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Spartanburg African American Heritage committee previews South Side cultural monument unveiling
Summary
Members of the Spartanburg African American Heritage and Culture Committee told the city council the South Side cultural monument — including educational kiosks and recognition of 15 local sites noted in the Green Book — will be unveiled June 14 and aims to educate residents, honor local leaders and draw visitors.
Members of the Spartanburg African American Heritage and Culture Committee on Monday described the work behind a South Side cultural monument and invited city leaders and the public to an unveiling set for June 14 at 10 a.m.
The committee — which the presenters said has worked for roughly four years documenting local people, places and organizations — told the City Council the monument will include names and images of community leaders, an on-site educational kiosk, and will be located on the city’s south side where downtown meets the neighborhood.
“ The monument will be erected on the south side of town, but it's for the entire city of Spartanburg. The people on that monument will be from all across the city,” James E. Talley, former mayor and chairman of the committee, said during the presentation. He described the project as intended to “let our young people see exactly what they can become.”
Bridal Price, identified as chair of the committee’s history subcommittee, said the volunteer group was formed in 2021 and has researched sites that appear in the Green Book and other local records. “Within the writings of this book, there are 15 sites that we know today are aren't mentioned in the book,” Price said, and listed examples she said the committee wants to mark, including an early African American cemetery on Cemetery Street and the historic Mount Moriah Baptist Church.
Price told council members the committee’s work includes documenting sites for state historical markers and compiling material for educational signage. The group said it is also preparing a kiosk to accompany the monument so visitors can read extended captions and background on site.
State Representative Rosalyn Henderson Myers and other officials thanked the committee for its work. Myers said she first saw a commemorative wall in another city and later supported efforts to produce a similar civic recognition in Spartanburg. “I truly look forward to seeing the sheets come down, the lights come on, and the wall being revealed,” she said.
Committee members said the project received financial and logistical assistance from multiple sources, and thanked city staff who worked on the effort. The presenters asked the City Council and the public to attend the June 14 unveiling and to support follow-up efforts to identify additional sites for historic markers across the city.
Committee leaders and staff said their next priorities include continuing research on the 15 identified sites and working with city archives and the South Carolina Department of Archives and History on formal marker applications.
The Council did not take formal action on the monument at the meeting; the presentation was provided during the public-comment/committee update portion of the agenda.
