The Levi Pearson Scholarship Fund (LPSF) will be hosting a Black History Community Clean Up in Summerton, SC on Saturday February 27, 2021 at 10:00 am at the Briggs, Delaine, and Pearson 1-95 Interchange (500 Buff Blvd, Summerton, SC). The event represents an exemplary opportunity to highlight the pioneers of the 1952 Briggs v. Elliot landmark case.
In 1947 Levi Pearson along with his brother Hammett Pearson courageously filed a lawsuit Levi Pearson V. Clarendon County Board of Education, to secure a school bus for their children and other children in the community who walked nine miles to school. The County provided 30 school buses but none for black children. The lawsuit was thrown out based on the rule school officials created to counteract the suit, where Levi Pearson paid his taxes. Under the leadership of Reverend Joseph Delaine and Thurgood Marshall, the Pearson brothers were given the task to obtain signatures of families in the Summerton district to refile the lawsuit; 20 courageous families did, resulting in Briggs v. Elliott (1952) not for the school bus alone, but for equal schools. First of the five lawsuits which led to Brown v. Board of Education (1954).
The LPSF is committed to help shape and mold young adults of Clarendon and surrounding counties into sound citizens, people of good character, and high integrity by means of empowerment, mentorship, and scholarship. Events such as the Black History Community Clean Up allow for not only our youth, but all citizens to embrace our community just as the Clarendon County pioneers did. It is essential that families are collectively uplifted and ensured a secure environment. This event hosted by the LPSF provides as a great closing segment to a powerful 2021 Black History Month.
If you would like to volunteer and join the LPSF team for Saturday’s event; volunteers can sign up at https://forms.gle/7wQYuK9g8HPNWvNg9 or contact 803-310-3474.
