Welcome to The Pink Palace in Orangeburg, South Carolina, a place steeped in the history of the American Civil Rights Movement. This site, deceptively serene today, was once at the heart of a struggle for equality and justice.
The name ‘Pink Palace’ might evoke images of grandeur, but its past is marked by the determination of young African American students demanding change. In March 1960, inspired by the Greensboro sit-ins, students from Claflin University and South Carolina State University staged a massive protest against racial segregation. Their peaceful march to the town square was met with hostility; police used water hoses and billy clubs to disperse the crowd. Over 365 students were detained and held in an outdoor stockade, which came to be known as the ‘Pink Palace.’ This moment was immortalized by Cecil Williams, a native of Orangeburg and a prominent photographer who captured these pivotal scenes.
Cecil Williams, born in 1937 in Orangeburg, grew up in proximity to South Carolina State University and Claflin, deeply aware of the segregation that defined the era. Williams’ photography became a crucial element in documenting the Civil Rights Movement, providing visual testimony to the courage and resilience of those who fought for equality.
The significance of The Pink Palace transcends its physical presence; it symbolizes a turning point in the fight against segregation in the American South. The site is a reminder of the power of collective action and the enduring impact of those who stood up for justice. Although the stockade itself no longer stands, the legacy of those who were held there remains a powerful story of resistance and hope.
As you walk through Orangeburg, reflect on the courage of the students who once marched for their rights, and imagine the echoes of their chants for justice that once filled these streets.
