Last updated: November 12, 2024
Article
Brookland-Lakeview Empowerment Center (West Columbia, South Carolina)
African American Civil Rights Network
The Brookland-Lakeview Empowerment Center in West Columbia, South Carolina works to educate and empower youth, teens, families, and senior citizens. The center is home to various social service programs such as senior services, youth and educational athletic programs, human services, wellness and health services, food programs, and workforce development and entrepreneurial programs. Located in a formerly segregated African American school, the center is also preserving the school’s history.
The former school was established during the early 1900s in Brookland or New Brookland, South Carolina (now West Columbia) as the Brookland or New Brookland Colored School. The school relocated in the early 1930s and later that decade it became one of the first public African American high schools in the area after it expanded its grade offerings beyond elementary and middle school. In 1949, the school moved to a new building on the same site and afterwards the state’s equalization program funded new construction and additions at the school. South Carolina’s equalization program attempted to preserve racial segregation by improving the quality of African American schools across the state. Lakeview School remained segregated until 1968 when it was closed, and the school district began to integrate. A year later, the school building reopened as Northside Middle School. Today, the site is the last remaining formerly segregated African American school building in Lexington County, South Carolina.
Brookland-Lakeview Empowerment Center became a part of the African American Civil Rights Network in 2024.
The African American Civil Rights Network recognizes the African American Civil Rights Movement in the United States and the sacrifices made by those who fought against discrimination and segregation. Created by the African American Civil Rights Act of 2017, and coordinated by the National Park Service, the Network tells the stories of the people, places, and events of the U.S. African American Civil Rights Movement through a collection of public and private resources to include properties, facilities, and programs.
The Brookland-Lakeview Empowerment Center in West Columbia, South Carolina works to educate and empower youth, teens, families, and senior citizens. The center is home to various social service programs such as senior services, youth and educational athletic programs, human services, wellness and health services, food programs, and workforce development and entrepreneurial programs. Located in a formerly segregated African American school, the center is also preserving the school’s history.
The former school was established during the early 1900s in Brookland or New Brookland, South Carolina (now West Columbia) as the Brookland or New Brookland Colored School. The school relocated in the early 1930s and later that decade it became one of the first public African American high schools in the area after it expanded its grade offerings beyond elementary and middle school. In 1949, the school moved to a new building on the same site and afterwards the state’s equalization program funded new construction and additions at the school. South Carolina’s equalization program attempted to preserve racial segregation by improving the quality of African American schools across the state. Lakeview School remained segregated until 1968 when it was closed, and the school district began to integrate. A year later, the school building reopened as Northside Middle School. Today, the site is the last remaining formerly segregated African American school building in Lexington County, South Carolina.
Brookland-Lakeview Empowerment Center became a part of the African American Civil Rights Network in 2024.
The African American Civil Rights Network recognizes the African American Civil Rights Movement in the United States and the sacrifices made by those who fought against discrimination and segregation. Created by the African American Civil Rights Act of 2017, and coordinated by the National Park Service, the Network tells the stories of the people, places, and events of the U.S. African American Civil Rights Movement through a collection of public and private resources to include properties, facilities, and programs.