Slavery in the united states, through 1950. This was a period that witnessed both progress and backlash. Blackthe civil war virginians and americans embraced new opportunities. On one hand, black lives flourished under the new promises afforded by freedom in American Society. Black people suffer from backlash from the white establishment. At the same time that we see the incess, we also see regress the form of disenfranchisement and legal s segregation in the forms of American Society. We will look at a few stories that exemplify push and pull dynamic. The section starts with reconstruction and key legislative amendments that fundamentally shape the rights of black people in america. In 13th amendment, first 1865, which finally and definitively ended 246 years of slavery and america. Ratified in 18 68, which guaranteed Citizenship Rights to domer slaves and promised to process and protection under the law to all americans. Its an amendment regularly cited in legal cases today. Amendment,e 15th ratified in 1870, which gave black men the right to vote. White and black women would not gain the right to vote until 1920. With the right to vote and the access to political participation, we see black men embracing those opportunities and getting very involved and active. Of 100acob carter is one black men who served in virginias General Assembly from the end of the civil war through 1900. Of theone longestserving representatives from Northampton County in virginia. This flowering of black political activism. It was through assemblymen like Peter Jacob Carter and other that passedcians legislation creating a Public School system in virginia. And other measures like that. Or other objects we have related to peter jacobs story represent activism, the there is a photo here which lists the colored voters they described who are registered to vote in 1867. There is a broadside of a mass meeting of a democratic republican association, which andan alliance of black men white Union Supporters who were advocating to give black men the right to vote. Unfortunately, as i said, the white establishment was not happy with this newfound power. All the various measures and measures designed to disenfranchisement disenfranchise black men. Accommodating in a new state constitution that was passed in 1902. Thats the culmination of decades worth of measures trying to disenfranchise black voters and black political participation. The 1902 because a tuition was particularly effective at that effective at doing that. Since many virginians in this ,eriod could not afford that that tax was incredibly successful at disenfranchising voters. Eligible black voters were disenfranchised as a result of that new state constitution. Interestingly white voters were disenfranchised at shocking rates. By that new poll tax, which is part of the 1902 state constitution. Means by which the white political establishment reasserted its control, its sense of racial hierarchy. It was through the practice of segregation. Segregation became realized are landmark decision of 1896, which codified into law the notion of separate but equal. You could maintain racially separate facilities as long as they were equal. Legalized aically system of apartheid in america, whereby black people were separated, denied access to the same facilities as whites. And though plessy v dachshund v ferguson was supposed to allow separate but equal facilities, the facilities for black americans were rarely equal to those of white americans. An image showing a segregated bus when people think about the world of segregation they probably cant drop images such as this of black people, people of color being forced to sit in the back of the bus where as white people we could sit in the front. Black people were limited in going about their daytoday lives in where they could shop, where they could sit in a movie theater, which public facilities such as pools and libraries they could use. Even which doors they could enter. Many establishments had separate doors for white and colored people. And in the exhibition we recreated this physical andcture to remind people force our visitors to think about what choice they are going to make. This was a daily reality of life under segregation in the jim crow era. On the backside of this we see of this we have a display related to the green book. The green book was a travel guide published annually by victor greene, beginning in 1936. Way guidebook provided a for black travelers, during a period which terrorism and is becomingravel popular across america, the green book provided black travelers a way to find businesses and establishments such as hotels, restaurants and were friendly to black visitors, that would not discriminate under jim crow segregation. Which also allowed them to their economic power, which businesses they were going to support with their tourist dollars. And spencer, who was a renowned poet and Civil Rights Activist from lynchburg virginia, and and spencer was part of the flourishing of black culture expression beginning in the 1920s. A flourishing that called the new harlem renaissance. While that phrase come the harlem renaissance, acknowledges the geographical hub of this flowering of cultural expression was in new york citys vibrant black neighborhood of harlem, and spencer made lynchburg, virginia an important satellite of this new negro renaissance. Spencer was a poet. She first became known to other members of the new renaissance through meeting james weldon johnson. And spencer was involved in creating what was one of virginias first chapters of the naacp. She and judson became friends. Johnson read some of her poetry. Sent it back to his friends and the poetrypublishing in publication in the publication sister of the crisis. Through her poetry which is admired by her peers, and spencer became good friends with many important cultural, literary and intellectual features in the middecades of the 20th century. As i say her lynchburg home became an important satellite of this new renaissance. You name an important black and a likelyre stay at and spencers home. And spencer was an avid gardener. She would regularly host literary conversations about culture in her home and in her garden. Some of them included w. E. B. Dubois. We have a letter from him to and spencer. They first met in 1898 and became very close friends. This is a letter from w. E. B. Dubois, mentioning hes a visit hes going to be making in 1934, and asking her about her famous garden. Duboistwo boys was was a regular visitor. Even Martin Luther king visited her home. Blackay, many key intellectual and cultural figures of the day. And spencer. She was constantly writing, devoted to her craft. On anyld write verses available piece of paper. We call these h. E. R. Scribblings, we have several examples of her scribblings that she kept around her home. Even though and spencer anne spencer was constantly writing, she wasnt a poet who actively thought actively saw publication. She generally had to be prodded into sending her poems to a literary journal and a blur and other publications. Example from the lyrica magazine from the virginia published literary journal. Her works are included in all in major anthologies american and black poetry of the period. She was a Civil Rights Activist. Boston d taking the the bus in her bus in lynchburg. She would walk everywhere or try to hitch rides on farmers wagons and so forth, something that was considered inappropriate for a respectable lady in that day. Worked as a librarian for 20 years in lynchburgs segregated high school. Was through her activism she was able to obtain resources to find books, make books available to black students, the types of resources we otherwise would not have had without her advocacy for black educational development, particularly encouraging literary interests of her black students. Another key figure visitors will scounter in this section givens. Section is givings. Givings. Ii,he outset of world war in institutions like many across they wereates, to the mostted menial tasks and they were denied leadership opportunities. As black activists started fighting against those kinds of restrictions, started demanding new opportunities in the u. S. Army, whiche u. S. At the time controlled the air force, agreed to create the Tuskegee Program to train black pilots to fly. Is one of nearly 1000 pilots who earned his wings through that Tuskegee Airmen program. World war ii really crystallized many of the contradictions of American Society for black americans during that period. Black men and women entrysked to serve their to fight totalitarian regimes such as nazis abroad, yet at the same time they were being oppressed. World war ii spurred black activism, particularly in the form of what was called the duck the double victory campaign, where black americans and their allies were fighting for two victories. Victory abroad and also victory at home, victory against jim crow segregation. The tuskegee pilots were important pioneers in starting to change Public Attitudes about not only the accomplishments of black servicemen and women. They facedequities in American Society. Made theu givings ultimate sacrifice. He was killed while flying his plane over the coast of italy in 1944 during his world war ii service. We have his Tuskegee Airmen patch, showing the crest of the Tuskegee Airmen, which is a black panther spitting out flames, as their motto says, spitfire. We had this poignant document, which is a Western Union telegram sent to his family, notifying them of his death in 1944. We have other items that belong airmen, including a flight helmet with goggles. Also a bomber jacket. Whats really charming about this jacket is you see his personalized patch, which shows bugs bunny reclining on a missile with the phrase whats up doc, so the suggestion is that this was going to be dropped on the germans are one of americas other enemies with bugs bunny sending it along its way, and that is marked with thomas when borns name ssmas when born thoma name. They are representative of the service and sacrifices, that black servicemen and women have made in all american wars going back to the american revolution. And also the Tuskegee Airmen starts to shift Public Opinion about the abilities, accomplishments and skill. We are now in the final chronological gallery of determined. Section explores black history from 1950, the beginning of the modern Civil Rights Movements up through the present day. Backa period that looks looks at not only the phenomenal progress that American Society has made towards racial equality as a result of the Civil Rights Movement and some of the key theslation that was made in 1960s. In all avenues of modern life once the various barriers have been broken down. Moment where they made progress on the past. The section opens up with the modern Civil Rights Movement. Represented by two characters who represent two key elements of what was abroad multifaceted fight for civil rights in the 50s and 60s. The first character is Barbara Johns powell, who as a High School Student named Barbara Johns led a strike of students in 1950 in her segregated high school in farmville virginia. Protest against inadequate conditions of her high school. Allowed for the maintenance of several facilities. Hadgenerally black students much poorer facilities than their white counterparts. Barbara johns got sick of that. Protest thatdent ultimately linked her schools ofe to the larger case wasol desegregation, which a landmark u. S. Supreme Court Decision in 1954. It basically overturned that earlier decision of plessy v theuson and mandated integration of black and white schools. It is a decision that recognized was inherently unequal. The it wasnt kind of a one and done. Virginia and many other started many other Southern States that were deeply resistant to Public Schools let a campaign of masto of massive resistance to try to resist that federal mandate to integrate schools. Including the closure of schools in some counties of virginia. Theres a photograph showing students protesting the fact that they had to lose four years of schools because the schools were closed rather than being integrated. The story of the fight for School Desegregation underscores asset ofone important the Civil Rights Movement, and that is to fight for legal dismantling of jim crow laws. Virginia was a major battleground in that legal fight. Andnaacp, which often led pioneered these legal cases filed more lawsuits in virginia over the issue School Desegregation more than any other state in the country. One of those naacp lawyers was oliver hill. Which is aocument, Financial Accounting of his law firm. Related to the brown v. Board of education fight. Another key strain of the civil is the movement to change Public Opinions. Rightsadvocate for civil broadly across society rather than trying to dismantle segregation on a gradual basis through the courts. Represented bys dr. Walker, who is not well known, who is a key leading figure of the Civil Rights Movement of the early 1960s. He began his Civil Rights Activism in virginia. Walker, he organized a range of nonviolent protests of nonviolent segregation. He led marches against segregated swimming pools. He led a demonstration and a public library, and other kinds of organizing activities to protest segregation. He and some other civil rights , he went to the whites only section of the Petersburg Public Library in 1951. And he tried to check out the biography of the confederate general robert e lee. It shows an amazing amount of cheek and wet. And for trying to use the whites only section of the library, Wyatt T Walker had the police called. His first of 17 arrests over the course of his career as a Civil Rights Activists. Haves one of the items we on view in the exhibition. Very closeker became friends with dr. Martin luther king jr. They first met at an interseminary conference in the early 1950s. Walker became kings righthand man. They found the christian southern leadership conference. And organize many of them nonviolent mass protest activities that mark the Civil Rights Movements of the 1960s. Martin luther king referred to walker as the cleanest mind. Including the birmingham and the march63 on washington. We have an early letter from Martin Luther king to white t walker. In march against segregated schools that walker was organizing here in richmond. Its signed mike. Only dr. Martin luther kings closest friends referred to him as mike. Thats a powerful indication of how close their friendship was. Humble looking but its a powerful artifact, this aluminum cup. This belonged to teresa walker, who is a fellow Civil Rights Activist. Ofs is an important reminder the role women played in Civil Rights Movement. Teresa wyatt got this cup when she was imprisoned in jackson in june 1960 one, after taking one of the freedom rides. Those were the rides organized by Civil Rights Activists, both white and black activists, who wanted to test southern compliance with federal mandates against segregated busing and interstate bus travel. Groups of freedom writers would take long bus journeys into the deep south to see if they would be allowed regardless of race to go into the same waiting rooms and so forth, even though federal law mandated that. The freedom writers were generally met by violence, intimidation and often imprisonment. Arrested. Ker was this is a cup she used during her imprisonment. Items related to protest activities, which came from the richmond branch. The manysite of one of students sit ins that were held thend the country in 1960s, protesting segregated lunch service. These are the kinds of protests that were designed to underscore of segregation, to underscore the daily humiliation of black people human relations black people faced. These activities were intended as newse Public Opinion outlets across the country and across the world were covering things like student citizens, covering peaceful protest marches that were met by police wielding highpowered fire hoses. Those are images that shocked a nation and forced a reckoning of the status quo of segregation in america. We have several documents published by various civil Rights Groups such as the naacp. Promoting these various forms of nonviolent activism. Many of these Civil Rights Activities, even though they involve many different groups and networks of activists at local state and national levels, many of these activities culminated in the 1960s in key legislative actions that broke legalizedystem of segregation and guaranteed equal rights to americans regardless of race. Not of these also extended only to race. And a couple of these key legislative moments we outline in the exhibition, including the Civil Rights Act of 1964. The Voting Rights act of 1965, which broke down and banished the use of poll taxes, understanding classes and so forth. Effective in disenfranchising black voters. Also the Fair Housing Act of 1968, which banned discrimination. Throughout the rest of the exhibition from this post 1960s period, you see how the Civil Rights Movement really paved the way for black people to break the color line in all arenas of American Life. Showcaseigures that the remarkable accomplishments and contributions to black people have made in the sciences and the cultural field and professional athletics. Represents one of those figures who broke the color line in mens professional tennis. Tennis player is also a great champion of human rights throughout the world. A couple of the items related to balls. Lude tennis for arthur ashe, a richmond native, who grew up being banned from certain segregated courts and tennis to make it to the International Sports arena and also to be selected as a representative for the u. S. Team on the davis cup was incredibly significant to him. Another figure that showcases the Great Strides black virginians have made in various arenas of American Life is doug wilder, who represents Many Political firsts for a black virginian over the course of his long political career. Doug wilder made many firsts, including when he won a seat of virginias state assembly in 1969, becoming the first black politician to do so since the 19th century. A remarkable achievement given how effectively black people had been disenfranchised in virginia for much of the 20th century. Becoming one of the first black elected governors by any u. S. When wilder won virginias gubernatorial race. He entered many of these political victories through building a Wide Coalition across racial lines. Be judged by his achievements, by his positions, not by the color of his skin. It was that kind of Coalition Building that served as a model for other politicians, including president barack obama. In his president ial victory, in 2008 and 2012. That was the moment when virginia, after decades of voting for republican president ial candidates turned from red to blue voted for a democratic candidate. After looking at these various fears of achievement, the exhibition brings us up to the present day. And explores recent issues for activism around racial problems in this country. The rise of white supremacism. And new forms of black activism. Activism is designed to confront lingering problems. Around race, around systemic racism. Disparityeconomic between white people and people of color. Our goals for the determined exhibition is to not only showcase the remarkable stories from across 400 years. Deeper give visitors a appreciation for the determination, the persistence, the resilience of black people that have fought for equality across these 400 years. We hope visitors walk away inspired by the stories they have encountered. Ofre is a lot of pain, a lot horror in our nations history. Some of the figures featured in the exhibition, i hope, motivate and inspire visitors with their stories of sometime success, sometimes failure, but also their willingness to fight very unfavorable odds. Byave also i also hope exploring the legacy of 1619, which is the beginning of slavery in british north america and tracing it across over two centuries of slavery through emancipation, segregation, victories of the Civil Rights Movement. Visitors gain a deeper appreciation for the roots of some of our presentday they are inspired to make changes for the future. This is the second of a twopart tour of the Virginia Museum of history and cultures exhibit on 400 years of africanAmerican History. You can watch part one and other American History tv programs on cspan. Org history. Tonight, theoretical physicist, author of the future of humanity, talks about our intiny beyond earth achieving digital immortality. Digital immortality takes everything known about you on the internet. Your digital footprint, your credit card records, what countries you want to visit. Your videos, your pictures, your audiotapes, and creates a profile that is digitized and will last forever. When you go through the library of the future, you will not take out a book on winston churchill, you will talk to winston churchill. Q a. Night on cspans bux you can watch archival fills on Public Affairs each week. Saturday at 10 p. M. And sunday at 4 p. M. Eastern on American History tv. Heres a look at one of our recent programs. A west african born woman who very sadly was kidnapped in 1860. As far as i could tell she was and possibly was 12 years old when she was taken. In the film, which we are about to see just a brief ismpse of her, her name sally smith. Can you explain . By mn calledught washington smith in selma, and he gave her his name. Appeared sally is the menu to come it is a name you give to a child. What was the car tilde . It was the last slave ship to reach the u. S. In the 1860s. Just less than two months ago. Many of the survivors from their originally lived there. The sentence to live there to this day. Why is it important for our audience to understand who she was . I guess i was doing a project on hearst, and i guess i learned just how therele is almost no firsthand accounts. Just happened to find. Er name, i know she exists when i happened upon her name, i knew i had to try and find anything about her. We never imagine what it was like. Ands important to reflect hear the voices to ensure it. Agricultural extension workers have labor to eradicate these evils. The demonstration work founded grown into a nationwide extension service. There are over 175 home demonstration agents now working for better farming and Better Living among southern knee grows. Long past orth 110th year when she died in 1937, lived to see the hardluck endured by her generation and children in this campaign to help knee grows to help to help negros help themselves. You can watch archival films and Public Affairs in their entirety on railamerica. Sunday at 4 p. M. Eastern. Here in American History tv. Monday night on the communicators, cnbcs cybersecurity reporter cadences he knee on her report kingdom of lies about the world of cybercrime. If we want to understand why all of these things are , whether theus exploitation of the algorithms that run twitter and facebook, in order to help the Russian Intelligence Agency influence an election, or the ransomware that has now taken down big cities like baltimore and atlanta. You have to understand the people behind these things. While the civil war was fought within the united states, the conflict had a global impact. Historians talk about the International Affairs of the federal government and the thisacy, as well as discussion was part of a conference hosted by gettysburg colleges civil war institute. Welcome to the second roundtable. I teach civil war in early republic at ohio university. Be asking is going to us to step up
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