Little Africa is an
unincorporated community
An unincorporated area is a region that is not governed by a local municipal corporation. Widespread unincorporated communities and areas are a distinguishing feature of the United States and Canada. Most other countries of the world either have ...
in
Spartanburg County
Spartanburg County is a county located on the northwestern border of the U.S. state of South Carolina. As of the 2020 census, the population was 327,997, making it the fifth-most populous county in South Carolina. Its county seat is Spartanburg ...
, in the
U.S. state
In the United States, a state is a constituent political entity, of which there are 50. Bound together in a political union, each state holds governmental jurisdiction over a separate and defined geographic territory where it shares its sover ...
of
South Carolina
)''Animis opibusque parati'' ( for, , Latin, Prepared in mind and resources, links=no)
, anthem = " Carolina";" South Carolina On My Mind"
, Former = Province of South Carolina
, seat = Columbia
, LargestCity = Charleston
, LargestMetro = ...
.
Little Africa was one of a number of independent African American communities formed across the South after the Civil War. Founded by former slave Simpson Foster and a Cherokee Indian, Emanuel Waddell, it was originally 500 acres set aside for their relatives. The early residents were descendants of Simpson Foster and Emanuel Waddell who maintained the tradition of farming and agricultural life in Little Africa for decades. By 1910, family community leaders had built the two-room Africa School to teach local children. One of S.C.'s first
Rosenwald Fund
The Rosenwald Fund (also known as the Rosenwald Foundation, the Julius Rosenwald Fund, and the Julius Rosenwald Foundation) was established in 1917 by Julius Rosenwald and his family for "the well-being of mankind." Rosenwald became part-owner of S ...
schools later opened there. Near the school, family community members built Fairview
C.M.E. Church c. 1912, one mile from Highway 9. Congregants first organized themselves c. 1902 at the home of Emanuel Waddell. During Jim Crow and after Brown v Board of Education, new residents as other families settled nearby seeking economic opportunity and refuge from
white supremacy
White supremacy or white supremacism is the belief that white people are superior to those of other races and thus should dominate them. The belief favors the maintenance and defense of any power and privilege held by white people. White su ...
. Some of Simpson Foster and Emanuel Waddell's families still reside in Little Africa, after some five generations since the end of slavery in 1865.
Little Africa now is flourishing with different families and some linking to the founders, Simpson and Emanuel. Little Africa location provides beautiful scenic views of the Blue Ridge Mountains and the Pacolet River and Bear Creek runs right alongside of this beautiful rural area.
Little Africa Park was established by the donation of 8 acres of land by Charlie Proctor, Sr. and Thomas C. Blackley to Spartanburg County Parks and Recreation for the purpose of developing Little Africa Community Park. The park has a playground, a grilling area, and a baseball field.
References
*https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=24QsAAAAIBAJ&sjid=z80EAAAAIBAJ&pg=6832%2C308827 OUR HERITAGE
*http://spartanburgparks.org/DocumentCenter/View/783/772---Land-and-Lease-Records---Little-Africa-Park-PDF
*https://www.charlotteagenda.com/190806/boomer-vs-millennial-practical-vs-progressive-how-charlottes-mayor-and-her-daughter-build-bridges-over-their-differences/
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Unincorporated communities in Spartanburg County, South Carolina
Unincorporated communities in South Carolina