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MOJA Arts Festival – A Celebration of African-American and Caribbean Arts

Moja, a Swahili word meaning “One,” is the appropriate name for this festival celebration of harmony among all people in our community.” MOJAfestival.com

MOJA Festival

“2019 marks Charleston’s 36th annual MOJA Arts Festival: A Celebration of African-American and Caribbean Arts. Selected as one of the Southeast Tourism Society’s Top 20 Events for many years, the MOJA Arts Festival promises an exciting line-up of events with a rich variety of traditional favorites. The upcoming festival is scheduled for Thursday, September 26 through Sunday, October 6, 2019. Nearly half of MOJA’s events are admission-free, and the remainder are offered at  modest ticket prices.

The MOJA Arts Festival is a multi-disciplinary festival produced and directed by the City of Charleston Office of Cultural Affairs in partnership with the MOJA Planning Committee, a community arts and cultural group, and the MOJA Advisory Board, a group of civic leaders who assist with fundraising and advocacy.” MOJAfestival.com

Further Info – ABCNews4.com: MOJA Heritage Day celebrates African-American and Caribbean culture

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“Lowcountry non-profit works to revitalize North Charleston neighborhood” ABCnews4.com

"Bill Stanfield, CEO of Metanoia, says it hopes to empower people with economic development projects, affordable housing, and leadership training. (WCIV)"

“NORTH CHARLESTON, S.C. — Non-profit group Metanoia is working to revitalize and preserve North Charleston’s Chicora Cherokee neighborhood.”…”Metanoia’s CEO Bill Stanfield just hopes he can continue building a better future, without losing Chicora Cherokee’s past. “There’s lots of great things happening in the community. We just need to help them grow to make them stronger.”

Metanoia runs on donations. You can give here.

Learn more! Read the ABCnews4.com article!


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Morris Island and Morris Island Light

Morris Island Lighthouse, Charleston, S.C,

Picture and Text Source – http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Morris_Island

“Morris Island is an 840 acre (3.4 km²) uninhabited island in Charleston Harbor in South Carolina, accessible only by boat. The island lies in the outer reaches of the harbor and was thus a strategic location in the American Civil War.

Morris Island was heavily fortified to defend Charleston harbor…It was the scene of heavy fighting during the Union Army‘s campaign to captureCharleston, and is perhaps best known today as the scene of the ill-fated assault by the 54th Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry, an African-American regiment. The regiment and this assault, where it suffered over 50% casualties, was immortalized in the film Glory.”

After the Confederates abandoned Morris Island in 1863, the Union occupied it and transferred 520 Confederate officers from Fort Delaware to Morris Island… They were used as Human Shields…”   Be sure to read on! http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Morris_Island and the article on the Morris Island Light 

Morris Island Light - Wikipedia

Picture Source – http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Morris_Island_Light

 

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Old Jail – Charleston, S.C.

Old Jail - Charleston, S.C.

Picture and Text below source – http://1.usa.gov/r0A2rr

21 Magazine Street
Charleston, SC 29401
843-577-5245

‘Now occupied by the American College of the Building Arts.’

‘Tours are available by appointment.’

‘The Old Jail building served as the Charleston County Jail from its construction in 1802 until 1939. In 1680, as the city of Charleston was being laid out, a four-acre square of land was set aside at this location for public use. In time a hospital, poor house, workhouse for runaway slaves, and this jail were built on the square…Increased restrictions were placed on slaves and free blacks in Charleston as a result of the Vesey plot (explained on the Website), and law required that all black seaman be kept here while they were in port. During the Civil War, Confederate and Federal prisoners of war were incarcerated here. It is one of more than 1400 historically significant buildings within the Charleston Old and Historic District.’

 

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Nathaniel Russell House – Charleston, S.C.

A National Historic Landmark

Nathaniel Russell House - Charleston, S.C.

Picture Source – Wikipedia

51 Meeting Street
Charleston, SC 29401
843-724-8481
bit.ly/8I2d1U

‘Since 1808, visitors have admired the grand Federal townhouse of Charleston merchant Nathaniel Russell.

Set amid spacious formal gardens, the Nathaniel Russell House is a National Historic Landmark and is widely recognized as one of America’s most important neoclassical dwellings.

The graceful interior with elaborate plasterwork ornamentation, geometrically shaped rooms and a magnificent free-flying staircase are among the most exuberant ever created in early America.

Located in Downtown Charleston near High Battery, the house is furnished with period antiques and works of art that evoke the gracious lifestyle of the city’s merchant elite.

Today the Nathaniel Russell House interprets the lives of the Russell family, as well as the African American slaves and artisans who were responsible for maintaining one of the South’s grandest antebellum townhouses.’

Source – HistoricCharleston.org Nathaniel Russell House Website.

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St. Philips Episcopal Church – a Landmark

Listed in National Register of Historic Places.

St. Philips Episcopal Church - a Landmark

Picture Source – http://1.usa.gov/nELP61

146 Church Street,
Charleston,
SC – 29401
 
843-722-7734
www.stphilipschurchsc.org/

St. Philips ‘houses the oldest congregation in South Carolina and was the first Anglican church established south of Virginia.

This church is the third building to house the congregation, which was formed by Charles Town colonists.

The first church, built in 1681, was a small wooden building located at the present site of St. Michael’s Episcopal Church.

In the early 18th century, the congregation built a second brick church at the site of the current church.

It’s construction was partially funded by duties on rum and slaves.

After suffering from one fire that was extinguished by a black slave, who was given his freedom for this act, the church completely burned in 1835.

The current St. Philip’s was constructed from 1835 to 1838 by architect Joseph Hyde, while the steeple, designed by E.B. White, was added a decade later.’

Source – National Park Service 

For more information on the church extending into the street and prominent people buried in the graveyard visit the National Park Service Website above.

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