Congressional Civil Rights Pilgrimage to South Carolina: Columbia – Orangeburg – Charleston

The Faith & Politics Institute’s 2016 pilgrimage to South Carolina, led by Representative James Clyburn (D-SC), Senator Tim Scott (R-SC) and Senator Lindsey Graham (R-SC), brought together participants to reflect on the enduring legacy of slavery, racism, and resilience in American history. Anchored in Charleston—a city central to the transatlantic slave trade—the pilgrimage invited participants to confront the painful truths of America’s past by visiting historic sites such as the Old Slave Mart and Mother Emanuel AME Church, where nine worshippers were murdered in a racially motivated mass shooting. Through prayer, dialogue, and engagement with local leaders and descendants of enslaved people, participants examined how faith, memory, and community can serve as powerful tools for healing and reconciliation. The experience deepened their understanding of how history lives in the present and challenged them to carry forward the work of racial justice with humility, courage, and compassion.

Key sites:

• Zion Baptist Church
• Trinity United Methodist Church
• South Carolina State University
• Memorial for the Victims of the Orangeburg Massacre
• Claflin University
• The College of Charleston Avery Research Center for African American History and Culture
• Circular Congregational Church
• Mother Emanuel AME Church