OpenTube

Inside South Carolina's Forgotten River Towns

RocaNews

2,886,049 views

The Pee Dee region is one of the most overlooked corners of the American South. We travelled more than 100 miles across rural South Carolina, exploring old tobacco country and sprawling river swamps. There, we met the people that define one of America's most forgotten regions.

About Roca: RocaNews is an independent media company started by 3 friends in 2020. Our mission is to cover the news without bias or fear. We deliver daily news to 2M+ people via the products below.

Our Products:
► Instagram: Instagram: ridethenews
► App: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/rocanew...
► Substack: https://rocanews.substack.com

Our Series:
► The South: The South
► Pakistan: Pakistan
► East Coast: East Coast
► Appalachia: Appalachia
► Rust Belt: Rust Belt
► The Southwest The Southwest
► The UK UK

Want to help us report?
► Sign up here: https://shorturl.at/xPrUx

0:00 Intro
1:23 Pamplico, SC
5:07 Greeleyville, SC
5:32 Sharecropper Memories
10:53 Scott’s BBQ
13:29 St. Stephens, SC
13:38 Cowboy the Can Man
16:23 Effects of Hurricane Hugo
17:11 Into the Backcountry
19:37 McClellanville
20:04 Outro

Episode 150
Subs: 918k subs
#peedee #southcarolina #deepsouth

20 Comments

@rocanews Creator 3 months ago (edited) Pinned

If you want unfiltered, independent reporting like this, subscribe to our daily newsletter on Substack: https://rocanews.substack.com/subscribe

@Poplockndropitpoplockndroppit 3 months ago

“You gotta be careful to not even say the N-word.”

Sounds like a real daily struggle for bro. Lol

@Tayjahbaby8371 3 months ago

I love the guy who kept saying he didnt know about picking cotton 😅.

@buckshot6148 2 months ago

I am 69 years old and this is my South Carolina. This video touched something deep inside me - the people are the people I grew up with and knew all my life. As I type this I cannot hold back my tears. Thank you for this . It's a part of me that I thought had been long lost. Now I gotta crawl in my pickup and drive back toward the coast from York County to the real South Carolina of my youth.

@SamNunyabusiness 3 months ago

Cowboy is obviously the town drunk. Every small southern town has one.

@carolr1358 3 months ago

We can't brag, but we will feed the hungry. I like that saying. ❤

@jimmymercier4928 1 month ago

As a documentary guy, I truly respect what you guys are doing, absolutely fantastic.

@csrn1386 3 months ago

I love the way you interview these people so respectfully, never speaking over them, sitting face-to-face. Keep up the amazing work, it is very important work to show every corner of our country.

@corporateque7838 3 months ago

Born and raised in Kingstree, SC. Literally between Scott’s BBQ in Hemingway and Greeleyville. Appreciate this channel highlighting my home.

@brewersdelightcoffee-tea 3 months ago

Cowboy canman is the prime example of placing short comings on others. Self search don't place blame others.

@Dro_Bussin 3 months ago

9:43 “when you come to some place better than where you came from your gonna give it all you got because you dont ever wanna go back”
That hit home for me

@deadtoolhead22 3 months ago

"Don't want to die here, but I was born here" 🤣

@victorcano8762 1 month ago

The gentleman asking J. "aint that right j?" 😂😂😂😂😂 Hilarious

@hyrdocomputing 3 months ago

I'm from the UK but always find vidoes about the rural deep south so interesting.

@georgeram661 3 months ago

These videos remind me of back in the day Vice. Back to back Great videos and consistently. I’ve been stuck to this channel.

@NIKnakNIKKI 3 months ago

My poor elders. Heartbreaking what they went through and still settle for.

@jdpeake 3 months ago (edited)

I grew up in Johnsonville, South Carolina which is the next town over from Pamplico. Everything you see is exactly how it is. Very rural, hardly any opportunities for jobs other than plant work, gas stations and field work. Unfortunately, a topic that was not addressed in this video is the major drug epidemic that has taken hold in the region. Many people overdose and pass away more often than public representatives would be comfortable of saying out loud. Of course there is charm in the country as well. You find fun and things to do in your own way. Also, if you are in the area it is highly recommended to give Scott's BBQ between Johnsonville and Hemingway a try. It is absolutely delicious and the people running it are great. Thank you for putting an eye on an area of our country I am so fond of.

@mr67927 3 months ago

0:44 LMFAOOOO 😂😂😂 he has definitely said that word more than 35 times

@JMWRainwater 3 months ago

Born in the Pee Dee and lived there till '09. Best part of our state. I still travel those roads often to help repair arcade & pinball games.

@GoMonGo5599 3 months ago

"If you can convince the lowest white man he's better than the best colored man, he won't notice you're picking his pocket. Hell, give him somebody to look down on, and he'll empty his pockets for you."
President Lyndon B. Johnson