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In 1806, the General Assembly placed restrictions on emancipation and required that once an enslaved Virginian was freed, he or she had to leave the state within one year. Those who remained in Virginia more than a year could be sold back into…

In 1806, the General Assembly placed restrictions on emancipation and required that once an enslaved Virginian was freed, he or she was required to leave the state within one year's time or Those who remained in the Commonwealth more than a year…

In 1806, the General Assembly placed restrictions on emancipation and required that once an enslaved Virginian was freed, he or she was required to leave the state within one year's time or Those who remained in the Commonwealth more than a year…

James (Armistead) Lafeyette was born into enslavement around 1760. He lived most of his life on a plantation owned by William Armistead in New Kent County. In documents related to James Lafayette, he does not sign his name nor is he identified as…

Richmond's former city hall building, known as Old City Hall, is located on Broad Steet with one side facing Capitol Square and another facing the current city hall building. The building stands out as a remnant of the Gothic Revival style popular…

John Mitchell Jr., was the determined and pioneering force behind the success of the Richmond Planet newspaper. Mitchell was born into slavery at Laburnum near Richmond on July 11, 1863. He was the son of John Mitchell and Rebecca Mitchell, who were…

The Richmond Planet was first published in 1882, seventeen years after the end of the Civil War. The thirteen founders (including James H. Hayes, James H. Johnston, E.R. Carter, Walter Fitzhugh, Henry Hucles, Albert V. Norrell, Benjamin A. Graves,…

John Murray, fourth earl of Dunmore, was the last royal governor of Virginia. Briefly governor of New York in 1770–1771, he assumed a new role as governor of Virginia in 1771. He won the support of Virginians during the conflict known as Lord…

On February 1, 1960 the “Greensboro Four” sat down at the Woolworth’s lunch counter in Greensboro, North Carolina. By February 5th, hundreds of students had joined the movement to integrate the lunch counters. By the end of March, the movement had…

Before the end of slavery, free Black Virginians found their liberty in constant jeopardy because they were not considered citizens. After Gabriel's attempted slave rebellion in 1800, the General Assembly passed an act in 1801 requiring county…