South Carolina H 5723: Cecil J. Williams

Bill Text

2025-2026 Bill 5723 Text of Previous Version (Jun. 25, 2026) - South Carolina Legislature Online 

South Carolina General Assembly
126th Session, 2025-2026

Bill 5723

Indicates Matter Stricken
Indicates New Matter

(Text matches printed bills. Document has been reformatted to meet World Wide Web specifications.)

A house RESOLUTION

to recognize and honor cecil J. 
Williams for his extraordinary contributions to Civil rights history, 
photography, journalism, and the preservation of african american heritage. 

Whereas, Cecil J. Williams, a native of Orangeburg, overcame the 
barriers of segregation to become one of the nation's most distinguished 
photographers and historians of the Civil Rights Movement; and

Whereas, for more than sixty years, he has documented the struggle 
for freedom, justice, and equality, creating a collection of more than one 
million photographs that represents the largest visual archive of racial change 
in America; and 

Whereas, in 1960, while visiting New York City, Mr. Williams met Senator 
John F. Kennedy, who intervened when hotel security attempted to remove him 
from a press event because of his race, leading to a friendship that afforded 
the young journalist unique opportunities to document history. Kennedy became 
one of his most photographed subjects; and 

Whereas, his work has been featured in hundreds of publications, more 
than one hundred solo exhibitions, and numerous documentary and motion picture 
productions; and 

Whereas, as a photojournalist for JET Magazine, he documented pivotal 
events and leaders of the Civil Rights Movement, including the integration of 
Clemson University by Harvey Gantt, the Orangeburg Massacre, Edwards v. South 
Carolina, and the Charleston Hospital Workers' Strike; and 

Whereas, his lifelong commitment to preserving history led to the 
founding of the South Carolina Civil Rights Museum in Orangeburg, the first and 
only museum of its kind in South Carolina; and 

Whereas, his achievements have been recognized through more than two hundred 
awards and honors, including the Governor's Award in the Humanities, the Order 
of the Palmetto, and designation as The Times and Democrat's 2018 Person of the 
Year; and 

Whereas, Mr. Williams is a devoted husband to Barbara J. Williams, 
retired educator and president of the Orangeburg NAACP; and 

Whereas, throughout his life and career, Cecil J. Williams has 
consistently transformed adversity into inspiration, using his talents to 
advance understanding, preserve history, and promote freedom, justice, and 
equality for all people. Now, therefore,

Be it resolved by the House of 
Representatives:

That the members of the South Carolina House 
of Representatives, by this resolution, recognize and honor Cecil J. 
Williams for his extraordinary contributions to civil rights history, 
photography, journalism, and the preservation of African American heritage. 

Be it further resolved that a copy of this resolution be presented to 
Cecil J. Williams. 

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This web page was last updated on June 25, 2026 at 05:48 PM