‘Richmond is Black history’: Museum shares Virginia’s Black history
This building wasn't always a museum. In 1892, the Leigh Street Armory was constructed for the only Black militia in Virginia. Photo by Maggie Root.
Bri Stevens, Contributing Writer
A 19th-century red-brick building topped with parapets occupies a prominent spot on Leigh Street in Jackson Ward. It used to be an armory — home to a Black militia unit — but now it is home to the Black History Museum and Cultural Center of Virginia, according to its website.
The museum features exhibitions that preserve artifacts and exhibit Black artists’ work. One such exhibition, “Stolen Lives, Dreamed Lives,” by Sandrine Plante consists of nine human sculptures, whose faces she dreamed about and created without a reference. It depicts the history of slavery, lynchings, exodus and freedom, according to the museum’s website.
The second new exhibition, “Visions of Progress,” is a collection of vintage photographs that depict the unique perspective of African Americans in 20th-century Virginia.
Henry Quintana-Branch, operations manager for the BHMVA, said Richmond has an important role in Black history.
The museum primarily focuses on education, specifically educating the youth and the community about Black history in Virginia, according to Quintana-Branch.
“Richmond is Black history, so it has a very prominent place in our museum because we feature a lot of Richmond within our exhibitions,” Quintana-Branch said.
Mary Lauderdale, the curator of the BHMVA, said many stories remain unspoken, and the museum aims to remedy this.
“We are presenting history, the untold stories of Africans in the Americas,” Lauderdale said.
Lauderdale said many historical events caused Richmond to be “part of the fiber of American history,” such as the nation’s first African American female bank president being from Richmond.
“Richmond definitely has a special place in Virginian and American history,” Lauderdale said.
Brenda Alford, a museum guest, said she feels intrigued by the new exhibitions and believes African American history should be exhibited, especially in Richmond.
“Richmond has a very rich history with African Americans,” Alford said. “Being the capital of the state, we should be very mindful of our history and be able to display it properly.”
Carol Ashton, a museum guest, said it is vital to display history that has not been told sufficiently by history books.
Nancy Priddy, a museum guest, said the museum is important to her because it provides an invaluable education about the lives of Black Virginians and preserves the wonderful armory.
Seth Marshall, a first-year electrical engineering student at VCU, appreciated discovering more about Black culture at the museum.
“I loved it and it was very interesting,” Marshall said. “It’s very nice to see all aspects of culture, especially my culture.”
Jaden Harris, a first-year biology student at VCU, said the Black History Museum brings clarity to stories he has been told.
“Being in a place just centering around the experience of my ancestors — it helps me understand some stories I’ve been told and makes me feel a little more whole,” Harris said.
Daniel Walker, a third-year biology student at VCU, said the museum serves as a reminder of the past and how much society has changed.
“The Black History Museum is a good reminder of what used to happen,” Walker said. “You can see the change from those times compared to now — how far we’ve come as a society.”
