Truth Be Told: Virginia

What happens when love tells you to leave? From Pittsburgh to Norfolk, guided by an elder's wisdom, an HBCU that chose her, and a city that helped raise her into who she is today, Charlette found her home.

heardofem.com

elizabethrivertrail.org

nps.gov/locations/chesapeakebaywatershed/grants.htm

virginiahumanities.org

Gathering has been a cornerstone of Ernest and Marva Davis’s life. And one of his favorite haunts was the famous Plaza Hotel, a prime stop on the Chitlin Circuit. 

heardofem.com

elizabethrivertrail.org

nps.gov/locations/chesapeakebaywatershed/grants.htm

virginiahumanities.org

On the south side of Norfolk, across the river from downtown, there’s a very small and very Black community called Berkley, where the summer heat gave way to dipping in the Elizabeth River or, depending on the decade, cannonballing into the community pool. But when big business eats the shoreline and concrete covers the last pool, where does a neighborhood find joy?

heardofem.com

elizabethrivertrail.org

nps.gov/locations/chesapeakebaywatershed/grants.htm

virginiahumanities.org

Hugely influenced by his grandparents (contemporaries of MLK), and his mother, Dr. Kimble follows in their footsteps accidentally and on purpose. The roots of his ancestor’s influence show up in his garden, his parenting, and the impact he is quietly having on his community.

heardofem.com

elizabethrivertrail.org

nps.gov/locations/chesapeakebaywatershed/grants.htm

virginiahumanities.org

Adrena Foy built a world-class Double Dutch team from scratch. Whatever impossible moves she dreamed up for her team, they could achieve. The sky was the limit…until the funding was cut. 

Mrs. Foy coached alongside Juanita Etheridge, Pam Gadson, Kathy Deloach, Tina Gordan, and Mrs. Bertoma Deloach.

https://www.kennedy-center.org/education/resources-for-educators/classroom-resources/media-and-interactives/media/hip-hop/double-dutch-jump-in/

elizabethrivertrail.org

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yr5ZOreHLjs

heardofem.com

nps.gov/locations/chesapeakebaywatershed/grants.htm

virginiahumanities.org

While you wait on more episodes of  Truth Be Told: Virginia, we're sharing a special feed drop from We Are North Nashville--a series that preserves the history of a community disrupted when interstate highways were built directly through it. This is the first episode, and we think you'll love it. 

The Rev. Dr. Margreat Smithson has dedicated her life to helping others. That instinct comes from the way she was raised by her village. In the North Nashville of her childhood, there were "neighborhood moms" like hers, who looked out for others. Rev. Smithson is one of the nine elders you'll meet in this podcast who remember this North Nashville — the one that existed before change came, in many forms, and disrupted the community.

Listen to the entire series wherever you get your podcasts. And follow the show on Instagram at @wearenorthnashville.

Hosted by M. Simone Boyd and Andrea Tudhope
Produced, mixed and edited by Andrea Tudhope
Original music by S-Wrap
Additional production by Steve Haruch

Introducing Truth Be Told: Virginia, stories from the Elizabeth River Trail. Join us...

To mark spaces that are unmarked.

To share stories that walk history forward.

To build a common language cross-racially.

To strengthen our understanding of community through site-specific short stories. These aren’t just Norfolk stories; they are American patterns that take place where it all got started.

Do Re Mi Fa SOOOOOO far from where she thought she was headed, but exactly where she is meant to be. Denise's voice takes on the highs and lows of charting an unconventional path. 

*Denise was shaped by Dr. Carl W. Haywood and Mr. Terry Butler of the NSU Choirs and her voice teachers, Dr. Patricia Saunders Nixon and Mrs Gloria Amos. We honor their contributions to Denise and so many other students' pursuit of making sweet, sweet sounds.  

https://www.opera4us.com/

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sissieretta_Jones

https://afrovoices.com/sissieretta-jones-biography/

https://elizabethrivertrail.org/

https://www.nps.gov/locations/chesapeakebaywatershed/index.htm

https://virginiahumanities.org/

The hottest event in town, Afr’Am Fest, lit up Norfolk for decades, celebrating Black joy, family, and culture. Donna Smith takes us back to the final moments of the festival--and how she fought fire with fire (extinguishers)! 

Afr'Am Fest Program Directors: Richard Love, Mark Madison, Vivian Brown

https://www.pilotonline.com/2008/05/31/norfolk-re-examining-afram-fest-after-residents-complaints/

https://www.pilotonline.com/2010/09/01/afram-festival-organizer-closes-puts-event-in-limbo/

https://elizabethrivertrail.org/

https://www.nps.gov/locations/chesapeakebaywatershed/index.htm

https://virginiahumanities.org/

Eric Jackson, a military kid, moved to the 757 in pursuit of spinning records, but it was the turn of two wheels that helped him realize Norfolk was home. 

https://elizabethrivertrail.org/

https://www.nps.gov/locations/chesapeakebaywatershed/index.htm

https://virginiahumanities.org/