Claflin Alumnus and Renowned Civil Rights Photographer Cecil J. Williams to Deliver Keynote Address at Claflin University Fall 2025 Commencement Convocation

Cecil J. Williams, whose photographs and numerous publications chronicled the Civil Rights Movement in South Carolina and beyond, will be the featured speaker for Claflin University’s Fall 2025 Commencement Convocation on Friday, December 12, at 10 a.m. in the Jonas T. Kennedy Health and Wellness Complex.  Claflin will confer bachelor's and master's degrees to more than 170 scholars.  The University will also honor 36 Leal and Loyal alumni from the “Silver Class” of 2000 during this year’s commencement.

The convocation is a ticketed event. However, the ceremony will be live streamed on the University's Facebook page at www.facebook.com/ClaflinUniversity1869.

Williams earned a bachelor’s degree in 1960 at Claflin.  The historic image of Williams drinking from a “White’s Only” water fountain inspired a collaboration between Williams and Actively Black founder Lanny Smith. The apparel company is now producing stylish “athleisure wear,” including a hoodie that highlights the iconic photograph.  Williams owned the stage when he modeled the hoodie on the runway during New York Fashion Week in September 2025.

Williams, a native of Orangeburg, S.C., is internationally recognized for his powerful photographic documentation of the American Civil Rights Movement, particularly across South Carolina and the Deep South. His images have become some of the most important visual records of the movement.

“Cecil J. Williams is not only a distinguished son of Orangeburg, Claflin University, and South Carolina, but he is also a towering chronicler of our nation’s long march toward justice,” said Claflin University President Dr. Dwaun J. Warmack. “His life’s work captures the courage, sacrifice, and determination of generations of activists—many of whom walked the very grounds our graduates walk today. We are deeply honored that he will share his wisdom, experience, and insightful perspectives with the Class of 2025.”

As a teenager, Williams became one of the youngest photographers working for Jet Magazine and other national outlets. His photographs documented pivotal events in South Carolina’s civil rights history, including the Briggs v. Elliott case, one of the cases that formed the basis of the landmark 1954 Supreme Court decision Brown v. Board of Education, which ended legal segregation in public schools. His work also captured the protests and aftermath surrounding the Orangeburg Massacre, when in 1968, three students were killed, and many others were injured during a civil rights demonstration.

His numerous honors include multiple awards from the South Carolina African American Heritage Commission. In 2017, Governor Henry McMaster presented him with the state’s highest civilian honor, the Order of the Palmetto.

Claflin December Commencement 2025.  

Williams and James Bennett, an executive vice president and director of external affairs for First Citizens Bank, will be awarded the Doctorate of Humane Letters during the commencement convocation. In addition to his distinguished career in the banking industry, Bennett was a member and a former chair of Claflin’s Board of Trustees.

"James Bennett’s tenure on the Board of Trustees was marked by exemplary leadership, thoughtful governance, and an unwavering commitment to the institution’s mission," said Warmack. "Under his leadership, the Board set a high standard for integrity, collaboration, and forward-thinking stewardship."

As Executive Vice President and Director of External Affairs for First Citizens Bank, Bennett is responsible for nationwide community engagement and strengthening relationships with state and federal government officials, members of Congress, trade groups, and other policy stakeholders.

His previous executive-level positions with First Citizens Bank include serving as Mid-South Area Executive (2015-2023), during which he led branch, business, and commercial banking teams to provide outstanding client service. He had responsibility for portions of South Carolina and Georgia, comprising over $2 billion in deposits and $1 billion in loans.  He was also executive vice president and director of public affairs, and head of the Community Banking Group division at First Citizens Bank. Bennett was also president and CEO at South Carolina Community Bank and president at Victory Savings Bank.

Bennett earned a bachelor’s degree in political science at the University of South Carolina, and he is also a graduate of the South Carolina Bankers School. He received an Honorary Doctorate in Business Administration from the University of South Carolina at Aiken.

Bennett was born in Washington, D.C., and moved to Cheraw, South Carolina, shortly thereafter. He has been a South Carolina resident for more than 50 years.

Bennett’s numerous awards and honors include being named United Way of the Midlands Humanitarian of the Year (2022) and the first African American Chairman of the South Carolina Bankers Association (2020).  He received Claflin’s Thaddeus Bythewood Award in 2018. He was the first African American to receive the Outstanding Young Banker Award from the South Carolina Bankers Association (1998).