Charleston Chronicle Exclusives

By Barney Blakeney The saying goes things not only must be right, they have to look right. When the four Blacks on Charleston County Consolidated School Board took the initiative to approve an increase in board members’ compensation, they failed to make sure things look right. The approval was made at the board’s July 17…

By Barney Blakeney As South Carolina begins spending the money it will receive from a new gas tax and vehicle fee implemented July 1, the question of how much it will benefit Black Business remains just that, a question. South Carolina Department of Transportation commissioners last week voted to begin projects funded by the new…

By Barney Blakeney The Reconstruction Era was the period spanning the early Civil War years until the start of Jim Crow racial segregation in the 1890s. It was a time of transformation as the nation grappled with integrating millions of newly freed slaves into its social, political, and economic life. During Reconstruction, Congress passed the…

By Stacy M. Brown (NNPA) – The Government Accountability Office (GAO) is set to begin work on a report detailing advertising spending by federal agencies—particularly as it pertains to Black and Latino media companies. “After several senators joined our request, including Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer, GAO sent us an update in February saying that…

By Barney Blakeney Last week the NAACP’s Legal Defense and Educational fund, Inc. office issued a report revealing disparities in how complaints filed against North Charleston police officers were addressed. The LDF found racial disparities were persistent and highly pronounced in the percentage, rate, and outcomes of citizen complaints filed against NCPD officers. In a…

By Barney Blakeney In recent weeks there has been a lot of focus on redevelopment in the predominantly Black Ashleyville and Maryville communities West Ashly in the City of Charleston. But while that focus has resulted in attention to those communities, redevelopment throughout the West Ashley area of the city will impact many other predominantly Black…

By Barney Blakeney The field of candidates running to fill the S.C. House Dist. 113 seat vacated by 23-year veteran Rep. J. Seth Whipper may not be as crowded as initially expected. But as expected, North Charleston lawyer Marvin Pendarvis threw his name in the hat. Surprisingly, North Charleston’s representative to Charleston County School Board,…

Lowcountry Voices, the immensely popular community choir based out of North Charleston, will be taking the music of the Lowcountry to Toronto, Canada on its Biennial Summer Tour, July 25-30, 2017. 45 persons will be traveling in the group including 35 choir members, the Director, Nathan L. Nelson, and Assistant Director/Accompanist, Sandra S. Barnhardt.  The…

By Barney Blakeney Business in the Charleston area is booming. One indication of that are the construction cranes that dot skylines. Beneath them the activity is just as obvious. New structures change, almost continuously, familiar landmarks. Black business must position itself to fit into the new landscape. Charleston Minority Business Enterprise Office Director Theron Snype…

By Barney Blakeney Charleston County Republicans last April very likely may have initiated an unprecedented move that could change the local political landscape and usher in a new reality. The county’s Republicans elected two African Americans – Maurice Washington as First Vice Chair and Nicole Claibourn as Third Vice Chair (Communications/Media) – to its executive…