Vennie Deas–Moore

Vennie Deas–Moore had no idea when she began a research documentary for Charlotte Slotte at SC ETV she would become so attached to the Clarendon County community. Lil’ Weary Feet , Deas–Moore’s short story about how a small group of African Americans in rural SC pioneering for educational rights, evolved from this community’s struggle. The entire research project is the feature exhibition at USC’s McKissick Museum this month.

“There were no road maps in this rural community of Clarendon County for me to follow to document this research,” said Deas–Moore. “I had to dig from the valuable oral history to get at the historical truths. I wrote the short story for a middle–school audience, and I am so pleased that McKissick Museum is supporting the story to a broader audience.”

McKissick Museum provided support for the technical and archival needs involved in the research project. The Humanities Council (SC) sponsorship supports Deas–Moore’s research as inspiring, engaging, and enriching.

Lil’ Weary Feet revolves around a particular African–American man and wife who knew that educational rights of children were bigger than their safety in the segregated county during the 1940s and 50s. They traveled this road to the Supreme Court with other African Americans with little sympathy from the white community. The exception was one family who risked involvement with The Ku Klux Klan and a US district judge, ostracized by the Charleston Blue Blood.

Deas–Moore is now working on three other research projects. “I want to do a piece for my mother. She’s a spirited survivor in every sense of the word. At 83, her energy is boundless.”

Deas–Moore is also working on a collection of photographs of McClellanville fishermen and another on the women of Columbia who lived in the city from 1800 to 1920. The Lil’ Weary Feet research project will remain on exhibition at the McKissick Museum through the end of the February.