I
n the heart of Greenville County, South Carolina, a legacy of racial segregation and economic inequality has been unearthed through an analysis of real estate records from the 1930s to 1940s. The research, led by Ken Kolb, professor and chair of sociology at Furman University, reveals that Alester G. Furman Jr., a prominent real estate broker and long-time trustee of the university, used racist covenants to exclude Black families from over 1,000 homes in the area.

    Furman's company, The Furman Company, was one of the most influential real estate firms in the Southeast at the time, and its president's name is still deeply ingrained on campus. The administration building, erected in 1957, bears his name, as does a life-size statue outside the visitor's center and the signature teaching award announced each year at commencement.

    However, Kolb's research paints a different picture of Furman's legacy. "We think it paints an honest and objective picture of real estate practices in a Southeastern city in the 1940s," he said. The analysis found that racist covenants were not unique to Furman or Greenville but were widespread across the United States, used by many real estate firms to control who lived in neighborhoods and near textile mills.

    The findings are part of a larger research project, "Placing Furman," which includes hundreds of photos, interactive data maps, and essays providing context for the work. The project aims to shed light on the complex history of racial segregation and economic inequality in Greenville County and beyond.

    "We think it's essential to acknowledge the harm caused by these covenants and the ways in which they continue to affect communities today," said Kaniqua Robinson, assistant professor of anthropology and co-chair of the Placing Furman team. "Racism was a tool for capitalism, and Alester Furman used that tool to generate wealth."

    The research also highlights the complicity of banks and local governments in creating and maintaining segregated neighborhoods, which has contributed to the significant wealth gap between Black and white communities today.

    In response to the findings, Kolb is inviting comments from the public on the Placing Furman website. "We want to foster a constructive conversation about this complex history and its ongoing impact," he said. The project's website includes essays by other researchers providing historical, societal, and economic context, as well as interactive data maps illustrating the scope of the research.

    As the university and community move forward, Kolb emphasizes the importance of accountability and acknowledging the erasure of Black experiences and other cultures in Greenville County and nationwide. "This is a way of countering the erasure of the past and providing a more nuanced understanding of our shared history," he said.