COLUMBIA--Half a century ago, South Carolinians played a crucial role in the desegregation of public schools.

Today, a descendant of those pioneers says vigilance is needed to make sure the commemoration of the 1954 Supreme Court ruling outlawing separate schools for blacks and whites is open to all.

"It's going to be difficult because people don't want to talk about it, especially in the white community," said Joseph A. DeLaine Jr., whose father helped file a lawsuit in Clarendon County that became one of five leading to the 1954 U.S. Supreme Court Brown v. Board of Education.

DeLaine, who represents South Carolina on a commission planning for the May 17, 2004, anniversary, said it is important to remind the people across the country about South Carolina's role in challenging school segregation.

"It's critical that we know where this started," he said. "We want to reach states that are not included in this."

To coordinate anniversary activities, Congress created the panel, which met in South Carolina on Wednesday as part of a five-stop tour of the locations where the lawsuits originated. They are planning a series of public lectures and writing contests about the Brown case next year.

Some panel members said they were concerned the information was not being distributed fairly or teachers were not aware of events.

DeLaine said materials about the events weren't getting to all schools in South Carolina.

The commission also toured historical sites in Clarendon County and met with plaintiffs and descendants of plaintiffs in the Briggs v. Elliott lawsuit, which was combined with four others from Virginia, Delaware, Kansas and Washington, D.C.

Carolyn Sawyer, who also represents South Carolina on the panel, said she is working with Gov. Mark Sanford to help observe the anniversary.

The project will look at education, economic status, civil justice, participation in public life and the status of family, said Fred Sheheen, project coordinator at the university's Institute of Public Service and Policy Research.

"Our ultimate goal is to provide our state's policy-makers with well documented research, statistical information and sound public policy recommendations that can improve the status of African-Americans in South Carolina during the next 50 years and beyond," Sheheen said.

Other events include an exhibition at the university museum focusing on the DeLaine family.