A new series from Virginia Humanities’ Encyclopedia Virginia examines the federal roots of urban renewal policies and their impact on five locations across the Commonwealth: Charlottesville, Richmond, Norfolk, Northern Virginia, and Roanoke.
The series, published on September 16, takes a deep dive into the racist policies and practices that set the stage for the widespread destruction of lower-income Black neighborhoods in the name of redevelopment and the lingering effects of urban renewal in these communities.
The series was developed under the direction of Johnny Finn, an associate professor of geography and Chair of the Department of Sociology, Social Work, and Anthropology at Christopher Newport University.
This history isn't just in the past.
Peter Hedlund, director of Encyclopedia Virginia
In addition to Finn, who also authored the entries on Urban Renewal in Virginia and Urban Renewal in Norfolk, contributors include:
- Urban Renewal in Charlottesville: Jordy Yager, Director of Digital Humanities, Jefferson School African American Heritage Center
- Urban Renewal in Northern Virginia: Hilary Malson, Doctoral student in Urban Planning at the University of California, Los Angeles
- Urban Renewal in Richmond: LaToya Gray-Sparks, Community Outreach Coordinator, Virginia Department of Historic Resources
- Urban Renewal in Roanoke: Mary Bishop, former reporter for the Philadelphia Inquirer and Roanoke Times & World News, and author of Don't You Ever: My Mother and Her Secret Son
Peter Hedlund, director of Encyclopedia Virginia, said that the editorial staff’s interest in covering urban renewal began after Virginia Humanities moved its headquarters to Charlottesville’s Dairy Central, located in a historically Black neighborhood. “This history isn’t just in the past,” Hedlund said. “The shameful legacy of urban renewal continues to negatively impact our communities. Virginia Humanities’ move to the 10th and Page neighborhood compelled us to make sure the story of urban renewal was included in EV. We are so grateful to the fantastic scholars that shared their perspectives and expertise.”
The project also includes a geospatial map—the first for EV—that illustrates the widespread effects of urban renewal on Black communities in Virginia. Read the series at EncyclopediaVirginia.org.
About Virginia Humanities
Virginia Humanities is the state humanities council. We’re headquartered in Charlottesville at the University of Virginia, but we serve the entire state. We aim to share the stories of all Virginians—or, better yet, find ways for people to share their own stories. We want Virginians to connect with their history and culture and, in doing that, we hope we’ll all get to know each other a little better. Founded in 1974, we are one of fifty-six humanities councils created by Congress with money and support from the National Endowment for the Humanities to make the humanities available to all Americans. To learn more, visit VirginiaHumanities.org.
Virginia Humanities is the state humanities council. We’re headquartered in Charlottesville at the University of Virginia, but we serve the entire state. We aim to share the stories of all Virginians—or, better yet, find ways for people to share their own stories. We want Virginians to connect with their history and culture and, in doing that, we hope we’ll all get to know each other a little better. Founded in 1974, we are one of fifty-six humanities councils created by Congress with money and support from the National Endowment for the Humanities to make the humanities available to all Americans. To learn more, visit VirginiaHumanities.org.