A new exhibit titled ‘Un/Bound: Free Black Virginians, 1619-1865’ recently opened at the Virginia Museum of History & Culture in Richmond. The exhibit tells the in-depth stories of free Black people in Virginia, a history not widely covered in previous museums. The idea originated from a 2021 call by Timothy J. Sullivan and James Dyke for wider exploration of this history. The museum collaborated with experts and universities to develop the exhibit. It features personal, community, and family stories, including objects and documents from individuals and history organizations. The exhibit explains how enslaved people could become free and presents a circular timeline of history. Stories highlighted include Benjamin Short, who signed a bond with his name, Sarah Madden, a successful seamstress, Hezekiah Gaskins, a stonemason who bought his family, Matthew Ashby, who secured his family’s freedom in Williamsburg, and Mary Peake, who established a school for free and enslaved Black children in Hampton. The exhibit runs through July 2027, and a traveling version will tour the state from October 2028 through 2028.
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