Legacy fraught with racism, undeserving of rememberance
The South has a contentious history tarnished with racism. However with the aid of social activism and time, today our southern city of Columbia, S.C. appears to be nicely growing in both diversity and tolerance. But a significant figure vital to the continuance of that unpleasant history still stands outside of the statehouse as our government chooses to still honor the most prominent white supremacist in state history.
Benjamin “Pitchfork” Tillman served as governor of South Carolina before becoming a senator from 1894 until his death in 1918. In 1940, the state commemorated Tillman’s life and service by erecting an eight-foot bronze statue of him outside the Statehouse, distinguishing him as a “friend and leader of the common people.” However, unless you were white, Tillman was no friend of yours. As a leading figure for white supremacy in politics, one of Tillman’s primary orders of business was to prevent African Americans from voting. Pompously, Tillman announced in 1900 that “we have scratched our heads to find out how we could eliminate the last one of them. We stuffed ballot boxes. We shot them. We are not ashamed of it.”
Further taking advantage of his political power, Tillman also made strenuous efforts to oppress the African American race as a whole and assert white superiority. When President Roosevelt hosted Booker T. Washington at the White House, Tillman took the floor of the U.S. Senate to pronounce that Roosevelt “entertaining that n——- will necessitate our killing a thousand n——— in the South before they learn their place again.”
Since the statue’s unveiling in 1940, the only major protests in opposition have been few and fruitless. In 2008, state Rep. Todd Rutherford, D-Richland, filed a bill to have the statue removed but it was stalled, never voted on, and not discussed any further. The NAACP has spoken against it as well in conjunction with their Confederate Flag removal efforts at their MLK Day rallies. A few South Carolina journalists have also attempted to draw attention to the issue, but thus far the state remains to be either unmoved or uneducated of Tillman’s cruel history as there has been very little response.
If South Carolina’s government truly strives to better our state and society, they cannot allow Benjamin Tillman’s statue to stand, especially not at their place of legislation. This statue commemorates the life of a downright bloodthirsty and bigoted man. If our government is 100 percent committed to moving our society forward, they will remove the statue in recognition that it is no longer appropriate to honor someone who barbarically segregated Americans — especially since equality was rightfully granted many years ago.
The allowance of Tillman’s continued commemoration leaves our politicians appearing as if they condone his actions. Tillman spread great pain and disparity across South Carolina to the extent that politicians should be embarrassed by the mere mention of his name. Benjamin Tillman belongs in the history books, not on a government pedestal.