Congressman James Clyburn to hold book signing for 'The First Eight' in Columbia
SC State alumnus highlights state's first Black congressmen.
Clyburn, one of SC State’s most loyal benefactors, has been a member of the U.S. House
of Representatives since 1993.
The title of his new book is “The First Eight: A Personal History of Pioneering Black Congressman Who Shaped a Nation.”
Clyburn will join Dr. Bobby Donaldson, executive director of the Center for Civil Rights History and Research, for a discussion of his book at 10 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 6, in USC’s Joseph F. Rice School of Law’s Karen J. Williams Courtroom at 1525 Senate St. in Columbia.
The discussion will be followed by a book signing from 11 to 11:45 a.m. The free event
is presented as part of the Center for Civil Rights History and Research’s 10th anniversary
celebration.
The event is open to the public, but registration is required. Individuals can register at the following link:
The book signing event is co-sponsored by the Joseph F. Rice Law School, USC Libraries, the Ernest F. Hollings Special Collections Library and the Center for Civil Rights History and Research.
Clyburn’s book explores South Carolina’s pivotal role in America’s democratic journey through the stories of the eight Black congressmen who served after the Civil War.
Released nationwide on Nov. 11, the book highlights the groundbreaking experiences of the state’s first Black congressmen, including Joseph Rainey, Robert Smalls and Richard Cain, along with the legacy that shaped Clyburn’s own historic path in public service.
Clyburn, who is chairman of the national Democratic Faith Working Group, was also the first African American to serve multiple terms as Majority Whip.
The Sumter native began his professional career as a public school teacher in Charleston. He later served as an employment counselor and director of two youth and community development programs.
He joined the staff of then-South Carolina Gov. John C. West, becoming the first African American advisor to a South Carolina governor. West appointed Clyburn as South Carolina Human Affairs Commissioner in 1974. He served in that position until 1992, when he retired from state government to run for Congress.
Clyburn has since led efforts to preserve and restore historic buildings on the campuses of Historically Black Colleges and Universities and sponsored legislation creating, for example, the S.C. National Heritage Corridor and the Gullah/Geechee Cultural Heritage Corridor.
His 10-20-30 federal funding formula is a provision that requires federal programs to allocate at least 10 percent of their total investments to counties where 20 percent or more of the population has lived below the federal poverty line for at least 30 years.
His Rural Energy Savings Program also provides loans to families and businesses to implement durable, cost-effective energy measures, while his Accessible, Affordable Broadband for All bill was included in the 2021 bipartisan bill and is funded at a level of $65 billion.
The recipient of 39 honorary degrees, Clyburn and his late wife, Dr. Emily England Clyburn, became the parents of three daughters, grandparents to four and great-grandparents to one.
SC State’s Dr. Emily England Clyburn Honors College is named in her honor. She, too, graduated from SC State in 1961.