks arrogantly displayed their voiting power through numbers while whites utilized their economic strength along with their connections to powerful personalities in state government (The Governor of South Carolina from 1965-1975 was from Allendale County) to prevent a black "takeover" of Allendale County. Probably the most embarrassing episode to take place in Allendale County in recent years was the takeover of the Allendale County School District by the South Carolina Department of Education in July of 1999. To date, the State still manages the school district. The account of this story is taken primarily from the county's now defunct weekly newspaper, The Allendale County Citizen 1960-1981 and The Allendale County Citizen Leader 1981-2004 issues. The newspaper's final edition was May 26,2004.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1419605437
• ISBN13: 9781419605437
• Release Date: May 2005
• Publisher: BookSurge Publishing
• Length: 302 Pages
• Weight: 1.15 lbs.
• Dimensions: 9.0" x 0.7" x 6.0"