CHARLESTON, S.C. (WCSC) – Civil rights activist and Johns Island native Esau Jenkins died on this date in 1972, ending a lifetime of advocacy for his community.
Born in 1910, Jenkins became a powerful advocate for education and voting rights. He personally bused Black children to Charleston for better education and transported adults to work, teaching them about voting rights and the state constitution during their daily commute.
Jenkins founded the Progressive Club and later established “citizenship schools” along with Bernice Robinson and Septima Clark. These schools taught tens of thousands of African Americans to read, empowering them to register and vote across the South.
His activism continued with organizing the Citizens Committee of Charleston and advocating for Black employees in city departments…