The Clemson Area Pledge to End Racism was initiated by the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Clemson as a way to address racism as it is experienced and perceived in the Clemson area. Understanding that confronting racism in our society is an ethical issue addressed by each of our faiths, an invitation to make the Clemson Area Pledge to End Racism an interfaith endeavor was made to the Clemson Ministers’ Group. All eight of the congregations in the group joined together to initiate the Clemson Area Pledge as a way to address racism in its many forms. Almost immediately, the group Let’s Talk Race Clemson and Peace Church joined the initiative.
The Clemson Area Pledge to End Racism is an outgrowth of the significant work of the group that founded the Richmond Pledge to End Racism. Our Clemson Area Pledge organization owes its beginning to the Richmond Pledge group which was itself inspired by the work of Birmingham lawyer, Jim Rotch, the author and force behind the Birmingham Pledge. The Birmingham Pledge celebrated its 20th anniversary in 2017.
In 2014 members of the First Unitarian Universalist Church of Richmond, VA, participated in a Living Legacy Civil Rights tour, where they learned about the Birmingham Pledge. Concerned about the rise of racism in our culture and committed to expanding the work of the Birmingham Pledge, Annette Marquis and Anita Lee of the First Unitarian Universalist Church of Richmond, VA, began work to adapt the Birmingham Pledge to become the Richmond Pledge to End Racism. With grant monies from the Unitarian Universalist Chalice Lighter Program, the Richmond team began training groups in approximately 20 cities around the country to address issues of race in their communities.
Clemson is one of the more recent communities to participate in their work. In early February 2019, four facilitators from the Richmond Pledge to End Racism leadership, led our initial Living the Pledge workshop in Clemson with almost 40 participants from the 10 congregations and groups committed to this work. Since our initial workshop the Clemson Baha’i Community, St. Mark United Methodist Church in Seneca, and Unity Spiritual Center have joined our efforts.
We are grateful to our founding congregations for the Clemson Pledge to End Racism who gave initial spiritual and financial support:
- Clemson First Baptist Church
- Clemson United Methodist Church
- Fort Hill Presbyterian Church
- Holy Trinity Episcopal Church
- St. Andrew Catholic Church
- Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Clemson
- University Lutheran Church
- White Oak Spring Missionary Baptist Church, Central
- Let’s Talk Race Clemson
- Peace Church
Newer member group to the Clemson Area Pledge work are:
- The Baha’i Community
- St. Mark United Methodist Church, Seneca
- Unity Spiritual Center
