Julia Rendleman s Commonwealth
Joseph Rogers portraying James Apostle Fields at Point Comfort, Hampton, Va. August 2019 (Photo: Julia Rendleman for VCIJ) 1/10
400th year anniversary at Martin s Brandon Episcopal Church, Disputana, Va. May 2018. (Photo: Julia Rendleman for VCIJ) 2/10 3/10 4/10 5/10 6/10 7/10 8/10
Gabriel’s historical marker on the 220th anniversary of his execution, Richmond, Va. October, 2020. (Photo: Julia Rendleman for VCIJ) 9/10 10/10 This story was posted in partnership with the Virginia Center for Investigative Journalism
Since moving to Richmond in 2016, a good number of my news assignments have been about h
Black history in the United States is American history, so while February is Black History Month, think about it as a month that gives you an excuse and ample resources to dive deeper into American history.
Every year the ASALH chooses a theme. The theme for Black History Month 2021 is Black Family: Representation, Identity and Diversity. This explores the African diaspora and the spread of Black families throughout the United States from slavery to The Great Migration to present day.
With travelers looking for more local options within the United States, this creates a unique opportunity to support Black businesses and explore previously overlooked locales in the US that go beyond well-known Black-history rich destinations, such as D.C. or Atlanta.
Fence surrounds Lee statue ahead of potential removal
Katharine DeRosa,
News Editor
The Virginia Department of General Services erected a fence around Marcus-David Peters Circle on Monday in preparation for the removal of the Robert E. Lee statue.
The department stated the fencing is not intended to be permanent.
“As we await the resolution of legal challenges that have delayed the statue’s removal, DGS wants to be prepared to act quickly upon a final determination,” said Dena Potter, the department’s communications director, in an email.
The area was reclaimed this summer by protesters and became a space for demonstrations, charity and community activities such as basketball and art.
State Puts Up Fencing Around Richmond’s Lee Monument
The Robert E. Lee monument now stands behind fencing as state officials prepare to remove statue, though it s unclear when that may happen. (Photo: Crixell Matthews/VPM News)
State officials erected fencing around Richmond’s Robert E. Lee monument today, in preparation to remove the statue. The area now enclosed was dubbed Marcus-David Peters Circle by racial justice protesters this summer.
The traffic circle around Lee has been a site of protest since last summer, when thousands took to the streets of Richmond following the police killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis. The New York Times recently ranked the Lee statue, transformed by spray-painted messages, as the No. 1 piece of American protest art since World War II.
Fences going up around Lee Monument in Richmond
A fence was installed Monday around the Robert E. Lee Monument, on Monument Avenue in Richmond. The Department of General Services (DGS) today will install fencing around the Lee Monument grounds to ensure the safety of visitors and workers as part of DGSâs plan to prepare the site for the removal of the Lee statue, DGS spokesperson Dena Potter wrote in an email. As we await the resolution of legal challenges that have delayed the statueâs removal, DGS wants to be prepared to act quickly upon a final determination. The fencing is not intended to be permanent.