From left to right: PC provost and vice president of academic affairs Dr. Erin McAdams; PC president Dr. Anita Gustafson, Rogers-Ingram Vice President for JEDI Dr. Selena Blair, International African American Museum president and CEO Dr. Tonya Matthews, Florence Ingram, and professor emeritus Dr. Booker T. Ingram Jr.

Presbyterian College welcomed students, faculty, and community members to its annual Dr. Booker T. Ingram Jr. Black History Month Convocation on Wednesday, featuring a keynote lecture by Dr. Tonya Matthews, president and CEO of the International African American Museum in Charleston.

The event, held in honor of Dr. Ingram’s legacy at PC, celebrated the contributions of African Americans to the nation’s history, economy, and cultural identity.

Presbyterian College president Dr. Anita Gustafson opened the evening by reflecting on the significance of Black History Month and its place in the broader American narrative.

“American history is not just one story—it is made up of many stories, and African American history is central to that,” Gustafson said. “Black History Month serves as a time of recognition and reflection, an opportunity to engage with history in a way that honors both the triumphs and the struggles of those who came before us.”

She also paid tribute to Dr. Booker T. Ingram Jr., a longtime faculty member and Presbyterian College’s first director of diversity and inclusion. Dr. Ingram, who taught political science and was PC’s first black faculty member, was instrumental in advancing conversations on race and equity at the college.

“This convocation carries his name as a testament to the impact he had on our campus and the lives he touched,” Gustafson said. “His commitment to fostering dialogue and understanding continues to inspire us.”

Dr. Tonya Matthews, President and CEO
International African American Museum

Following Gustafson’s remarks, Dr. Matthews took the stage, captivating the audience with a discussion on the role of African American labor in shaping the United States. She framed her lecture around three themes: labor that builds, labor that moves, and labor that carries.

Matthews began by discussing the foundational contributions of African Americans to the nation’s infrastructure. She focused on the role of enslaved laborers in the development of South Carolina’s rice industry, describing the extensive knowledge and expertise they brought with them from Africa.

“The land was not ready for rice cultivation,” Matthews explained. “It was African knowledge—generations of expertise in tidal rice farming—that transformed the Lowcountry into one of the world’s largest exporters of rice. This was not just labor. It was innovation, technology, and skill—stolen and exploited, yet essential to the economy.”

Matthews then transitioned to the significance of African Americans in the labor movement, detailing their role in advocating for workers’ rights and economic justice. She highlighted the 1969 strike by nurses at the Medical University of South Carolina, where Black women fought for equal pay and dignity in the workplace.

“These women stood up not just for themselves, but for all workers,” she said. “Their struggle, like so many others throughout history, helped set a precedent for fair wages and workplace protections.”

Finally, Matthews spoke about the psychological and emotional labor that African Americans have carried throughout history. She pointed to moments of resilience and grace, including the families of the victims of the 2015 Mother Emanuel AME Church shooting in Charleston, who extended forgiveness in the face of unimaginable grief.

“To carry the weight of history, to continue forward with dignity and hope—that is labor as well,” she said. “And it is labor that African Americans have carried for generations.”

Throughout her address, Matthews also spoke about the mission of the International African American Museum, which opened in 2023 at the historic site of Gadsden’s Wharf in Charleston, one of the largest slave ports in early America.

She emphasized its role in preserving history, sharing stories, and fostering a deeper understanding of African American contributions to the nation.

“The museum is not just about the past,” Matthews said. “It is about helping people see themselves in history and shaping the future through knowledge and reflection.”

The convocation also included artistic performances that reflected the evening’s themes of resilience and hope. PC student Taylor Robinson-Wooten, Class of 2028, delivered a moving reading of poet Amanda Gorman’s “A New Day’s Lyric,” which calls for unity and renewal. Tabatha Bluford of Springfield Missionary Baptist Church in Laurens and Evelyn Tanzella Barber from Langrum Baptist Church in York performed stirring renditions of the Black national anthem, “Lift Every Voice and Sing,” and “Rise Up!”