In the premier episode of the WIL Listen podcast, we commemorate Black History Month with Anita Garrett’s interview of author Claudia Smith Brinson about her book Stories of Struggle: The Clash Over Civil Rights in South Carolina.

Stories of Struggle is a book of South Carolina stories. Stories of hate, intimidation, violence and murder. And stories of devotion, courage, and perseverance. Stories of lesser-known civil rights leaders and individuals dedicated to making better lives for their children, despite their activism resulting in physical abuse, punishment, loss of livelihood, and families torn apart. These intimate stories, both heartbreaking and inspiring, shine a light on the progress achieved by nonviolent civil rights activists while also revealing white South Carolinians’ often violent resistance to change. Claudia shares the stories of sacrifice of these brave, modest, benevolent, courageous and dedicated leaders, and how the progress they produced offers hope for the future.

Claudia Smith Brinson worked as a journalist for more than 30 years in Florida, Greece, and South Carolina. Her accolades include dozens of state and regional awards for excellence. She held the Harriet Gray Blackwell Endowed Professorship at Columbia College for a decade, where she designed and led the Writing for Print and Digital Media program. She is the mother of two and mentor to many.

Anita Garrett is a management consultant and image activist who has worked in the fields of philanthropy and business development for more than 25 years. She is a founding board member of SC Women in Leadership. Her career reflects a marriage of her passion for social justice, gender equity and resource development and her desire to be a voice for marginalized communities. For her unwavering leadership efforts, Anita has received numerous awards.

February is Black History Month, and we invite you to learn about the story and legacy of the Tuskegee Airmen, the first Black pilots in the US military who bravely fought during World War II. Their story is brought to life in Trey Ellis and Ricardo Khan’s play, Fly, produced on the Rock in 2015.

Tails Up!

Tails Up is sponsored by the AZA and is a fun way for kids of all ages to learn about all kinds of animals. Choose from exciting games with levels from easy to medium to hard. Get to know (and see more of!) hundreds of furry, slithery, cute, feathery, and unique creatures. There’s also a gallery to flip through and learn what the animals look like, as well as some fun facts you can share with friends.

Downloadable Activities

In Ken Weitzman’s Fire in the Garden, a new father records a birthday message for his one-year-old son as he wrestles with the legacy, doubts, and hope that he has for the world that his son will inherit. Featuring longtime Warehouse performer, Aaron Brakefield, this one-man play delivers the intimacy, intensity, and unexpected turns virtually that our audiences have come to expect from our live shows in the last 47 years.

The show will be available from February 18 until February 28. For the affordable ticket prices of $10 you can watch the play at your leisure… stop, start, rewind, and watch as many times as you wish.