EVERYBODY from South Carolina: A Thread.

Let’s start with The Godfather of Soul, James Brown.

On May 3, 1933, James Brown was born poor in a shack near Barnwell, South Carolina and went on to become one of the most influential entertainers of all time

Let’s rewind. I started this thread because as a kid, I remember watching TV and listening to the radio and rarely seeing or hearing the state represented. Many young people have fled to major cities in search of resources or experiences that don’t exist here.

I’ve always been a problem solver, so the idea of staying here and creating those resources and experiences has always been more fascinating to me than leaving. In staying, I began to discover a lot of facts about the state and started sharing them on social media.

In the process of discovering facts about the state, I began to notice a pattern of black, notable people having family connections to the state. This now makes sense, knowing that it has been said that over 50% of Africans entered the US through the ports of South Carolina

In fact, it’s been said that approx. 70% of enslaved Africans who came to the US came ashore here on the coast of South Carolina. Descendants of these people are known as Gullah-Geechees. No other group of African Americans have preserved more Africanisms

Remember the show Gullah Gullah Island? It premiered on Nickelodeon in 1994, was based on South Carolina and openly embraced Gullah-Geechee culture. The show aired from 1994-1998 and starred real-life married couple, Ronald and Natalie Daise

I remember watching Gullah Gullah Island in class as a kid and wondering how my dentist was featured on an episode of a Nickelodeon Show. I thought, wow what a huge coincidence! Now, I understand my birthplace of Beaufort, SC was what the whole show was based around

This wasn’t the first time Beaufort, South Carolina made the “big screen”. Over 20 years prior, on March 8, 1971, Joe Frazier became the first man EVER to beat Muhammad Ali in a fight.

Beaufort, SC is also the birthplace of Season 12 winner of American Idol. Candice Glover was raised in the Gullah community of St. Helena Island. St. Helena was the inspiration behind Gullah Gullah Island and is the hometown of the show’s star, Ron Daise

I should make note that the title of this thread, “EVERYBODY from South Carolina” means “EVERYBODY is from South Carolina” in Ebonics.

So no, this isn’t a thread listing EVERYBODY from SC, but one pointing out the fact that A LOT of influencers in black culture have SC roots

Okay, let’s heat things up a little more. Remember First Lady, Michelle Obama?

Her Great-great-great grandmother, Melvinia Shields was born enslaved in South Carolina in 1844

Michelle Obama has publicly made reference to her family ties to Georgetown, South Carolina, but don’t take my word for it:

Dave Chappelle’s Great Grandfather was once the president of Allen University in Columbia, South Carolina. The auditorium there is even named after him.

Watch this:

Dave Chappelle’s Great Grandfather was also in the South Carolina state legislature during reconstruction.

Look:

Believe it or not, Dave Chappelle isn’t the only A-List comedian who has family links to South Carolina.

Chris Rock was born in Andrews, SC on Feb 7, 1965

His mother started out as a teacher to help her parents and to get out of Jim Crow SC

Watch:

Diddy couldn’t possibly have a connection to the state of South Carolina, right?

WRONG!

Watch as he traces his family roots back to the Palmetto state

...and if you still don’t believe it, here’s part 2 of Diddy tracing his family roots back to South Carolina

ALL the black super heroes are from South Carolina

Eartha Kitt (Catwoman) was born in North, SC.

Mike Colter (Luke Cage) was born in Columbia, SC and raised in St. Matthews, SC.

And Chadwick Boseman (Black Panther) was born and raised in Anderson, SC.

Hell, even the new red Power Ranger is from South Carolina

The first man to wear number 23 for the Chicago Bulls was Michael Jordan, right?

WRONG

It was a 1971 graduate of Vorhees College in Denmark, South Carolina by the name of Jackie Dinkins

Wiz Khalifa was born into a military family and lived in South Carolina for a while

Wiz Khalifa isn’t the only rapper who has a connection to South Carolina.

In fact, the FIRST female group to release a rap record was 3 women from Columbia, SC known as 'The Sequence'.

Legendary soul singer Angie Stone was in this group

In fact, the TV show ‘Power’ on Starz wouldn’t be the same if it wasn’t for the Palmetto State. Executive Producer, Curtis 50 Cent Jackson was raised by his grandma in Queens, NY who is a native of Edgefield, South Carolina

3 clips of 50 visiting SC:

50 Cent visiting his family’s hometown of Edgefield, South Carolina, Part 2

50 Cent visiting his family’s hometown of Edgefield, South Carolina, Part 3

Carl Anthony Payne II, perhaps better known as “Cole from Martin” was born in the small town of Clinton, South Carolina

Slightly off-topic, but University of South Carolina Women’s Basketball Head coach, Dawn Staley isn’t originally from SC, but she was on an episode of Martin

...but since we’re here, know that the No. 1 pick in the 2018 WNBA Draft was no other than the University of South Carolina’s own, A'ja Wilson!

A’ja was born in Hopkins, SC and a lifelong resident of Richland County before being drafted to the Las Vegas Aces

...and the following year, both the No. 1 and No. 2 NBA Draft Picks were from South Carolina.

Zion Williamson and Ja Morant grew up an hour from each other in SC and even played on the same AAU team at one point

I mentioned Eartha Kitt earlier in this thread. Her story is interesting. She was the product of a plantation owner who took advantage of Eartha’s mother.

Here she is explaining her family connection to South Carolina.

Here’s another clip of Eartha referencing her connection to South Carolina. She understood the importance of land and said it was more important to her than a man or jewelry:

Both James Brown and Eartha Kitt passed away on Christmas Day. James in 2006 and Eartha in 2008

Rapper, Trick Daddy has been proudly flaunting his South Carolina, Geechee roots for decades at this point.

Watch as he explains his mother being from SC and how to prepare a geechee meal:

Since we’re on the topic of the Breakfast Club, radio personality, Charlamagne Tha God is from Moncks Corner, South Carolina in case you didn’t already know.

Here’s Charlamagne 10 years ago predicting the future of SC music and culture

Fashion icon, Dapper Dan opened his boutique in Harlem, New York in 1982 and sold custom clothing that used logos from high-end luxury brands like Gucci, Louis Vuitton and Fendi. Though he is famously associated w NYC, his roots are South Carolina. Watch:

The new star in Disney’s The Little Mermaid? Yup, South Carolina, too.

Halle Bailey is a singer and part of the musical sister duo @chloexhalle.

Watch as they mention their father being from Charleston, South Carolina in a recent interview

Actress, Angell Conwell was born in Orangeburg, South Carolina and moved to Columbia, SC when she was 2. She attended Seven Oaks Elementary School in Columbia where she was the first African American student body president

Angell Conwell explaining her family connection to South Carolina back in 2009

The first black Barbie doll was created by Spartanburg, South Carolina native Kitty Black Perkins in 1980. She was also the first black designer for Barbie when she was hired at age 28. She rose in the company after a decade, hiring more black designers

Let’s rewind again real quick...

remember I mentioned Chris Rock earlier, right? Well, his baby brother, Jordan Rock, grew up in South Carolina, is a comedian too and even reps 843 in his social media handle

Former recording artist and now broadcaster, Joe Budden is often associated with New Jersey or New York, but his roots are Sumter, South Carolina. Sumter High School was built on his family land

Many scenes in the movie, Forrest Gump, were filmed in SC. Some casting was done here too

Bubba's Mama is played by Dr. Marlena Smalls of Beaufort, SC, founder of the Hallelujah Singers, a vocal ensemble that carries on the music and culture of the Gullah tradition.

She had no interest in acting before being approached for the role

The Hallelujah Singers of Beaufort, SC were also in the movie. Remember this scene?

2 of rap’s most well-known producers in are both from Columbia, South Carolina

Jetsonmade was born and raised here and Pi’erre Bourne, by way of Queens, NY

Whenever you hear “Yo, Pierre you wanna come out here?” or “Oh lawd, Jetson made another 1”, you already know it’s a hit

Most people don’t know Orangeburg-Wilkinson High School had their own reality show on BBC. Students from this season have since gone on to do great things.

Orangeburg, South Carolina rapper, PG RA was on this show. Watch:

Artist, Chaz Bundick, perhaps most well-known by his band name, Toro y Moi was born and raised in Columbia. Last year (2018) he talked with AP art students and reunited with one of his favorite teachers at his old high school, Ridge View High School in Columbia, South Carolina

Hester Ford is currently the oldest living American. She was born in Lancaster County, South Carolina in approximately 1904 and moved to Charlotte, NC in 1953 https://www.wbtv.com/2019/11/29/year-old-charlotte-woman-is-now-oldest-living-american/