Center for Disability Resources (CDR) : ABLE SC, Black Disability History: Past, Present, & Future

Friday, February 09, 2024

ABLE SC, Black Disability History: Past, Present, & Future

Black and white photo of Reverend Ivory, a Black man in a suit using a wheelchair.

Black Disability History: Past, Present, & Future.

As we continue to spotlight Black History Month, let's explore the remarkable life of Reverend Cecil Augustus Ivory. Born on March 3, 1921, Reverend Ivory became an important Disability and Civil Rights leader. Much of his work was centered in Rock Hill, South Carolina during the 1960s.

As a 14-year-old, Reverend Ivory experienced a significant back injury when he fell from a pecan tree. Remarkably, he taught himself to walk again as his family could not afford the medical treatment he needed. Reverend Ivory was determined to continue his studies. He would go on to study at Johnson C. Smith University and earn two bachelors' degrees.

At the age of 28, Reverend Ivory became the pastor of the historic Hermon Presbyterian Church in Rock Hill. In a 1956 accident, he fell off the tail-end of a pickup truck and aggravated his childhood back injury. As a result, he used a wheelchair for the remainder of his life. Not long after he became a prominent figure in the fight against segregation.

In July of 1957, Reverend. Ivory started a carpool service during a bus boycott in Rock Hill, South Carolina. A month into the boycott, he gathered donations and bought two used passenger buses, offering free bus services to the Black community. The ongoing boycott led to approximately 90% of the city's Black bus riders refusing to use the bus line. By the end of the year, the Star Bus Line, as a result of the boycott, closed.

At the age of 39, Reverend Ivory organized the first wheelchair sit-in at McCrory's lunch counter as an act of civil disobedience. Despite explaining that he was not violating Jim Crow laws since as he was not sitting in any seats, he was denied service, threatened by the store's manager and a police officer, and was ultimately arrested. This event solidified Reverend Ivory's leadership and commitment to the Civil Rights movement.

Reverend Ivory passed away in November 1961 at the age of 40 due to complications related to his disability. His impact, however, extended far beyond his years, leaving an indelible mark on South Carolina and the Rock Hill community specifically. Reverend Ivory's unwavering commitment to the Disability and Racial justice movement serve as a testament to the resilience and determination of those who fought for equality during this pivotal era in American history.

Source: Cecil A. Ivory: Presbyterian Leader and Activist | Presbyterian Historical Society (pcusa.org)

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