An SC city leader says her tweet was racially insensitive. Black leaders say, yes, it was

A social media post by the city of Greenville quoting its white mayor about what he experienced during integration was immediately denounced by Black leaders as racially insensitive.

The city removed the post from Twitter and Facebook shortly after it was posted Tuesday night.

Knox White, who has been mayor of Greenville for 26 years and grew up in Greenville, was quoted as saying, “A good number of my friends disappeared. They were sent to another school.”

Beth Brotherton, communications director for the city and a former television reporter, took responsibility for the post and said she did not consult White before writing it.

“I’ve spent the morning talking with our communications team members to see how they are feeling and how I can do better,” she said. “We are a diverse group. Moving forward I need to engage them more in the process to ensure many voices are heard. Listen. Learn. Grow.”

Jalen Elrod, third vice president for the South Carolina Democratic Party and a Greenville native, said the post is reflective of what has happened in the city for 30 years. Greenville has become unaffordable for many people of color due to the redevelopment of downtown, including high-end apartments and condominiums.

“The Black community has been erased,” he said.

He also said the much-lauded Unity Park, nunder construction, will bring further gentrification to the city. It is located beside the historically Black Southernside community, where Black leaders are pushing for more affordable housing amid an anticipated boom in residential construction.

Brotherton explained she pulled White’s quote from a series on Black History Month and the integration of Greenville County schools. She was once communications director for the school district.

“While well-intentioned, it was a poor decision,” she said, noting that it was insensitive to tell the “painful” story through the eyes of a white person. She said it was “poor taste and does not represent the Greenville I know and love.”

Greenville County schools were integrated over one weekend in February 1970 after an order by federal court Judge Robert Martin. After six years of litigation, the judge ordered the schools to have a ratio of 80:20 percent white to Black students.

The burden of achieving that mix fell hard on Black students, who were bused in greater numbers than whites.

Some Greenville families sent their children to private schools. White stayed at Greenville High School and graduated in 1972.

This story was originally published February 23, 2022 at 3:08 PM.