6AM City In-house

5 ways to honor Black history in Columbia

6 ways to honor Black history in Columbia
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Ija Charles’ mural on the 1400 block of Main Street. | Photo via COLAtoday Team


February is Black History Month, which is a time to reflect on, celebrate, and honor African American history. We’ve rounded up some local ways you can learn more about Columbia’s Black history by virtually exploring or visiting these locations.

🎨 The Ija Charles mural on Main Street tells the story of Columbia’s Black Wall Street — the area of Washington Street from Assembly to Gadsden streets that once featured hundreds of locally-owned businesses that supplied goods and services to the community through the 1970s.

🎓 Columbia is home to two of South Carolina’s eight HBCUs, or Historically Black Colleges and Universities, that both carry rich histories. Take a look back at our deep dive into the history of Allen University and Benedict College and learn more about their most distinguished alumni.

💻 Explore Columbia’s African American Heritage sites from the comfort of your own computer or mobile device, thanks to Historic Columbia’s online walking tours. The tours take you through neighborhoods and districts central to Columbia’s African American history.

🎵 The Columbia Museum of Art (CMA) is offering a variety of programming celebrating Black History Month, including art talks, films, and a celebration of soul music through its “More Than Rhythm: A Black Music Series.”

🚗 Hit the road and explore 300+ historic African American landmarks across the state thanks to a resource called The Green Book of SC. Created by the South Carolina African American Heritage Commission (SCAAHC), this was the first mobile travel guide for Black cultural sites across the state.

To learn more about local African American history, visit Historic Columbia and discover information about four centuries of Columbia’s Black community.
Lexington Medical Center

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Friday, Feb. 3
  • SUSTO | Friday, Feb. 3 | 8 p.m. | The Senate, 1022B Senate St., Columbia | $17 | Charleston-based indie rock band SUSTO’s most recent album, “Time in the Sun,” landed on several lists as one of the best Southern albums of 2021.
  • Vintage Market Days presents “Freshly Picked” | Friday, Feb. 3-Sunday, Feb. 5 | Times vary | SC State Fair Grounds, 1200 Rosewood Dr., Columbia | $10 | Vintage Market Days is an upscale vintage and vintage-inspired indoor/outdoor market, featuring original art, antiques, clothing, jewelry, handmade treasures, home décor, outdoor furnishings, and seasonal plantings.
  • Soul II Soul Tour | Friday, Feb. 3 | 8 p.m. | Colonial Life Arena, 801 Lincoln St., Columbia | $62+ | The Soul II Soul Tour features three-time GRAMMY-nominated Kem, along with Ledisi and special guest Musiq Soulchild.
  • Aiken Antique Show | Friday, Feb. 3-Sunday, Feb. 5 | 9:30 a.m. | Aiken Center for the Arts, 122 Laurens St., SW, Aiken | $20 | This one-of-a-kind event features vintage pieces from 21 incredible antique exhibitors, guest lecturers, daily lunches, and a Sunday Shrimp & Grits and Blood Mary Bar brunch.*
Saturday, Feb. 4
  • A Talk and Tasting at Historic Columbia | Saturday, Feb. 4 | 2-4 p.m. | Hampton-Preston Mansion & Gardens, 1615 Blanding St., Columbia | $35 | Join authors Chef Kevin Mitchell and Professor David Shields for a lively discussion of their award-winning book, “Taste the State: South Carolina’s Signature Foods, Recipes, and Their Stories.”
  • Ward Davis | Saturday, Feb. 4 | 7-11 p.m. | New Brookland Tavern, 122 State St. West, Columbia | $20 | Country artist Ward Davis surpassed one million streams on Spotify with his latest single, “Nothing’s News” accompanied by Clint Black and Cody Jinks.
  • 12,000 Year History Park - Colonial Forts Tour | Saturday, Feb. 4 | 1 p.m. | Cayce Tennis Center, 1120 Fort Congaree Trail, Cayce | Free | Walk to the site of Fort Congaree and hear its intriguing stories as you learn about the struggles of the Deerskin Economy.
Sunday, Feb. 5
  • Flogging Molly | Sunday, Feb. 5 | 7:30 p.m. | The Senate, 1022B Senate St., Columbia | $45 | Celebrate St. Patrick’s Day early when this Irish-American seven-piece Celtic punk band comes to town.
We have a calendar filled with events and activities you can plan for in advance. Click the button below to bookmark ideas for upcoming date nights, family outings, and time with friends.
100+ MORE EVENTS

Valentine’s Day at the museum? That’s amore 💌
A close-up image of red and pink flowers on a cocktail table surrounded by heart-shaped candies and doilies.
Every attendee will also go home with a souvenir champagne flute to remember the occasion. | Photo by the South Carolina State Museum
Now here’s a great Valentine’s Day date idea. Treat your Valentine (or BFF) to the South Carolina State Museum’s Feb. 14 event, Amore Under the Stars — they’ve got a sweet night planned for lovers and friends, including:
  • Delicious food, desserts, and a champagne bar
  • Live music from the ColaJazz Little Big Band
  • A special planetarium experience + night sky-observing
  • A romantic tour through the museum’s galleries
Tickets are $80 per person, and museum members get a discount. 👀 *
STARGAZE WITH YOUR LOVE

Weather
  • 47º | Showers | 77% chance of rain
Coming Soon
  • Vintage clothing retailer Pannerpete is opening its first store at 738 Harden St. in Five Points, next door to Swiff. While the new store isn’t expected to open until mid-March, you can still catch them at Soda City Market on Saturday mornings. 👚
Tech
  • Telecommunications company Lumos will begin engineering work in the coming months to install 1,200 miles of high-speed, fiber optic cable in portions of Columbia that have fewer options for internet. The Post and Courier added that the increased competition could lower prices and improve services across the Midlands. 🖥️
Sports
  • The Fields at Saluda Shoals Park will host the South Regional Championship for US Quidditch — we mean Quadball — on Saturday, Feb. 11 and 12. The winner will go on to play in the US Quadball Cup in Valley Forge, PA, and then onto the IQA Worldcup in July. Tickets are available here. 🪄
Listen
  • Discover South Carolina launched a new podcast and on the first episode they talk all things Columbia with Darius Rucker + Historic Columbia’s executive director Robin Waites. The Palmetto Porch Podcast, hosted by Devyn Whitmire, will feature cities and towns across the state and interview local tastemakers.
Edu
  • SCDNR is looking for archaeology summer interns to participate in a six-week experience at the Parker Annex Archaeology Center in Columbia. Interns will gain a better understanding of archaeology, learn team functions, and discover possible career pathways. Applications will be accepted until Feb.10 at 5 p.m. ⚒️
Community
  • The Seed Sanctuary cabinet at Richland Library Eastover is now open for residents to receive up to four packets of seeds per visit. Choose from vegetable, herb, and wildflower seeds, and pick up a gardening book to help plan your spring garden. 🌿
Health
  • Want help maintaining your weight and decreasing your risk of diabetes, heart disease, and overall mortality? Add this colorful fruit to your diet. Bonus: Its vitamin C content may also help smooth wrinkles — can’t beat that.*
Eat
Traffic
  • What we’re buying for our cars: Dash cams. The REDTIGER Dual Dash Camera captures both the front and rear of your car and can be a lifesaver when it comes to contesting traffic violations and recording evidence of collisions. Plus, it connects to your mobile device. 🚦*
Content marked with an * is brought to you by our advertising partners and helps make this newsletter free.

Welcome Home Nyckoles Harbor 🏈

Welcome Home Nyckoles Harbor
Gamecock football willy b
Pro tip — buy tickets to a night game to enjoy Williams-Brice’s stadium lights. | Photo by COLAtoday team
The Gamecock Football program landed five-star prospect Nyckoles Harbor on Wednesday when he committed to USC in a signing ceremony televised on ESPN2.

The 6-foot-5, 225-pound athlete plans to play wide receiver for the Gamecocks in addition to running track. Nyckoles has his eyes on the future Summer Olympics in Paris (2024) and Los Angeles (2028).

This will likely close out the 2023 class that pulled in a top-20 recruiting class for the seventh straight season. According to ESPN, this year’s class is currently ranked No. 16 in the country and seventh in the SEC.
6AM City In-house
THE WRAP
Today’s issue was written by David.

Editor’s pick: Boku in the Vista is celebrating its one-year anniversary today and is now offering lunch hours. Stop in and try one of the new bento boxes available Monday-Friday from 11 a.m.-4 p.m.

Missed yesterday’s newsletter? Read about SkyDrive, a Japanese eVTOL company partnering with CAE, here.
Connect with us.

Editorial: Samantha Robertson, David Stringer, Erin McPherson, Emily Shea, Jessalin Heins-Nagamoto, Dayten Rose, Sarah Leonhardt, Katie Smith | Send us a scoop, question, or feedback.

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