"The Hill" (Booker T. Washington Neighborhood)

Often referred to as "The Hill," the Booker T. Washington neighborhood was the heart of Myrtle Beach’s African American community during segregation.

This is where Charlie and Sarah Fitzgerald built their home, businesses, and the legendary Charlie’s Place.

The Hill was more than geography—it was community.

Despite systemic inequality, it was filled with churches, schools, clubs, and pride. Children played on porches while legends like Little Richard and Ruth Brown checked into the motel down the street.

It was also the site of resistance and resilience, where neighbors supported each other and carved out a culture that couldn’t be erased. But its soul remains rooted in the sounds, stories, and struggles of those who called it home.

Today, the area remains a vital part of the Myrtle Beach community, marked by its enduring legacy and the stories of those who called it home, with occasional efforts to commemorate and celebrate its history through preservation and community initiatives historical markers adding to its character and honoring its legacy