The story goes on the road
We titled the presentation "Waking Up Tomorrow: The Significance of Shockoe Bottom" and have presented it along with the 10 historic markers and historic maps of Richmond in two forms so far:
- Brown bag lunch talk with Ana Edwards, April 9 at Brown University's Center for the Study of Slavery and Justice, a 2 year old center that emerged from the university's decision to examine it's own origins, founded and funded by civic leaders who were also slave traders, built by enslaved laborers.
- Youth Peace Summit, Richmond Peace Education Center, Saturday, April 25, 2015, 2:00-3:30 pm - a workshop on the history of Richmond and Shockoe Bottom. The participants were all middle school aged students with high energy, curiosity, questions, comments. Ana Edwards and Phil Wilayto were co-presenters. Phil got enthusiastic applause - he's very good with young people - answering questions to explain why the history and the struggle are important issues today.
2015 Lemon Project Symposium, College of William & Mary, April 11. "Ghosts of Slavery: The Afterlives of Racial Bondage", April 10-11, 2015 | Williamsburg, VA. We did not present, but were able to include discussion of this history and struggle during two sessions. “Make the Ground Talk: An Update on the Search for the Community of Magruder” Brian Palmer & Erin Hollaway Palmer, University of Richmond & Documentary Film Producers who have attended Shockoe Bottom programs, presented on Black and White communities wiped out by Camp Peary during World War II. Brian's family lived in Magruder and the film begins with a photo of his grandfather and other relatives standing on the cemetery that is no longer accessible to family - another representative disappeared Virginia history.