Hartsville’s Harriot included in African-American History Calendar
The S.C. Department of Education unveiled the 2019 S.C. African-American History Calendar last week at the Koger Center for the Arts in Columbia. Included in this year’s calendar is Hartsville native Jannie Harriot.
The daughter of the late James and Marvell Bradley Harriot, she was born in Wilmington, N.C., and grew up in Hartsville. She graduated from Butler High School in Hartsville and attended Talladega College in Alabama. She went on to receive a B.S. from Fayetteville State University in N.C.
Harriot then continued her studies at the University of South Carolina and Montclair State College in New Jersey. Before returning to Hartsville in 1990, Harriot taught in various N.C. and S.C. public schools as well as community colleges in N.J.
Since then, she has served several community-based organizations in a multitude of roles. As the founding Chairperson for the Butler Heritage Foundation, Harriot was instrumental in getting the Darlington County Board of Education to deed her high school alma mater to the Foundation for restoration and preservation.
In 1993, she was appointed by Gov. Carroll Campbell as a charter member of the S.C. African-American Heritage Commission (SCAAHC) where she served as chairperson for nine years, vice chairperson for six years and secretary for three years.
Harriot currently serves as vice chairperson of the SCAAHC and executive director of the SCAAHF. In 2005, she stepped down as Executive Director for the Allendale County First Steps for School Readiness. During her tenure as SCAAHC chair, she published the “African- American Historic Places in South Carolina,” the “Teachers’ Guide to African-American Historic Places in South Carolina” and its “Arts Integration Supplement.”
In addition, Harriot also published a project identifying African-American schools in S.C. titled “How Did We Get to Now?”. She is a 2009 Purpose Prize Fellow, and in 2010, was selected as one of S.C.’s Top 100 Black Women of Influence. In 2014, the SCAAHC awarded her the Herbert A. DeCosta Jr. Trailblazer Award for her dedication to the preservation of African-American history and culture in S.C.
In 2018, the S.C. Conference of NAACP awarded her the Presidential Citation in Education and Advocacy. On Oct. 23, she will be inducted into the Earnest Finney Hall of Fame for outstanding contribution to South Carolina and the nation. Finally, her proudest title held to date is “Aunt Jannie,” given to her by her 172 nieces, nephews, grand- and great-nieces and nephews.
The 12-month calendar profiles individuals from across the state who have had a positive, compelling impact on South Carolina and, often, across the country. “The 13 honorees that are profiled in the 2019 African-American History Calendar are exceptional individuals that have had a significant impact on our state and nation,” said State Superintendent of Education Molly Spearman.
