Civil Rights-era photographer Cecil Williams to speak at Clemson

Published: October 17, 2012

By Evan Lybrand

CLEMSON — Photographer Cecil Williams will give “An Eyewitness Account of Harvey Gantt’s enrollment at Clemson” at 7 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 25, in Brackett Hall auditorium at Clemson University.

Williams is a photographer, videographer and author who played a major role in documenting the Civil Rights Movement in South Carolina. Williams’ photos from the civil right era have been included in 126 books, as well as in newspapers and on television. His photography career started at age 9 with a hand-me-down camera. By age 15 he was working as a freelance photographer for Jet Magazine. He photographed the Orangeburg massacre and other prominent events in South Carolina in the Civil Rights era, including Harvey Gantt’s enrollment at Clemson.

Williams has received many awards and honors, including a commendation from the South Carolina General Assembly for his Quiet Heroes exhibit in 1994 and the Freedom Fighter Award presented by the Orangeburg Branch of the NAACP. With his small press operation he has published 49 books and founded and published “View South News,” a quarterly magazine-turned-newspaper. In 1996 he wrote, directed and produced a documentary titled “Freedom and Justice.” Williams graduated with a bachelor’s degree from Calflin University.

An exhibit of Williams’ photography will be on display at the R.M. Cooper Library through Nov. 16.

In 1963 Gantt enrolled at Clemson as an architecture major, the first African-American student to attend the university. The Charleston native graduated in 1965 with honors. Clemson is celebrating the 50^th anniversary of integration throughout the 2012-2013 school year with a series keynote speakers and special events.

More information about the 50^th anniversary celebration is on this website.

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