SC Representative Joe Bustos, pictured here with Gregg “Marcel” Dixon, holds a flyer detailing the Office Of Freedmen Affairs


Columbia, South Carolina- On February 23, 2023, an initiative to establish an Office Of Freedmen Affairs was announced on the floor of the South Carolina House Of Representatives. As described by black Jasper County, South Carolina native, Gregg "Marcel'' Dixon, in an email to Republican Representative Kathy Landing, the Office Of Freedmen Affairs seeks to foster self-sufficiency, self governance, and to end the cycle of poverty that is often perpetuated by dead-end programs that have failed to bring about economic progress for the black residents of South Carolina. Dixon, along with Dawn Paige of Sumter County, SC, and Nocola Hemphill of Fairfield County, SC, was introduced on the floor of the SC House Of Representatives. Referring to the goals of
the Office Of Freedmen Affairs, Republican Representative Kathy Landing affirmed, "I think we can all agree, that will be a wonderful thing." The announcement of the initiative was met with rousing applause by both South Carolina Democrats and Republicans.

Representative Landing of SC District 80, Representative Joe Bustos of SC District 112, Representative David O'Neal of SC District 66, and Representative Hager of SC District 122 were among few of several Republicans contacted by black South Carolinians: Gregg “Marcel” Dixon, Nocola Hemphill, and Dawn Paige to discuss establishing a department that will specifically address the needs of the Black American community by directing resources specifically to that community to increase home ownership, business ownership, land ownership, representation in farming, and educational attainment.
They shared that black South Carolinaians makeup somewhere between 26 to 32% of the state’s population and that what lifts the black community has always lifted all communities.

The group cited how black South Carolinians are close to 50% of the residents that live in poverty and how certain practices long eschewed by the Republican Party such as illegal immigration and elective abortion have robbed the Black American community of opportunity and the investments they are due as American citizens. The Office Of Freedmen Affairs, the trio argued, will be a much better use of tax dollars to help foster independence and success for black South Carolinians as opposed to programs such as Housing Choice Voucher Program, more popularly referred to as “Section 8”, Temporary Assistance For Needy Families, and Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program.