1. Bernice Robinson was an American activist in the Civil Rights Movement and education proponent who helped establish adult Citizenship Schools in South Carolina.
21 Facts About Bernice Robinson
1. 2.
Between 1970 and 1975, Robinson worked for the South Carolina Commission for Farm Workers, supervising VISTA workers and directing day care centers.
3.
Bernice Violanthe Robinson was born on February 7,1914, in Charleston, South Carolina to Martha Elizabeth and James C Robinson.
4.
Bernice Robinson was the ninth and youngest child in the family and attended Simonton Elementary School.
5.
Bernice Robinson went on to further her education at the segregated Burke Industrial School, completing the ninth grade, the maximum education allowed for African Americans at that time.
6.
Bernice Robinson completed her high school education at the Wadleigh High School for Girls and dreamed of continuing her education at the Boston Conservatory of Music.
7.
When her sister became ill and unable to support them, the girls returned to Charleston, where Bernice Robinson had a daughter and divorced before returning to New York in 1936.
8.
Bernice Robinson eventually opened her own beauty salon and though Robinson worked long hours, enjoyed the financial independence the shop offered.
9.
Bernice Robinson registered to vote and became politically active for the first time, mailing flyers for a local assemblyman.
10.
In 1945, Bernice Robinson took real estate courses while in New York.
11.
In 1947, Bernice Robinson returned to Charleston to care for her aging parents.
12.
Bernice Robinson opened another beauty shop and along with her mother took in sewing for extra money.
13.
Bernice Robinson joined the local National Association for the Advancement of Colored People branch and worked with them as a secretary and the Chair of Membership.
14.
Bernice Robinson used her shop as the center of her activism, not only to make contacts, but allowing her clients to have mail sent to the shop so that postal carriers would not be aware of their private business.
15.
Bernice Robinson continued giving volunteer instruction and training others as teachers.
16.
Bernice Robinson taught classes in states like Alabama, Louisiana, Mississippi, Tennessee and became the supervisor of the Low Country Citizenship Schools.
17.
In 1970, Bernice Robinson left the SCLC and went to work for the South Carolina Commission for Farm Workers, supervising VISTA volunteers.
18.
In 1975, Bernice Robinson returned to the SCCFW to direct programs for migrant workers' day care.
19.
Bernice Robinson became a loan and relocation officer at the Charleston County Community Development Department in 1979 and retained that position until her 1982 retirement.
20.
In 2011, a critical review of the career of Bernice Robinson was made by Clare Russell.
21.
Rather than an untrained teacher, Russell evaluates Bernice Robinson based on her broad education and work experience.