Browse Items (53 total)

The granddaughter of an illegally enslaved Indian woman, Rachel Findlay successfully sued for her freedom and ensured the freedom of many of her descendants.

Wythe County

Appalled by the violence of slavery and its effect on society, Mary Minor Blackford became a vocal anti-slavery supporter.

Fredericksburg

Attorney and civil rights activist Clarence M. Dunnaville Jr. advocates equal justice and equal opportunities for all Americans.

Roanoke

As a teenager, Edwilda Allen Isaac helped lead a walkout of students from R. R. Moton High School that contributed to ending school segregation in the United States.

Farmville

Charles Spurgeon Johnson battled racism early in the twentieth century as a preeminent sociologist, author, educator, and college president.

Bristol

Community activist Martha Rollins fights racism, recidivism, and prejudice by bringing Richmond communities together across racial, social, and economic barriers.

Richmond

Artist Nora Houston was a tireless advocate for woman suffrage and social reform.

Richmond

The first woman to direct the Virginia AFL-CIO, Doris Crouse-Mays is dedicated to improving the lives of workers in the state.

Wythe County

A schoolteacher and military veteran, Calvin C. Green filed a lawsuit in 1965 to compel New Kent County to desegregate its public schools.

New Kent County

Educator, activist, and basketball pioneer Edwin B. Henderson dedicated his life to serving the African-American community through sports in education and fighting racial discrimination.

Fairfax County