The South Carolina Black Legislative Caucus is marking 50 years with a gala on November 21, at the Columbia Metropolitan Convention Center, running from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. with live music and food on the menu. Tickets run $100 apiece, with online and phone ordering options.
As reported by ABC Columbia, the celebration will take place at 1101 Lincoln St. in downtown Columbia. The same report lists a purchase deadline of November 9 for the $100 tickets, with phone orders taken at 803-734-3041.
A Half-Century Of Organizing At The Statehouse
The Caucus traces its roots back decades at the South Carolina State House. According to its own account on the South Carolina Legislative Black Caucus website, the group had been operational since 1973 but formally organized two years later, in 1975, when it was officially established with 13 House members. Ernest A. Finney Jr. served as its first chair, per the same history page.
Leadership has changed hands many times since. The organization's history notes that Representative Annie E. McDaniel was sworn in as the Caucus's 27th chair in January 2025, a sign of how many legislators have cycled through its top post over five decades. Today the Caucus counts 35 members total, split between 8 in the Senate and 27 in the House, according to the same source.
Night Of Music And Food Caps The Milestone Year
Details on the gala itself remain modest but specific. Organizers have confirmed live music and food as part of the evening, with the Columbia Metropolitan Convention Center serving as the backdrop for the four-hour event beginning at 6 p.m. on November 21.
For anyone hoping to attend, tickets cost $100 and can be ordered online or by calling 803-734-3041.
