The 2022 South Carolina legislative session has just begun. Voting reform, critical race theory, redistricting, the loosening of gun restrictions, access to healthcare (or the lack thereof), challenges to trans rights, and the relentless assault on women’s reproductive rights are all expected to be among the losses this year. While we always need to protest injustice and inequality, we also need to understand that we cannot vote our way out of the currently rigged system; we must organize our way out. This calls for the effective and strategic citizenship — expressly designed for South Carolina’s problems — that we teach in the Modjeska School. With that, we are pleased to announce that enrollment for the 2022 session of the Modjeska Simkins School for Human Rights is officially open. 

The session will be held on Zoom, and runs from Feb. 20 through June 27, with regular classes each Monday night and graduation scheduled for July 2. The curriculum includes a people’s history of South Carolina designed to provide a framework for understanding our current political, economic, and social conditions, to inspire and caution us, and to inform and guide our organizing efforts. Our intent is to graduate effective citizens who can effectuate radical change in unjust systems and improve life in South Carolina. Tuition is $350, and some scholarship assistance is available.

Two students from our 2021 session gave their perspectives on what the school offered them:

“As the lies and the assault on truth continue, the Modjeska School is a breath of fresh air. It is an oasis of truth in a steadily expanding desert of lies. It provides a correction of the lies that have been told in schools for generations as well as a firewall against the legislated lies being told today. Everyone should take this course.” Dr. Burnett Gallman 

“The Modjeska School provides like-minded South Carolinians focused on community activism a place to learn their history and resistance tactics.” Amber Pelham

As Modjeska Simkins herself wrote in 1946, “It must be conceded that at this very hour more so than at any time in the history of this nation, there is urgent need for the development of progressive thinkers to become the leaders of tomorrow.” Whether you’re a seasoned revolutionary, a new organizer, or simply a concerned citizen, we invite you (or someone you think would be a good fit) to apply.

Click HERE for details on the 2022 class schedule and topics. Several Sunday sessions are open to the public.

This Giving Tuesday, we’re asking for your help. We have exciting plans for next year, but one of the biggest is raising enough money to finish setting up shop on Elmwood Avenue — right next door to Modjeska Monteith Simkins’ historic home in the heart of Columbia. There, we will continue to strive for Modjeska’s lifelong vision of an equitable and truly democratic South Carolina, and we hope you will join us.

The building already belongs to us, but our next big step is making it yours and ours to use. We have lots of plans for our new home, which we’re calling GROW in a nod to the Network’s former name and space (Grass Roots Organizing Workshop). Some of the things we hope to bring to you include:

• Headquarters and meeting space for network members.
• Classroom and library for Modjeska Simkins School alumni and students.
• Cafe, performance space, and showcase for local artists.
• Rooftop deck for dreaming, creating, organizing.

Can you help us reach our goal?

We are the only S.C.-focused, S.C.-based nonprofit organizing around a radical praxis, propelled by a beloved community that puts action to words. Your investment will help us develop the infrastructure needed to host and support that community.

In the spirit of Giving Tuesday, you can share your gift with a loved one. If you donate on behalf of someone, they will receive a letter making them aware of your gift. Be sure to include your honoree’s address in [the “Honoree Name” field]. You will also receive a receipt for your tax-deductible donation by email.

Click to DONATE

Some maps are drawn by incumbents to protect their power. Some maps are drawn by well-meaning nonprofits looking to get the best deal they can out of a broken system. Some maps are drawn by those who believe it’s time to rethink the system itself. SC Progressive Network Director Brett Bursey explains how maps could be drawn to make SC elections more competitive and accountable to the voters.

The state Senate’s redistricting subcommittee met on Thursday to review maps submitted for their consideration by the public and nonprofits. SC Progressive Network Director submitted our proposed maps, designed to make elections more competitive in South Carolina.

Bursey reminded committee chair Sen. Luke Rankin that he was elected with 97 percent of the vote, a clear example of the lack of competition in our current system.

“People are trying to get the best deal they can out of this poorly designed system,” Bursey said, referring to the NAACP, the League of Women Voters, and others working on SC redistricting. “But somebody needs to point out what could be and what should be.”

“You will determine what will be,” he told the committee, “but I want to put it on record that we will continue to work hard to get you to support a constitutional amendment on a general election ballot to give the authority to draw the lines to the citizens, and to get the legislature out of the business.”

July 1, 2021

First, some background:

In 2015, the SC Progressive Network launched the Modjeska Simkins School for Human Rights to teach a people’s history of South Carolina — the material missing in the textbooks we were assigned — and the skills to be better citizens and more effective organizers. The school has exceeded our wildest expectations, and is the most rewarding work we’ve done in our 26 years of advocating for social justice in South Carolina.

Because of the pandemic, the last two sessions of the school have been held on Zoom, which has complicated not just teaching but the building of relationships in the class. In the past, students could interact more directly with teachers and each other, and would stay after class to talk and get acquainted. While now, on Zoom, some stay after class to talk, it is not the same as being face-to face.

In Class 9, where we discuss strategy and tactics, Network Director and school founder Brett Bursey used a racial epithet in recounting an incident that happened in 1969, when a racist called him an “n-lover” for coming to the defense of a Black man who was being assaulted in a Columbia cafe in front of a white police officer. The racist, of course, didn’t actually say “n-word” as he assaulted Brett — and neither did Brett in telling his story to the class. (It is worth noting, since a student accused Brett of “centering” himself in that class, that Brett was filling in that night for the two scheduled presenters who were unable to make it. They were to speak to the difficulty of doing anti-racism work.)

Several students were upset at Brett’s language, and took it up in the chat. Their concerns were not immediately addressed because the hosts and presenters were paying attention to the speakers rather than the chat. So when a student finally objected on screen, in an indirect manner, the co-hosts and many of the other students didn’t understand what was happening.

A similar scenario unfolded in the spring 2020 session, also held on Zoom, when guest Harold Hatcher, Chief of the Waccamaw people, was telling a story about growing up in racist South Carolina. His choice of words caused at least one student great offense, and class time was given over to discussion of the matter.

For his part, Brett has apologized in class and in the email below that was sent to everyone involved in this session.

• • •

Message from SC Progressive Network Director Brett Bursey:
 
I want to apologize to every student in this session for using language that caused pain and threw the last two classes off course. I also apologize to Dr. Robert Greene and our guest Lewis Pitts for putting them in such an awkward position and making their jobs harder. I am truly sorry.
 
Language is powerful, and words matter. I promise to choose mine with more care.
 
We hope that we can turn this heated conversation into constructive dialogue and collective growth. To that end, we are offering a deeper dive into the dialogue we’ve started. Monday’s class will be given over to talking about this further.
 
Dr. Frank Martin, who is familiar with the current situation and was part of last Monday’s class, will guide the discussion. He invites you to:

Communication, Conversation, Implicature, and Political Discourse
A Workshop on Speech as Ethical Action
facilitated by Frank C. Martin, II, Ph. D.
Philosophy, Specializing in Axiology (the philosophical study of value)
 

We won’t be talking about the practicum on Monday, as had been scheduled. Instead, staff will talk after graduation with individuals or groups who want to work on a project. More on that later.
 
Finally, Dr. Robert Greene sent this message to share with you:

It is with heartfelt sincerity that I wish to apologize for the events surrounding language in the last two classes. The Modjeska Simkins School of Human Rights is meant to be a safe, comforting, and learning space for everyone, and that tranquility was disrupted. I will strive to do better as Lead Instructor and will do everything I can to make sure the school lives up to the high expectations we should all hold for it.

Robert Greene II, PhD.
Modjeska Simkins School for Human Rights Faculty Coordinator

• • •

Dr. Martin was asked to lead a session on political discourse, his specialty, and to facilitate a discussion among students. (He is not associated with the Network, as has been said in some circles in an effort to discredit his role. His only link with the Network is being a mentor to Network Co-Chair Omari Fox while he attended SC State University.)

The staff took students’ concerns seriously enough to dedicate the entire last class to address them. Some of the students who had expressed their objections chose not to attend. Others came but used the chat to express themselves rather than hear what Dr. Martin had to offer.

After meetings with the school staff and advisors, the consensus of the Network’s executive committee was to apologize to those who have been hurt, and then get back to our work. We have resolved to include a message in the school application advising prospective students that the Modjeska Simkins School is a graduate-level program, and to expect tough topics and hard conversations.

We will ask future guest speakers to be mindful of their words, but we are not in the business of censorship. We believe that everyone should have agency to tell their own stories in ways that are true and authentic. Intent and context are critical.

In keeping with our commitment to learning and growing, we are willing to meet with allies and adversaries in whatever forum they want to facilitate. Whether that happens or not, know that we appreciate all the warriors in South Carolina’s trenches. There is enough social justice work to keep us all busy for the rest of our lives. Let’s collaborate when we can, respectfully disagree when we can’t, and grant each other the grace to believe that we’re all doing our best during truly trying times.

Sincerely,

SC Progressive Network Executive Committee