Nestled securely within the embrace of Myrtle Beach is Pine Lakes Country Club, a beacon of history and culture that has stood tall since 1927. This prestigious establishment, also affectionately named “The Granddaddy,” offers not just impressive golf service and facilities, but is also ideally situated near a host of significant landmarks and tours that dive deep into the turbulent and transformative era of the Civil Rights Movement.
# Myrtle Beach Colored School Museum and Education Center
One of the most significant of these landmarks is the Myrtle Beach Colored School Museum and Education Center. Situated only a few minutes’ drive from Pine Lakes, this institution, erected between 1932 and 1936, bore witness to the stark segregation within the education system during the civil rights era.
However, its smiling yellow facade also carries a message of hope. It served as a lighthouse of education for African American children during that critical period. To walk the halls of the restored three-room schoolhouse today is to step back to a time when struggle begot strength and adversity forged unity.
# Friendship Baptist Church
Barely a stone’s throw from the Education Center is the Friendship Baptist Church, established in 1896. This historic church, a testament to faith and solidarity in the African American community, played a pivotal role during the Civil Rights era. The sanctifying echoes within its walls tell tales of congregation meetings that often evolved into robust civil rights discussions, birthing ideas and initiatives that made a difference in the community. A pilgrimage to this site offers an intimate connection to that transformative era.
# The Atlantic Beach and the Gullah Geechee Cultural Heritage Corridor
A little further south of Pine Lakes, you will find the Atlantic Beach. Known as “The Black Pearl,” this stretch of scenic coastline was one of the few beaches where African Americans were allowed unrestricted access during the segregation era. Its rich cultural heritage is still alive in the music, food, and tales of the locals.
For an immersive experience, you could also explore the Gullah Geechee Cultural Heritage Corridor that extends from Wilmington, North Carolina, all the way to Jacksonville, Florida. It is the very pulse of the vibrant Gullah Geechee culture, which descends directly from West Africans brought to the southeastern seaboard of the United States. This culture faced significant threats but endured through the civil rights era.
# Civil Rights & Greensboro Lunch Counter
It would be remiss not to mention another crucial experience in awakening the echoes of the civil rights era – a trip to the Civil Rights & Greensboro Lunch Counter. This exhibit situated in the Myrtle Beach’s Nance Plaza is a replica of the counter in Greensboro, North Carolina, where four African American college students staged a sit-in protest against racial segregation in 1960. The protest ignited a wave of similar nonviolent protests across the South, making the Greensboro Lunch Counter a symbol of resistance and change.
# Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Monument
Finally, the city of Myrtle Beach honors the monumental figure at the forefront of the civil rights movement – Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. – through a monument dedicated in his name. Located at the corner of Carver Street and Dunbar, this commemorated landmark resonates deeply with King’s philosophy of peace, unity, and equality.
The juxtaposition of a game of leisure like golf with the gritty tenacity exhibited during the civil rights era might seem odd at first glance. Yet, they thrive parallelly in the vibrant city of Myrtle Beach where the historic Pine Lakes in proximity to these significant landmarks continues to foster a sense of unity amid diversity. With every swing at the club and every step on these historic tours, you gain a richer understanding of the indomitable spirit of those who paved the way for change.