The Virginia town’s first Black Family Reunion sought photos and artifacts to expand the library’s collections and fill in the gaps of local African American history.
Alexandria is famous for the conspicuous display of its history. Tourists marvel at the colonial homes in Old Town, and some residents still worship in the church once attended by George Washington and Robert E. Lee.It was less than 30 years ago that state and local officials recognized that a gas station had been built over a large burial site for Black Americans fleeing from enslavement during the Civil War.
The library’s special collections division is a trove of arcana on the history of Alexandria and Virginia, with blueprints, manuscript collections and more than 50,000 photographs. After consulting with a former library board member, Dawson launched an initiative to expand those collections with an appeal to the city’s residents and their descendants for images and documents telling the story of the Black community.“We are known as a historic town.
The location itself — in front of the Kate Waller Barrett branch library — was symbolic of Alexandria’s uneasy stance toward local Black history. In 1939 the library was the site of one of the country’s to protest segregation. For decades afterward, it was avoided by many Black residents. Some of the older donors of photographs and documents came to the building for the first time in recent weeks.“Some of them didn’t know their way here,” said Bah, adding that she entreated them to participate despite their mistrust. “I basically told them, ‘It’s time.’”
Among those who showed up Saturday was Beatrice Cross Taylor, 87, a lifelong Alexandria resident who said she is descended from some of those buried in the long-neglected
France Dernières Nouvelles, France Actualités
Similar News:Vous pouvez également lire des articles d'actualité similaires à celui-ci que nous avons collectés auprès d'autres sources d'information.
More Black physicians could improve life expectancy of Black patients: ResearchersBlack people make up 13% of the U.S. population, but Black doctors are not equally represented.
Lire la suite »
BLM activist ruined white University of Virginia student’s rep over ‘misheard’ remark: reportUVA student Zyahna Bryant, then 19, was already a high-profile activist when she encountered fellow student Morgan Bettinger at the July 2020 protest.
Lire la suite »
Virginia man kills wife, brother-in-law, in murder-suicide: PoliceA Virginia man allegedly killed his wife and brother-in-law before killing himself in a murder-suicide, the Fairfax County Police said.
Lire la suite »
Why One Virginia Auction House Keeps Getting Rare ItemsThe Potomack Company is behind a slew of interesting sales.
Lire la suite »
Virginia woman arrested for allegedly abducting 3-year-old at mall: policeVirginia woman Jane Pyo was charged with abduction and trespassing after allegedly taking a 3-year-old's hand and taking them inside Tyson Corner Center. Officers recovered the child.
Lire la suite »