Williamsburg area commemorates Black History Month
The Historic Triangle is recognizing Black History Month throughout February with performances, exhibitions and special events.
One commemoration involves a tour through a James City County park that was home to one of the nation’s earliest free Black settlements in America in the 1800s.
Freedom: The Hands that Built History Tour will be held Feb. 11 at Freedom Park, where visitors can join storyteller Dylan Pritchett on a guided tour of the settlement.
In between Pritchett’s stories, the tour will also feature historical interpreters and craftsmen. Laurie Williams, the program coordinator with James City County Parks and Recreation, said the tour honors the skills, talents and struggles of the pre-Civil War free Black community.
The event will highlight how the community has “helped contribute to the history of James City County, Virginia and our nation,” Williams said.
Similar events have been held at Freedom Park in past years, including several Freedom stories events, typically been held around Juneteenth.
“It was more of a festival. And we would have professional storytelling by Dylan Pritchett, arts and crafts, activities for kids, and we’d have some really delicious catered soul food for sale,” Williams said. “Along with that event, one of our own Freedom Park interpreters would usually explain the history of the free Black settlement and highlight the site and the dwellings which are housed right there at Freedom Park.”
This event is less of a festival and more of a historical tour, Williams said. There are three historically-accurate recreated cabins located in the park, which are furnished with items authentic to the period.
“The difference also is that we’ve added some craftsmen and historical interpreters that’ll be housed at each dwelling,” Williams said. “The artisans and interpreters are going to add context to the skills and the knowledge that was necessary just to do the day-to-day maintenance of early American buildings and dwellings — a lot like those dwellings that are reconstructed at Freedom Park — all while enjoying hot cider or hot chocolate while you’re doing it.”
The event will feature woodworkers and other interpreters selling mancala gameboards, leather bags and other wood trinkets. Items can only be purchased with cash or check only, Williams said.
The guided tour is $5 per person and will begin at the Freedom Park Interpretive Center every hour from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Tour times are 10-10:30 a.m., 11-11:30 a.m., 12-12:30 p.m. and 1-1:30 p.m. Children 3 and under get in free. The park is located at 5537 Centerville Road.
Registration can be done online at jamescitycountyva.gov/CivicAlerts.aspx?AID=5499 or by calling 757-259-4200. For more information, call 757-259-5353 or email parks.rec@jamescitycountyva.gov.
Other notable events for Black History Month include:
Colonial Williamsburg
“Loquacious Lucy, Queen for a Day,” Feb. 4, 11 and 25 from 10:30–11 a.m. at the Hennage Auditorium located in the Art Museums of Colonial Williamsburg. The play is a 30-minute, family-friendly play about a parent who instills in their young enslaved daughter the pride of her African ancestors while also guiding her through the realities of slavery. Art Museums admission is required.
“‘I made this…': The Work of Black American Artists and Artisans” is an exhibition of work made exclusively by Black artists from the 18th to the 20th centuries. The exhibit opened in October 2022 and includes nearly 30 examples of paintings, furniture, textiles, decorative sculptures, quilts, ceramics, tools, metals and more. Special guided tours will be offered throughout the month on Tuesdays from 11:30 a.m.–noon. Free reservations are required and can be booked by visiting a ticket office or calling 888-965-7254. Art Museums admission is required.
On Feb. 10, beginning at 8:30 a.m., the 18th century building that originally housed the Williamsburg Bray School will move from its current location on the campus of William & Mary to Colonial Williamsburg’s Historic Area. The building, believed to be the oldest building dedicated to the education of Black children still in existence in the United States, will become a key component of CW’s public history programming. Following the move, a program will be held at the corner of Nassau and Francis streets at 2 p.m. Both events are free and open to the public.
A full list of Colonial Williamsburg programming and special events offered in February can be found at colonialwilliamsburg.org/bhm.
Jamestown
On Wednesday, there will be a performance at 6:30 p.m. by Williamsburg Symphony Orchestra soloists Xavier Foley and Eunice Kim with music director Michael Butterman at Jamestown Settlement. The evening program in the From Africa to Virginia gallery will feature Foley on bass and Kim on violin. The performance will be followed by a conversation centered on Foley’s original composition “For Justice and Peace,” which will be performed Thursday with the Williamsburg Symphony Orchestra. The program is free to the public with advance registration required, limited to 60 people. www.jyfmuseums.org/events/programs-activities/williamsburg-symphony.
On Saturday, actor James Cameron will portray John Rollison, a free man of color who owned property in York County during the American Revolution. The 3 p.m. program will include Rollison’s 21st century descendant Helen Casey-Rutland. Together, they will explore what it’s like to come face-to-face with an ancestor through living-history character portrayal. Admission to the free public lecture is limited and advance registration recommended at www.jyfmuseums.org/events/programs-activities/lectures.
On Feb. 25, “After Angelo” will honor one of the first African women mentioned by name in the historical record at Jamestown. The noon-5 p.m. program will include dance, art, storytelling, conversation and a performance by Akeylah Simone, a singer, songwriter and recording artist from Hampton Roads. The event will be in the Robins Foundation Theater and is included with museum admission. For more information, visit www.jyfmuseums.org/events/programs-activities/after-angelo.
Dominic Catacora, dominic.catacora@virginiamedia.com, 757-798-9833
