The efforts and legacy of local civil rights advocates, including Septima Clark, will be discussed during a special book talk featuring author Elaine Weiss. Weiss will discuss her new book, Spell Freedom: The Underground Schools that Built the Civil Rights Movement.
The event, happening on Wednesday, Sept. 30, 2026, is hosted by the College of Charleston's School of Education.
The event will be held at the School of Education Alumni Center at 86 Wentworth Street from 4:30 – 6:00 p.m. It is free and open to the public.
"Elaine Weiss' book, Spell Freedom, discusses the beginning of the Civil Rights Movement and the impact of individuals who felt strongly about the right of all citizens to vote," says School of Education Dean Frances Welch. "Charleston's own Septima Clark is featured in the book, making this history all the more important for our faculty, staff, students and community members to know."
The author will guide a conversation centered on the underground schools that helped build the Civil Rights Movement. The event features a question and answer session and book signing. The book will be available for purchase at the event.