Over the past few decades, Michael “Mike” Allen and his work have become synonymous with African American historic preservation in South Carolina and beyond.
His journey with historic preservation began not in a classroom but in his hometown of Kingstree. Witnessing the value placed on restoring and maintaining historic structures within his African American community instilled in him a deep appreciation for the tangible connection to the past.
This personal foundation, coupled with the work he did at Fort Sumter beginning in 1980, paved the way for a transformative career dedicated to amplifying African American narratives within the broader historical landscape.
Allen’s 37-year tenure with the National Park Service (NPS) was marked by tireless efforts to bridge the gap between the public and the often-overlooked narratives of African American history.
“Most entities in that organization didn’t really take much of a view to African American structures,” he says. Allen made it his mission to change that, working to bring awareness and support to neglected African American historic places.
Along the way, he played a pivotal role in establishing the Gullah Geechee Cultural Heritage Corridor in 2006, the first corridor of its kind dedicated to highlighting the unique history and cultural contributions of the Gullah Geechee people of the Coastal Carolinas and Georgia.
His unwavering dedication culminated in the landmark achievement of establishing the Reconstruction Era National Monument (now the Reconstruction Era National Historical Park) in Beaufort County in 2017, ensuring the stories of this pivotal period in American history are not relegated to the margins.
Raising Awareness and Empowering Communities
“My work has always been about raising awareness,” Allen stresses. “Seeing the lack of recognition given to African American historical sites fueled my passion to not only celebrate these spaces but empower communities to actively participate in their preservation.”
From understanding the cyclical maintenance needs of brick masonry at Fort Sumter to recognizing the crucial structural integrity of the Charles Pinckney National Historic Site, Allen’s experiences with the NPS solidified to him the importance of preserving these spaces not just for their physical presence but for the stories they hold.
Allen credits Dr. Peter Wood’s book “Black Majority” as a pivotal moment in his own awakening to the significance of African American history and culture. “This book opened my eyes to a pattern of history I hadn’t grasped before,” he shares. “It was a turning point, and the National Park Service became a platform for me to share this newfound understanding and advocate for the stories that were waiting to be told.”
Today, at age 65, Allen can look back with pride at the many tangible signs of progress he helped create, from historical markers to museum exhibits that help tell the full story of African American history in South Carolina.
“The sign at Sullivan’s Island and Toni Morrison’s first Bench by the Road that recognizes the arrival of enslaved Africans, the Fort Moultrie visitor center and the African Passages exhibit, the Gullah Geechee trail, the Reconstruction site in Beaufort … none of these were there when I started. I’m grateful to have played a part in making all those happen,” he says.
Sharing Gullah Culture Through Tastee Treats
Following his retirement from the NPS in 2017, Allen continues to champion the preservation of Gullah Geechee culture through his online store, Tastee Treats.
Alongside his wife, Latanya, they offer traditional Gullah desserts and treats like benne seed cookies, sweet grass baskets, and handmade pottery – providing a delicious and authentic window into the rich culinary and artistic heritage of the Gullah Geechee people.
“Tastee Treats is a way for us to share a slice of Gullah culture with a wider audience,” Allen says. “Preserving these traditions goes beyond physical structures; it’s about keeping the stories, the flavors, the crafts alive for future generations.”
A Call to Action for Aspiring Advocates
Looking forward, Allen’s advice for aspiring advocates is rooted in community engagement and unwavering perseverance. He emphasizes the importance of understanding one’s own history and building strong alliances, acknowledging the challenges that often accompany this work.
“First, get to know your story, your history, your heritage, and your community. Soak it all up,” he advises. “Be considerate of yourself and be willing to stand up against headwinds. Can’t say everything I did was easy because it was not. Opposition, pushback, disbelief, prejudice is there too.”
Mike Allen remains steadfast in his conviction. “I think we’re in a time and season where good works that we may have been involved in are simply invisible to a lot of Americans. That makes me more diligent about preservation and recognition,” he says. “I’m not afraid, I won’t be silenced. You shouldn’t be either.”
By: Stacey Young, Archaeologist at South Carolina State Park Service
May 6, 2024
The Ask an Expert series features Q + A’s with people who are experts in a particular field or who have a depth of knowledge around historic preservation. We ask experts a variety of short answer questions and ask for their advice to Black preservation projects and leaders.
Would you be willing to be featured as an expert? Send us an email here.
Q: Introduce yourself! Tell us a little about you. How did you get started in your field? What kind of projects have you worked on?
My name is Stacey Young and I am an Archaeologist for the South Carolina State Park Service. I am responsible for managing archaeological resources on all 47 operational parks and newly acquired properties. Generally, my responsibilities include resource protection, research, and education and interpretation. I have served in this position for 4 years and have been working professionally as an archaeologist for about 20 years. Prior to working with State Parks, I worked in the private sector for various Cultural Resource Management firms based in Columbia. I have worked across the eastern United States on various types of compliance related projects and archaeological sites ranging from lithic quarry sites used by Indigenous people 8,000 years ago to 50-year-old sites used for military training activities. As an undergraduate in college, I studied anthropology and became interested in communities; how people organize, form, and maintain communities and how communities develop and change over time. I enrolled in an archaeological field school one summer and learned how I enjoyed the physical aspects of the outdoor fieldwork as well as the thought-provoking nature of the investigations. Recently, I have been working on archaeological projects at Rose Hill Plantation, Redcliffe Plantation, and Sesquicentennial State Park looking for evidence of former buildings and spaces occupied and used by African Americans, trying to gain more understanding of these communities and engaging with descendant and local communities who have connections to the people or places. Many of these projects are working in partnership with archaeologists and anthropologists from the University of South Carolina and South Carolina State University which allows opportunities for training students in the discipline.
Q: What is your specialty or specific area of expertise?
My specific area of expertise is African American and Indigenous archaeology and I’m skilled at working collaboratively with communities to ensure projects respect their cultural heritage.
Q: How does your work in archaeology intersect with preserving African American historic spaces?
Archaeology is a tool that can be used to provide information about the lived experiences of African American communities and spaces. While buildings and documents may not survive, or even exist, the material culture (artifacts and landscapes) left behind and often buried over time can be used to inform us of past activities and help us recognize former spaces that may not be visible above ground.
Q: What do people in preservation need to know about archaeology? How is it relevant to them?
Many people do not realize that most archaeological work in the United States is conducted because there is a federal law (Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act) that requires this work be performed prior to any federal undertaking. If your preservation project is a historic building or space, it is possible that there are associated archaeological deposits. Archaeological investigations may provide additional information about people who used the space and how the landscape changed overtime. This information may enhance the interpretation and significance of the resource and allow you to tell a broader story.
Q: What steps would you recommend for people who are not a professional archaeologist?
If you are researching a privately owned property, make sure that you are talking with the landowner. If you are researching places or sites located on state or federally owned properties contact someone from the agency and inquire about any information or research materials in their files, and be familiar with the laws and regulations. Reach out to the State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO); they generally maintain a list of professional archaeologists working throughout the state and information about the services offered. The SHPO website also has a list of various archaeology resources across the state which may be applicable to your project. If you are interested in archaeological research, make sure to engage with professional archaeologists who have prior experience working on similar projects and are qualified to perform the work. Generally, if someone contacts me about a project that is not on SCPRT property, I try to connect them with an archaeologist that has expertise related to their research project.
Q: What do people in preservation need to know about archaeology?
Many historic places contain archaeological sites. When you are thinking about preservation projects, you should consider identifying and preserving the archaeological components as well.
Q: If you had to give just one piece of advice to folks who are looking to bring archaeology into their preservation project, what would it be?
Archaeology provides supplementary information which can enhance the documentary research or architectural resource.
By: McClaren Institute for Health & Quality of Life Gail Wilson Awan, President and CEO of Urban League of the Upstate
Apr 5, 2024
The Featured Projects series focuses on historic preservation projects focused on preserving Black history throughout SC. Each project is asked to respond to four prompts. We hope this series helps bring awareness to the stunning number and variety of preservation projects being undertaken across the state, highlights the dedication of our community leaders, and inspires future generations of projects.
Want to feature your preservation project? Send us an email here.
Provide a brief summary of your project, making sure to include why it’s important for African American historic preservation.
The Urban League of the Upstate’s McClaren Institute for Health & Quality of Life is focusing on addressing healthcare and wellness disparities for Black people and the underserved living in the Upstate of South Carolina by emphasizing programs around the five social determinants of health: economic stability, education access and quality, health care access and quality, neighborhood and built environment, social and community context. The physical location in the renovated, historic McClaren Medical shelter in downtown Greenville, SC will serve as a hub for services, education, and outreach efforts (and is receiving its Historical Marker status). The McClaren Institute for Health & Quality of Life is currently developing core programming (five programs are confirmed) and completing renovations on the facility in early 2025. The physical space will include a multimedia Cultural and Historical Literacy Center displaying historic contributions of Black citizens to the Upstate’s growth and development on the lower floor. This interactive center will educate, inspire, and motivate aspiring leaders towards building a better quality of life for the underserved communities in our region. The upper floor is a hub for ULUS and its partners to address Upstate health disparities—by offering programming on site and as a resource center for initiatives happening throughout the region.
The upper floor maintains its original design of “patient rooms” but is being renovated to provide multiple functions. Four spaces will be activated for specific health and wellness related services, bolstered by a reception/waiting area and the ULUS office.
What motivated you/your community/your team to begin this project?
The building where the Institute will be headquartered was built by Dr. Edward E. McClaren in 1949 and served as the only clinic for Black people in the area during the Jim Crow era. As part of the McClaren Apartments’ development project in that block of downtown Greenville, the building was moved to accommodate construction and then donated to the Urban League of the Upstate. After being given the McClaren Medical Shelter, this historically significant property to the cultural history of Black citizens in Greenville County, the moment was right to respond to the health and cultural literacy needs and requests of the communities we serve. It became an ideal moment to put into motion a plan to fight the health inequity epidemic as we experience it here in the Upstate. The Urban League of the Upstate (ULUS) has reorganized its work so that it is both nationally aligned and locally relevant, focusing on the National Urban League’s signature programs to enhance health and quality of life for the underserved.
The mission of the ULUS is to advance equity by empowering the Black community and underserved individuals throughout the region. The National Urban League is laser-focused on Health Equity as a key initiative, supporting local efforts through funding, advocacy, andprogramming. The McClaren Institute for Health & Quality of Life is fighting for change and equity, one partnership at a time. This new facility and programmatic hub will tackle health inequity head-on.
What challenges have you faced in this project?
Initially, the multi-faceted nature of the project with multiple partners and interests made it challenging to condense messaging in a way that was meaningful for potential donors and supporters. Now that we have coalesced our messaging, we are moving into a heavy fundraising phase with major needs to facilitate the physical renovation and construction efforts. We are hopeful the mission and goals of the project will attract the right funding bodies swiftly.
How have you solved problems and found solutions? What advice would you give to others doing this kind of work?
On a project like this with so many stakeholders, it is crucial to have the right leadership in place and we have that with our campaign committee. We also worked to find the right partners to help us with the specific messaging and fundraising challenges addressed. Communication and clarity are essential in a project with so many elements and interests.
