Charleston Chronicle Exclusives
Charleston Fire Chief’s Hottest Battle May Be Finding Black Firefighters
By Barney Blakeney When Charleston’s new fire chief, Daniel Curia, takes office July 30 Mayor John Tecklenburg says he will take over one of the nation’s most elite fire fighting forces. That elite force exists in a city defined by African American culture, a city until two decades ago was predominantly Black. But today, only…
Read MoreCharleston Wine & Discussion To Bring Grown Conversations To The Dinner Table
By Damion Smalls Relationships, religion and finance are common topics that people tend to enjoy talking about with others, but can easily delve into arguments once diverging opinions arise. A duo of local Black entrepreneurs intend on taking the hostility out of tough conversations and replacing it with compassion. Stephan Smith and Joshua Grimball of…
Read MoreDimitri Cherny Hopes To Draw Voters To The Ballot With Outside-The-Box Thinking
By Barney Blakeney Dimitri Cherny is a radical candidate who thinks outside-the-box for the future of the people of the Lowcountry, America and the planet. He says that’s exactly what he’s doing offering himself as a candidate in the June 12 Republican primary for the U.S. Congressional First District seat. To many, that’s an unconventional…
Read MoreNew Housing Development Continues Affordable Housing Dilemma
By Barney Blakeney A recent news report indicates developers are primed to build 1,000 new homes on Johns Island near Kiawah Island. According to the report, the cost of those homes will begin at $500,000. As undeveloped land around the county becomes targeted for affluent housing, development options for low and moderate income housing continues…
Read MoreSouth Carolina Gubernatorial Candidate Phil Noble Presents Platform To State’s Black Publishers
By Barney Blakeney S.C. Democratic Party gubernatorial candidate Phil Noble last week met with the publishers of the state’s three largest Black owned newspapers at the Charleston Chronicle office in downtown Charleston to present his campaign agenda. Noble faces two challengers – Columbia state Rep. James Smith and Florence attorney Marguerite Willis – in the…
Read MoreLocal Black Businesses Still Can’t Run With The Big Dogs
By Barney Blakeney Last weekend at many of the local Black owned businesses in the metropolitan Charleston region, it was business as usual. Popular soul food restaurants saw their typical patrons, some even saw fewer regulars. Beyond a higher percentage in hotel occupancy and unusually heavy traffic congestion in downtown Charleston, Black businesses saw little…
Read MoreDon’t Expect Much Change From June 12 Primary Elections
By Barney Blakeney While many are convinced the November mid-term elections may influence the presidency for the next two years, if the lackluster appearance of candidate filings for the June 12 primary elections is any indication, the November general elections likely will produce more of the same. Political gerrymandering has reduced competition for election to…
Read MorePrestige Prep Academy Looking for a Few Good Men…And Others
By Barney Blakeney From the beginning Prestige Preparatory Academy has struggled to survive. Since opening to serve boys in grades K-5 in 2016, making the school successful has been a challenge. At the root of its struggles are issues of enrollment, says Principal Joyce H. Coleman. But her vision of a school to serve young…
Read MoreThree Views Of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. 50 Years After His Assassination
By Barney Blakeney Wednesday marked the 50th anniversary of the assassination of Dr. Martin L. King Jr. I asked several local civil rights leaders their thoughts about the progress made since King’s murder and how his life impacts our world today. South Carolina National Action Network President Elder James Johnson, NAN V.P. for Religious Affairs…
Read MoreBernard Fielding Receives Center For Heirs Property Preservation’s Commitment To Justice Award
By Barney Blakeney Former Charleston County Probate Court Judge Bernard Fielding March 8 at the Francis Marion Hotel in Charleston became the eighth recipient of the Center for Heirs Property Preservation’s ‘Commitment to Justice Award’. Fielding, a Charleston attorney, was described as “A remarkable humanitarian and standard bearer of justice for all”. The Center for…
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