Charleston Chronicle Exclusives
Seniors Concerned About Housing Must Be Informed and Act Collectively
By Barney Blakeney Just seven months ago, residents of Grand Oaks Apartments West Ashley, developed as housing for low to moderate income residents, raised concerns their rents would be increased as the complex moved from that status closer to market rate rental costs. That meant single residents would have to earn more than $40,000 annually…
Read MoreFixing Charleston Schools – A Maze That Won’t Be Conquered In A Day
By Barney Blakeney South Carolina Department of Education recently reported eight of the state’s lowest performing schools are located in Charleston County School District Constituent School District 4, the North Area. Don’t try to find that in the annual state report card on schools. The S.C. Dept. of Education’s website is an intricate maze that…
Read MoreThe Palmetto Rose Project Sets Out To Nurture Black Artists and Avenge Gentrification’s Effects
By Damion Smalls The continual heaps of praise Charleston has accepted in recent years from national and worldwide organizations has placated the city’s majority population and newcomers to the area. To list a few of the accolades, Charleston has been dubbed the number one city in the world by Travel+Leisure, named top small city in…
Read MoreFormer Financial Advisor Now Designing Shoes For Passion And Profit
By Barney Blakeney Her earlier career in corporate America taught Georgetown native Jocelyn Patterson many things, among them is that success can be obtainable when one pursues their passion. Patterson’s passion is shoes. In April she’s launching production of a line of shoes which incorporates her passion, business acumen and her love of Gullah culture.…
Read MoreBlack Businesses Still Spectators In The Race For Cash
By Barney Blakeney The 42nd annual event of the Cooper River Bridge Run was held April 6 and despite nearly a half century of continued spectating, Black business still hasn’t entered the race as significant economic contenders. An estimated 40,000 visitors came to town last weekend, bringing with them a $30 million economic impact. According…
Read MoreThe Geechee Experience Entertains and Educates in Endeavor to Preserve Geechee Culture
By Damion Smalls Akua Page and Chris Cato have taken the Lowcountry by storm with their creation, The Geechee Experience. A cultural movement that fuses education with entertainment, The Geechee Experience “is a cultural platform that was created by Geechee millennials on a mission to preserve their culture and language,” the group maintains. The Geechee…
Read MoreRay DeeZy’s “No Love Lost 2” EP Drops April 19
By Damion Smalls Charleston artist Ray DeeZy plans to release the sequel to his 2018 EP “No Love Lost” April 19 with “No Love Lost 2: Red Wine & Reefa.” This is his latest project since the deluxe edition of the “When It All Boils Down” EP hit streaming services in January 2019. While “No…
Read MoreGovernor, Senator, Friend – Ernest ‘Fritz’ Hollings Dies at 97
By Barney Blakeney Ernest F. Hollings has been described as an extremely intelligent man outstanding in both mental and physical stature, a man who made mistakes, but was wise enough to admit and amend them. At a time when Black political power first began to emerge in the 20th century, Hollings was among the gatekeepers…
Read MoreNAN’s Frustration At CCSD Business As Usual
By Barney Blakeney In the three weeks since members of the National Action Network disrupted the March 18 Charleston County Consolidated School Board monthly meeting, little has changed regarding the dynamics that sparked the protest. In a move that may or may not have been a surprise, South Carolina National Action Network President Elder James…
Read MoreCharleston Promise Neighborhood Conducts ‘Miseducation of Gentrification’ Discussions
Charleston Promise Neighborhood March 21 held the first of five community forums this year about ‘The Miseducation of Gentrification’ in an unprecedented panel discussion at Burke High School. CPN supports Expanded Learning Time (ELT), Healthcare and Parent & Community Engagement in its focus area that extends from the peninsula west side to the Accabee community…
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