“Remember, Educate, and Celebrate!” The Lowcountry African American Cultural Arts Festival’s Black History Month Reception, recently held in the beautifully decorated fellowship hall with accents of African culture, of New Life United Methodist Church in Walterboro, South Carolina, was more than a program; it was a powerful reminder of resilience, creativity, and spiritual endurance. Held in celebration of the gifted and talented artists of the Lowcountry who embrace African American culture, the evening blended music, history, poetry, cuisine, and community into an unforgettable experience. The Reverend Angela Ford Broughton, esteemed Pastor of New Life, served as the Mistress of Ceremonies. With her God-given gifts of kindness, generosity, and eloquence, she extended a warm welcome to everyone in attendance.
Reverend Andrew Cooper, the awe-inspiring Pastor of Mt. Olive Baptist Church in Walterboro, led the audience in a most uplifting prayer. Historically speaking, prayer was a way to “make a way out of no way,” allowing the enslaved to find a sense of dignity and divine purpose in a system designed to strip it away. Mrs. Jessica Williams, Superintendent of Colleton County School District, brought greetings and shared the story and meaning behind the ancestral process of “hog butchering.” Greetings were also given by Mayor James Broderick. He shared appreciation for having been invited to be a part of this celebration as the city’s new leader. Retired CCSD educator Priscilla McClellan, a member of the dedicated and talented LAACAF Steering Committee, introduced the other members: Retired CCSD educator Lillie Fowler Singleton, Founder and CEO; Sonya Bodison, Rev. Angela Ford Broughton, Eartha Cunningham, Marilyn Fryar, Dakari C. Gant, Ephraim Green, Linda Jordan, Vennie Mitchell, David Smalls, Gloristine Williams, and Jacqueline F. Williams. The keynote speaker was introduced by Vennie Mitchell, a retired Colleton and Jasper County School Districts’ educator.
The program honored the rich legacy of Negro Spirituals, tracing their origins from the hush harbors of slavery to their influence on modern worship and civil rights movements. Soul-stirring songs echoed through the room, while a moving poetry recitation reminded attendees that the Black experience is both pain remembered and triumph declared. This segment of the program was presented by another retired Colleton County educator Jacqueline Williams, the narrator; Susie Brown, and Samantha Ford. They sang from the “very depths of their souls”! Mariah Cunningham, one of the youths in the community, so eloquently recited renowned poet, the late Dr. Maya Angelou’s, “Phenomenal Woman.” Inspirational music for the evening was provided by Minister Kevin Wiggins and Ephraim Green.
Keynote speaker, minister, retired Colleton and Dorchester Counties’ and Alabama educator, author, journalist, soloist, and community activist, Anna Jean Stevens Bright, delivered a soul-stirring address, taken from a familiar Negro spiritual refrain, “Look Where He Brought Us From,” challenging listeners to reflect on the faith that sustained generations past and continues to guide the present. She began her presentation with the singing of a doleful Negro spiritual, “I’ll Never Turn Back No ’Mo,” taught to her by the late Dr. Peter Lester Felder, II when she was a member of the world-renowned Claflin College (now University) Concert Choir. Her message wove together history, gratitude, and hope. The address reminded the audience that progress did not happen by accident, but by perseverance. At the conclusion of her message, she brought the audience to their feet with a chant, “Look where He brought us from, and we’re not going back!”
Listed below are a few of Minister Bright’s key points, as she “told the story” that she “drove home” to the audience:
“Before there were plantations, before there were chains, before there were auction blocks and slave ships, we were a people. We did not begin as slaves. We began as kings and queens, builders of civilizations, and scholars of astronomy, mathematics, medicine, art, and architecture. Africa was not a jungle waiting to be discovered; it was a continent already thriving!”
“Our ancestors sang when they were not supposed to survive. They prayed when logic said they should perish. They created spirituals that carried coded messages of hope, escape, and resistance. ‘Look where He brought us from’”!
“We remember too much. We know who we are. We’ve come too far. We’ve survived too hard. With faith in our feet and truth in our song, we declare, with God as our witness—‘we are not going back.’ We are moving forward strong!”
After the message, Reverend Nehemiah Broughton, distinguished Pastor of Hunters Chapel Baptist Church in Ruffin, humbly blessed the delightful meal prepared for everyone in attendance. At the close of the program, the acknowledgements and farewell were given by Eartha Cunningham. In her remarks to the speaker, she humorously, yet seriously stated, “As the children would say, ‘Anna Jean,’ you did that!” Afterwards, Rev. Angela Ford Broughton dismissed with the benediction.
As fellowship and cultural cuisine filled the atmosphere on this momentous occasion, one thing was clear: the celebration was not just about remembering history; it was about honoring how far the African American race and the community have come, recognizing the creative voices shaping its future. The LAACAF Committee extends special thanks to retired Colleton, Dorchester, and Spartanburg County School Districts’ educator and United States Army Veteran Herman Bright for photographing this event that will be long remembered by many.
This 4th Annual Lowcountry African American Cultural Arts Festival is a celebration that continues to grow in impact and reach. Beginning in 2026, the festival’s events will take place throughout the year, offering our community ongoing opportunities to honor explore, and celebrate African-American history, culture, and artistic expression. While LAACAF will still host special programming during Black History Month, our expanded year-round schedule allows us to uplift this rich heritage in every season. The festival remains committed to providing meaningful, educational, and inspiring experiences for all—at little to no costs for all of our events. For more details and information, visit www.laacaf.org or thelaacafofwalterborosc on Facebook.
