From Hilton Head to Washington: A March for Justice
Our “Bubba Arthur” is a significant yet often overlooked figure in Hilton Head Island’s history. He was a positive influence and an island icon whose life and legacy deserve recognition. He shall continue to be praised for his quiet impact and his deeper understanding; many never fully realized about him.” – Emory and Morris Campbell
Mr. Arthur Fraizer’s life was anything but cushy and he wore more hats than a department store mannequin. As a boy, he was already no stranger to hard work whether it was shining the boots of wealthy hunters or digging ditches for 60 cents a day. By adulthood his resume read like a list of Lowcountry survival skills: Ferry service operator, farmer, logging truck driver, service station owner, and all-around problem solver. He once worked 30 days and 30 nights straight until his wife finally rescued him from exhaustion.
Arthur’s roots run deep in the Lowcountry. His grandfather, Mr. Daniel Frazier, had crossed from Ridgeland to Hilton Head in 1860, starting a family legacy tied to the sea and the land.
Before the tourist boom, before the change in landscape, and way before the bridge connecting the island to the mainland, Hilton Head was a close-knit community. A place where livestock could roam free, people knew each other and settled their own disputes, and everyone looked out for one another.
This story is not about the ups and downs of life that we all endure, but this is a story about a man that set out to do something special. A man from a small island that had never seen the world, but he knew that racial equality was the correct way to live. Although from many accounts, Lowcountry didn’t see as much racial injustice or violence as other parts of the south, by 1963, Arthur had still endured his fair share. This only fueled his ambition to join the thousands marching for change. This is the story of the day Mr. Frazier went to see Martin Luther King Jr.
On a sweltering August day in 1963, Arthur Frazier stepped onto the Freedom Train in Savannah with nothing more than a seat for a bed, a lunch of cornbread and tea, and a heart full of conviction. His destination: The March on Washington, where history was waiting to be made.
The Freedom Train ride itself was a journey of determination. Every whistle stop brought more passengers, more voices ready to sing “We Shall Overcome” into the heart of the nation’s capital. And sing they did—led by the unforgettable voice of Broadway legend Lena Horne, echoing through the streets of Washington. “You could hear her voice all over,” Arthur later recalled.
When the marchers arrived at the Lincoln Memorial, Arthur stood among 250,000 others, waiting for Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. to speak. From about 200 feet away, he listened as King’s words painted a vision of unity—of little white boys and little black boys walking together in freedom. For Arthur, whose life had been shaped by the indignities of segregation, that vision carried profound weight.
For Arthur, the day was more than a protest—it was proof that people from all walks of life could come together for something bigger than themselves. Beside him were professionals and laborers, Southerners and Northerners, natives and immigrants—all united in hope. Together they sent a resounding message that America could no longer ignore the injustices faced by millions of its citizens. “It was a day I’ll never forget”
Arthur returned to Hilton Head knowing the fight wasn’t over. “It’s certainly a lot better… but somebody’s going to have to march again,” he said years later. Yet, there was pride in his voice when he spoke of that summer day—when he played his small part in the great movement toward equality.
In the end, Arthur Frazier’s journey was about more than just getting to Washington. It was about carrying the spirit of the march back home, living its values, and showing future generations that when opportunity knocks for justice, you step forward—boots shined, head high, voice ready to sing.
Paul Tollefson is the Director of Tennis at the Hampton Hall Club in Bluffton. He found his love for the Lowcountry in early 2002 after graduating high school and unsure of what career path he was destined towards. After moving from Hilton Head to Bluffton he became enthralled with the history of the town and the people and cultures that called it home for many generations. He has found a passion in writing and enjoys being able to share the stories and pictures of long-time locals. He is the co-creator of the Facebook page “Bluffton Then and Now.”
