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Rep. Reese urges House to 'reckon with responsibility' during Black History Month address
Summary
Rep. Reese delivered a lengthy Black History Month address tracing the South Carolina Legislative Black Caucus from the 1970s and urging the body to turn representation into institutional influence; he asked that his remarks be entered into the House journal.
Rep. Reese told the House that Black History Month is not merely for remembrance but for 'reckon[ing] with responsibility,' tracing the South Carolina Legislative Black Caucus to its organization in the 1970s and urging members to maintain discipline, unity and an ongoing focus on outcomes.
The remarks sketched how the caucus formed after the Voting Rights Act period and worked to secure committee appointments and institutional changes, including support for minority business programs and the State Human Affairs Commission. "The caucus did not emerge to commemorate the past. It emerged to shape outcomes," Reese said, urging continued stewardship and accountability.
Reese recalled milestones — electing the first Black members since Reconstruction, organizing formally in 1975, and expanding influence into the Senate — and linked that history to present responsibilities. He asked that his remarks be entered into the House journal at the close of his speech.
The address was delivered during the morning hour and was entered into the official record at the speaker's direction. No floor action on legislation resulted directly from the speech; it was presented as a commemorative and contextual statement about the caucus's history and purpose.
