Charleston, South Carolina, USA

---

As I was walking around Charleston, the ages of these beautiful homes hinted to me that they were probably built mostly by black Americans.

I was thinking about a story by the comedian, Louis C.K., where he said that the most amazing things on the planet were built by slaves. The Roman Empire, The Great Wall of China, The Pyramids of Egypt and The Americas, etc. So I started to wonder if these beautiful homes were unusually nice because the owners had “free” labor.

So I spent a few minutes hunting online to find a picture and story of a premier black carpenter who was famous for his carpentry skills. I found many articles about free blacks who lived in Charleston at the time of slavery. But no specific story about any carpenters, black or white, that were famous, or even well known for their carpentry skills. If you find one, please let me know. I would like to add it to this web page.

A few of the articles mentioned that former slaves could purchase their freedom if they saved enough from their work. I also read that most of the free blacks were mulattos. A mulatto is a term used to describe light colored skin. Most of the free blacks had lighter skin color than the slave blacks.

I found other articles that listed what property the free blacks owned and what trade or business they were engaged. One article said that about 20% of the free blacks were carpenters.

I read a story about a free black man named Richard Holloway who owned a carpentry business and about 20 homes in Charleston. He also owned a plantation with 1000 acres and about 60 slaves.

Another free black man named Thomas Jeremiah was hanged in 1775, after being convicted of attempting a slave insurrection. He was tried under the “Negro Act of 1740,” which said that blacks were guilty until proven innocent. The article indicated that as a slave owner himself, Jeremiah had no reason to start a rebellion. The charges against him were likely false. Some believe his economic success was a refutation of the white’s justification for slavery. Racists at that time used to argue that blacks were too stupid to take care of themselves, so slavery was for their own good. His life put their logic into question, so they hung him. I doubt he had a jury of his peers. See “The World of Thomas Jeremiah: Charles Town on the Eve of the American Revolution,” by J. William Harris, 2009.

---

Comments

[D MJ Binkley]

The Old South
One of our favorite southern cities. Nice photos.