THE SOUTHERN CHURCH BURNING EPIDEMIC: AN EXAMINATION OF THE SOUTH CAROLINA EXPERIENCE

ABSTRACT

The American South witnessed an increase in church burnings during the mid-1990s that was characterized by the national media as a function of resurgent racism. Despite the scope of attention and resources allocated to the burnings, no systematic empirical analysis of the phenomenon has been conducted. This study examines the relationship between hate group activism and the burning of black churches in South Carolina between 1990 and 2000. Logistic regression models indicated that, after controlling for structural properties, white supremacist demonstrations did not increase the likelihood of church burnings. The implications of these findings are situated in a social constructionist framework and discussed in the contexts of stakeholder interests and social justice.