EXCLUSIVE: The documentary shines a light on the long-forgotten history of a tragic lynching in a small South Carolina town
Crawford: The Man The South Forgot is a documentary that followed Doria Dee Johnson to Abbeville, South Carolina, as she sought to commemorate her great-great-grandfather Anthony Crawford’s contribution to the town, as well as remember his horrendous death.
According to the Abbeville’s website, the city played a pivotal role in the Civil War — it is known as the “Birthplace and Deathbed of the Confederacy.” There is also a well-known hill in the town named Succession Hill, where the Confederate Army generals met to launch the state’s succession from the Union on Nov. 22, 1860. The community takes pride in being a historical location, however Abbeville never acknowledged Crawford’s story until Johnson made the pilgrimage to South Carolina to fight for his recognition.
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“They have all of these colonial houses and confederate monuments [because] they’re a tourist destination for history, yet, he was such a big contributor to the town and there was nothing about [him] in the museums back in 2002,” says Tiffany Jackman, producer and editor of the film. Growing up, Johnson always heard various stories about Crawford and would question who he was every time she visited her Aunt Anabelle’s home, where his portrait was prominently displayed.
According to the 1880 census, 15 years after slavery ended, records show that Crawford’s father owned 50 acres of land that he passed down as an inheritance to his son. Eventually, Crawford obtained 427 acres of prime cotton land for farming, growing food and supporting livestock. He also constructed a school and a church. He was an educated Black man who could read and write, which was rare at that time recalls Doria’s second cousin, Philip Crawford.
There are no documents detailing how he was able to become educated. His father most likely was educated by his former master, which was illegal. Jackman presumes that his father and Crawford had white allies.
Source: Filmmaker explores forgotten lynching in ‘Crawford: The Man The South Forgot’
