Charleston’s Johns Island’s Northern Pitchfork Road Renamed in Honor of Bernice Robinson
In a tribute to a local civil rights champion, The Beach Company has announced a renaming of Northern Pitchfork Road on Johns Island, Charleston, South Carolina. The road will henceforth be known as Bernice Robinson Road, honoring the Charleston native and civil rights activist’s invaluable contribution to the city and beyond.
A Legacy Cemented in Asphalt
A new and important chapter has been added to the story of Bernice Robinson, whose singular dedication to black literacy, voter registration, and the Civil Rights Movement saw her impacting communities across Charleston. The City of Charleston has chosen to honor Robinson’s influential role in local history via renaming the road that runs behind The Beach Company’s newly built multifamily community, Stono Oaks.
The road construction project, completed by the Charleston-based Gulf Stream Construction Company, seeks to lighten traffic at the intersection of Maybank Highway and River Road. Now, under its new name, this road will not only serve practical traffic purposes but also keep alive Robinson’s legacy.
Robinson’s Remarkable Journey
Following the lead of her aunt, Charleston civil rights activist Septima P. Clark, Robinson joined the local NAACP branch in 1947. Despite having no prior training as an educator, she was chosen to spearhead an experimental education program after being introduced to Rosa Parks and Esau Jenkins by Clark.
By 1957, Robinson had begun empowering and educating black residents of Charleston, teaching them valuable skills from basic literacy to tax payments. This ensured they had the necessary qualifications to pass the South’s voter registration requirement at the time. The education initiative soon became part of a larger program under the Southern Christian Leadership Conference, an organization co-founded by Dr. Martin Luther King. From 1957 to 1970, nearly 900 schools were established in rural areas across the South under this initiative.
A Communal Touchstone for Future Generation
John Darby, President and CEO at The Beach Company, spoke highly of Robinson’s influence. “Bernice Robinson created a communal sense of belonging by paving the way for future generations across Charleston and beyond,” he remarked. “Newly named by the City in her honor, this road will serve as a reminder and source of pride for the Johns Island community and for all who travel on it.”
This renaming of the road serves as a unique tribute to Robinson’s impact and contribution to the civil rights movement and local community development. It is a daily, concrete reminder of her work and dedication – her legacy woven into the fabric of the city, inspiring future generations for years to come.
