Virginia Humanities

Virginia Humanities Awarded Grant from the National Trust for Historic Preservation

Virginia Humanities is one of more than twenty new grantees in the second-year cycle for the African American Cultural Heritage Action Fund.

Mapping Virginia’s Slave Dwellings

Preserving Black History with Street View

A few months back we told you about a short documentary coming out from Google Earth Outreach. The six-minute film highlights the work our Encyclopedia Virginia and African American Programs are doing to document slave dwellings across Virginia. Google released that film on June 19th in honor of Juneteenth, the day we celebrate the abolition […]

Engaging Young People in Dialogues About Racism

By Raennah Mitchell In 2019, millennials are projected to surpass baby boomers as the largest living generation in America. And with a new wave of teen and young adult activists taking to the streets and making headlines—protesting issues ranging from gun violence to racial bias in police practices—young people are making their voices heard in […]

Afro-Virginia Exhibition Premieres June 7 in Charlottesville

On Friday, June 7, from 5:30-7:30pm, Virginia Humanities African American Programs will premiere ‘Afro-Virginia: People, Place & Power’ during the First Fridays Art Opening at Studio IX Gallery & Listening Room

Banking on Freedom

Watch the livestream recorded June 2, 2019 at New Dominion Bookshop.

Hear Shennette Garrett-Scott, author of Banking on Freedom: Black Women in U.S. Finance Before the New Deal read from her book and take questions at New Dominion Bookshop in this public book talk from June 2, 2019. Between 1888 and 1930, African Americans opened more than a hundred banks and thousands of other financial institutions. Banking […]

A Conversation About Race

with Dr. Beverly Tatum - Recorded May 30, 2019

“A Conversation About Race with Dr. Beverly D. Tatum” is an Understanding Hampton Roads forum sponsored by the Hampton Roads Community Foundation in partnership with Virginia Humanities. This community event, held May 30, 2019 at the Chesapeake Conference Center in Chesapeake, Virginia, featured a discussion with Tatum, author of “Why Are All the Black Kids […]

Performing History: Sally Hemings in the Artist’s Imagination

In this panel, Victory Hall Opera presents African-American women artists and scholars, discussing what “Sally Hemings” means to them in their work and consciousness. How do the facts of history inform the artist’s creativity, and vice-versa? How can a figure about whom we know so little mean so much to so many, and why has […]

Beneath the Surface

Announcing a new partnership between the Hampton Roads Community Foundation and Virginia Humanities.

The new Beneath the Surface: Race and the History of Race in South Hampton Roads initiative focuses on Chesapeake, Norfolk, Portsmouth, Suffolk and Virginia Beach. The goal is to deepen awareness of the role race plays in issues confronting the region and to lay groundwork for positive transformation.

Soul Supper: Cora Harvey Armstrong

Our Virginia Folklife Program has partnered with The Front Porch to bring celebrated gospel singer and piano player Cora Harvey Armstrong to Charlottesville for a special performance as part of the Front Porch’s “Soul Supper” monthly concert series. This concert series, highlighting masters of American Roots Music, will feature a family style dinner at 5:30 pm and music at 7 pm. Dinner […]

The Long History of Racism and Police Violence in Chicago (and America)

Legendary Civil Rights lawyer Flint Taylor presents his recently published book, “THE TORTURE MACHINE: Racism and Police Violence in Chicago.” In addition to describing his work to uncover the use of torture in the Chicago Police Department, Taylor will discuss his involvement in other landmark civil rights cases, including the 1969 state-sponsored murder of Black […]

Teens Telling Stories of Hate & Prejudice

Share a Meal. Share Your Stories. Meet students from area schools Learn about teen bridge building projects Enjoy a catered meal Share your personal stories and listen to others Learn about peacebuilders This free event is part of Virginia Humanities’ Changing the Narrative project made possible by the W.K. Kellogg Foundation.

Liberation and Freedom Day

Liberation and Freedom Day, commemorating the ending of slavery in the City of Charlottesville and Albemarle County, will be celebrated in Charlottesville on Sunday, March 3, 2019 with observances held at the University of Virginia. Sunday’s events will begin at 3 p.m. at the Rotunda Dome Room with remarks by chaplains of the United Ministries […]