Press Release
Today, the South Carolina Department of Education and their community partners will unveil the 2023 South Carolina African American History Calendar in a special celebration at 7 pm at the Koger Center for the Arts in Columbia.
First created in 1989 by Southern Bell (now AT&T), the 12-month calendar profiles individuals from across the state who have had a positive, compelling impact on South Carolina and, often, across the country.
“The 2023 calendar honorees' commitment to improving the lives of others through education, health, the arts, advocacy, and public service are remarkable,” said State Superintendent of Education Molly Spearman. “Each time readers turn the page to the next month, they will be reminded of the tremendous legacy these honorees have left to inspire future generations.”
The general public can watch the entirety of the live ceremony from their homes starting at 7 pm by visiting SCAfricanAmerican.com.
The 2023 calendar features this year's honorees along with photos of artifacts from the International African American Museum and descriptions of the items. The cover of the calendar includes a photo of the museum, which is slated to open early next year.
This year’s calendar highlights 11 extraordinary individuals and one family who have enriched South Carolina's history and been ambassadors for the state. The honorees featured in the 2023 calendar are:
- Thomas Barnwell
- Brook Benton
- Bobby Doctor
- Judi Gatson
- Rose Gibbs
- Doris Greene
- William Jenkins
- Joseph Rainey
- Ronald Rhames
- Rollin Sisters
- Donald Sampson
- Freddie Stowers
Over 25,000 calendars are printed and distributed to schools, faith based organizations, community centers, and the general public to shine a light on South Carolina’s extraordinarily rich African American history. The biographies and timeline of important dates printed in the calendar are also preserved online and thanks to accompanying lesson plans, are used by educators from across the state in classroom instruction. Over the past three decades, the project has developed into a virtual hall of fame and attracts attention from around the nation.
In addition to the South Carolina Department of Education, the sponsors who make the calendar possible include AT&T, Dominion Energy, South Carolina ETV, the University of South Carolina, and WIS-TV.
The 2023 calendar will be available online this month and members of the public will be able to download the calendar electronically or submit orders for hard copies. For more information about previous editions of the calendar, including biographies of past honorees and resources for educators, please visit SCAfricanAmerican.com.
