In February, State of the South held its fifth convening in Charleston, South Carolina. Meeting over two days, community members, nonprofit leaders, business owners, policymakers, and artists gathered to discuss how to make Charleston, South Carolina, and the larger South equitably accessible to everyone.
Following the event, we invited panelists and participants to reflect on their experiences. We’re honored to share with you this reflection from Bernie Mazyck at South Carolina Association for Community Economic Development.
Journey…Destination…Arrival. These are words that resonate with me when I ponder the work of Equity…Justice…Opportunity. My work, which focuses on improving the quality of life for poor, marginalized and oppressed people in South Carolina, is rooted in a sense of calling, “To bring good news to the poor, liberate the oppressed, declare a season of God’s favor.” But when I turn on the news I see injustices, poverty, and predatory lenders charging poor people interest rates of 300% on a small dollar emergency loan. It’s expensive to be poor in South Carolina. And when we consider statistics that point to disparities among marginalized people in the South, especially if you are a member of a marginalized group (African American, Hispanic, Native American, and rural), you may shrink into a state of depression and dispiritedness. These thoughts and emotions set the table for the recent convening in North Charleston, of the State of the South, hosted by North Carolina-based MDC from February5-7and which provided a space to not only reflect upon our current situation but also to reimagine the possibilities for equity and prosperity in our state.
The South, and especially South Carolina, is a contrast in narratives. On one side, you have the history of slavery and oppression, which continues to cast its long shadow over the present and the future prosperity of the state. That history continues to play a role in the disparities among people of color in almost every indicator ranging from health, wealth, educational attainment, and social status. But the South, including South Carolina, is also experiencing economic growth at a level never experienced before in its history. During State of the South, MDC President & CEO John Simpkins shared a data point that was quite revealing. He stated that, “The six (6) southern states (including South Carolina) contribute more to the country’s gross domestic product (GDP) than all states in the northeastern corridor combined.” This data point highlighted tremendous opportunities for racial equity, justice, and economic opportunities for members of our communities who continue to be left behind.