Beginning in 1939 Rev. James M. Hinton was instrumental in organizing the state chapters of the NAACP into a more cohesive and active association. Rev. James M. Hinton served as president of the South Carolina Conference of Branches of the NAACP from 1941 to 1958. Stalwart and unwavering in his devotion to equal justice, Rev. Hinton endured constant harassment and violence by whites.
In 1947 The Rev. J. A. DeLaine was so moved by a speech given by the Rev. Hinton at Allen University that he committed himself to organize a petition in Clarendon County and thus began the Pearson and later the Briggs cases.
