The Local Black Histories Project
Photo courtesy: Albert W. Durant Collection, Visual Resources, John D. Rockefeller Jr. Library, The Colonial Williamsburg Foundation, "Sunday School Class, Little Zion Baptist Church"
Williamsburg, Virginia holds a powerful place in U.S. history. As the colonial capitol of Virginia on the eve of the American Revolution, Williamsburg brands itself as the “birthplace of the nation” and the “cradle of American democracy." Yet, Black histories of the greater Williamsburg area have often been neglected or narrated by those who did not live these histories. The Local Black Histories Project centers the role of the descendant Black community in producing knowledge about these histories.
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What is The Local Black Histories Project?
The Local Black Histories Project was launched by The Village Initiative, a grassroots organization that advocates for equity and racial justice in the Williamsburg-James City County Public Schools. The project began as a grassroots effort to shed light on the history of educational integration, including an Oral History Collection Event generously hosted by the Union Baptist Church and the Integration: Then and Now Public Forum, which invited community members to reflect on the complicated legacies of school integration. The Village Initiative then forged a partnership with William & Mary to amplify this important work.
Listen to founder and director of The Village Initiative, Jacqueline Bridgeforth Williams, and the Descendant Advisory Board explain the importance of the project:
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Mrs. Janice Canaday on the importance of The Local Black Histories Project
Our children and future generations need to know their "Truth." They need to know who they descend from. Our stories of our local community members and leaders provide a powerful foundation for our children to build upon. It helps to ground them and keep them centered and focused. It provides strength when they don't feel strong enough. It helps them to know, by reading and hearing about how others overcame struggles, challenges, and obstacles, that they can do the same, and challenges don't mean failure.
The stories are empowering. The stories tell how they created and participated and did not let others create limits for them. It informs how we gave to this nation before we ever took. It tells of how we impacted every discipline from industry, agriculture, science, math, astronomy, medicine, foodways, music, the military, and so much more.
We are storytellers, we have always been the keepers of our history. We are great "Curators" of our Culture. We endure and always believed more in the light within us than the darkness around us. We remained faithful, compassionate, and spirit led. By sharing these stories and this history, others will have to hear how we have contributed with everything we had to the building of this nation.
There is not a tree standing that is not supported by its roots. Our children can feel great pride, self-esteem, self-worth and power from this history and these stories are "Our Roots."
If you missed our launch event, featuring a tribute to local churches and music by the Rejoicing Singers, watch it here!