Showcase of Undergraduate Research and Creative Endeavors (SOURCE)

South Carolina: Representation of African Americans

The representation of African Americans in South Carolina politics has been a long-standing concern, dating back to the eighteenth century when South Carolina’s first state constitution was ratified. Given that white people represent the largest racial population, African Americans have been said to be at a political disadvantage in South Carolina. This explanatory study examined the statistical and historical data for South Carolinian political representation as it pertains to political leadership roles. The research is divided into two sections. The first section determined that, in terms of numbers, African Americans have legislative representation that is proportional to their share of the state population. The second half of my research used a qualitative approach to further explain my findings. That qualitative analysis addresses the amount of power that African Americans have within the state and the factors that explain that power. I have found support for the hypothesis that African-Americans lack substantive legislative representation, which continues to create barriers for African Americans in their pursuit of their political agendas.