Finney, Ernest A., Jr., April 26, 2000
Scope and Contents
The South Carolina Black Legislators Oral History Project contains nine oral histories conducted by Dr. Todd Moye, a postdoctoral fellow at the Avery Research Center, between 1999 and 2000. Participants discuss their family history, their interest in politics, accomplishments during their political careers, and thoughts about the state of South Carolina politics and their political legacies.
The oral histories are arranged alphabetically by last name at the file level. More information about the content of each oral history can be found in the abstract at the file level of each interview. The audio recordings for the oral histories with Rep. Brenda Lee and Sen. McKinley Washington Jr. are currently missing. There is a transcript for the interview with Rep. Lee, but there is no transcript for Sen. Washington Jr.
Dates
- Creation: April 26, 2000
Creator
- From the Collection: Avery Research Center (Organization)
Access Restrictions
The collection is open for research. A cassette player is required to listen to the audiocassette tapes. A cassette player will be made available to researchers in our reading room. The Avery Research Center does not currently have the technology to read the floppy disks.
Full Extent
From the Collection: .209 linear feet (1 half Hollinger box, 7 audiocassette tapes, 6 floppy disks)
Language of Materials
From the Collection: English
Abstract
Ernest Adolphus Finney begins by discussing his family history, his time in law school, and balancing being a teacher and a lawyer at the start of his career. He then discusses the cases he represented during the Civil Rights Movement, including representing the Rock Hill Ten, his various electoral campaigns, his thoughts on the Confederate Flag, and his memories of Jim Crow segregation. He continues by discussing the issues most important to him once elected, including education, housing, single-member districts, and capital punishment. He then discusses the founding of the Legislative Black Caucus and his involvement with the Caucus during his four-year legislative career. He then discusses his appointment to the Circuit Court and his subsequent appointment to the South Carolina Supreme Court. He concludes by discussing what he considers his political legacy to be.
The oral history is conducted by Dr. Todd Moye.
Repository Details
Part of the Avery Research Center for African American History and Culture Repository
125 Bull Street
Charleston South Carolina 29424 United States
843-953-7608
averyresearchcenter@cofc.edu