July 2009 www.hamptonroadsmessenger.com
The Hampton Roads Messenger
11
she saw him again and he apologized Norfolk 17 and an education pioneer told the story of how she was the last
Black List
to her, telling her no child should have in the Greater Hampton Roads area, person expected to be a representative
been treated the way he treated her. graduated with honors even though she from the House of Delegates. This was
FROM pAgE 3
initially had no idea how to apply to proven when two white people were
Barbara Ciara, a ground breaker in
college. She received a scholarship to greeted with the assumption they were
media and communications, told of her
Washington College and found that she “Dr. Christian” until finally she was the
parents divorcing when she was only
as the first African-American female,
was the only black person on campus. only one left in the room. When finally
three years old. After the divorce, she
she was often mistaken as the maid in
She said she sat down in the school greeted, she replied, “Yes, I’m Dr.
changed to a rebellious child and ran
the General Assembly. She learned to
cafeteria alone and soon “the table filled
Christian in living color.”
away from home when she was 14. In
be a good legislator from the northern
up with parents and children.” When
New York City, she had dreams to be
Virginia women before moving to the
she was invited to go to the theater
There were few dry eyes in the room
like Gladys Knight, but she became
Senate.
by white people, she had to sit in the
as the screening came to an end. The
an unwed teenage mother. She said
“colored section” in the balcony of the
crowd was saddened by the stories of
Bruce Smith, NFL hall-of-famer and
her self esteem had been broken by
main theater. She said, “Suddenly, I
the hardships that many of the honorees
humanitarian, said he learned work
comments made about her weight by a
heard all this noise; whites had come
faced but inspired by their triumphs
ethics, dedication and commitment from
former boss.
to sit with me in the “colored section.”
over those hardships. The Hampton
his father. Teased about his weight and
Father Joseph Green, community leader
At that time, white people could sit in
Roads Blacklist documentary, which
dark complexion in school, he decided
and pioneer in racial equality, was one
any section, but black people were not
premiered on June 21, 2009 on Cox
to quit the football team in the tenth
of the first persons of color to serve on
allowed to sit in the white section.
11, should inspire future generations of
grade because of the difficulty of being
the Norfolk City Council. He said he
Hampton Roads youth.
singled out by his classmates. After the
E. L. Hamm, a successful Hampton
grew up in South Carolina, in a small
football coach learned of his decision,
Roads businessman, stated “it was hard
Cox Hampton Roads also has created a
agricultural town where education was
the coach contacted his father, who
to be prepared for people calling you
Hampton Roads Black List Facebook
“nearly non-existent.” He explained
questioned young Bruce and told him
a ‘nigger’.” It was against the law for
page. “Cox has set up this special page
that public education “ran for about 6
that whatever he did in life, don’t give
blacks and whites to play sports together.
for residents to post their stories. We are
months” out of a year. In South Carolina,
up. Bruce said, there will be sacrifices
He said he was accepted to attend college
doing this because we believe that the
he said, “you were limited on where to
and defining moments in life and when
at white schools but turned them down
residents of the region have their own
go and what to say.” He came to Grace
they occur, “we must rise to the occasion
to attend Hampton University.
stores of ‘trial and triumph’ that they may
Episcopal Church in Norfolk in 1963
and make those same sacrifices for the
want to share with others. The stories
during the civil rights movement. He Dr. Mary Christian spoke of her
next generation.”
within the Hampton Roads Black List
marched with many others to integrate involvement in voter education and
documentary are moving and powerful,
Dr. Patricia Turner, who is a member of
schools and restaurants. The city registration. She said there was no
but we recognize that these are not the
the Norfolk 17 and an education leader in
council’s “entire staff was white; we black person on the Hampton City
only stories of success in the region.
Hampton Roads, told of her experience
had to work hard to show them that we Council at that time. She decided to
Through the Hampton Roads Black
attending school with her brother whose
had qualified people who could serve run for the House of Delegates and
hand she held everyday. She had a
the city.” Now there is a black city won. She was also the first black on the
List Facebook page, we are hopeful that
white teacher who was not kind to her
manager. Science Research Association (SRA)
folks within the region will also share
during her school years. Later in life, Patricia White, also a member of the
and Appropriations Committee. She
their accounts,” adds McCollum.
Upcoming Events
Storytime with Miss Teen Norfolk and
Deputy Bob Walsh: An Anti- Children’s Classic of New Mount Olive First-Time Home Free Summer Food Service Program
Miss Chesapeake (Family)
Drug Program (School Age) ”A Black and White Fashion Buyer Classes Event Date:
Event Date:
Event Date: Showcase” Event Date: Monday – Friday
Tuesday, July 14, 2:00 PM
Thursday, July 9, 2:00 PM Event Date: Saturday, July 25, 2009, June 22, 2009 – August 7, 2009 (Closed
Event Location:
Event Location: Saturday July 11, 2009,4:00 pm 8:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. 7/3/09)
Mary D. Pretlow Anchor Branch
Horace C. Downing Branch Event Location: Event Location: Breakfast 8:30 am – 9:30 am
111 W. Ocean View Avenue, Norfolk, VA
555 East Liberty Street, Norfolk, VA New Mount Olive, A.M.E. Church, 868 N. Newtown Road, Suite 870, Lunch 12:00 noon – 1:00 pm
Contact Info:
Contact Info: 1953, Old Campostella Rd Virginia Beach, Virginia 23462. Event Location:
441-1750
441-1968 Chesapeake, VA. Contact Info: Family Investment Center at Oakmont
Contact Info: vabnaacp@netzero.net North, 7241 Oakmont Drive
Mental Health Issues with John
4th of July Parade & Celebration at Mayrose M. Moon or Veora Harding (757) 490-7799 Norfolk, VA 23513
Creekmore, Mental Health Education
Lakeside Park 757 545-6835. or
Specialist
Event Date: (757) 285-1205 Brown Bag Art Music at Selden Arcade
Event Date:
July 4, 2009, 10:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. Poetry Workshop with Dr. William Event Date:
Friday, July 10, 4:00 PM
Event Location: Carroll (Teens) Chalk the Walk ARTsplosion & 17th Wednesdays 12:00-2:00 p.m.
Event Location:
Lakeside Park Event Date: Street Art Festival Event Location:
Barron F. Black Branch 6700 E.
1441 Bainbridge Boulevard Wednesday, July 1, 2:00 PM Event Date: Selden Arcade, 208 E. Main Street,
Tanners Creek Drive Norfolk, VA
Chesapeake, Va 23324 Event Location: July 25, 2009 Norfolk VA
Contact Info:
Contact Info: Barron F. Black Branch Event Location: Contact Info:
441-5806
Chesapeake Parks & Recreation 6700 E. Tanners Creek Drive, Norfolk, VA Virginia Beach Boardwalk 664-6880
757-382-6411 Contact Info: 24th Street & Atlantic Avenue
Guitar Hero Get Down
441-5806 Virginia Beach, Va 23451 Summer Sounds Concert Series
(Tweens & Teens)
City Center Jazz at Market Stage Contact Info: Event Dates:
Event Date:
Event Date: Teen Fun Night 757-491-SUNN June 3 - September 23, 2009
Thursday, July 9, 2:00 PM - 4:00 PM
July 10, 2009; July 17, 2009 Event Dates: 6:30 p.m. - 8:30 p.m.
Event Location:
6:00 p.m. - 8:30 p.m. Every 4th Friday d’ART Demos Event Location:
Park Place Branch 620 W.
Event Location: Event location: Event Date: Port Warwick, Newport News, VA
29th Street, Norfolk, VA
City Center at Oyster Point Family Investment Center Saturdays 1-3 pm Contact Info:
Contact Info:
700 Town Center Drive At Oakmont North Event Location: 757-875-9351
664-7330
Newport News, Va 23606 7241 Oakmont Drive Norfolk VA 23513 d’ART Center in the Selden Arcade,
Contact Info: Contact info: 208 E. Main Street, Norfolk VA Super Heroes Movie Extravaganza
33rd Annual Norfolk Harborfest
757-282-2822 (757) 853-8469 or (757) 852-9791 www.d-artcenter.org (Rated PG-13)
Event Date:
Contact Info: Event Date:
July 3, - July 5, 2009
Towne Place Summer Concert Series Fourth of July Fireworks Over the MaryAnn Toboz Thursday, July 9, 11:30 AM – 5:00 PM
Friday Noon-11:00p.m.
Event Dates: Elizabeth River 757-664-4675 Event Location:
Saturday Noon-11:00p.m.
May 29 - September 4, 2009 Event Date: maryann.toboz@norfolk.gov Mary D. Pretlow Anchor Branch
Sunday Noon-8:00p.m.
(Every Friday) July, 4, 2009 111 W. Ocean View Avenue Norfolk, VA
Event Location:
5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. 9:30 p.m. - 10:00 p.m. A Poet Speaks to Art: Exhibit of Contact Info:
Town Point Park, Waterside Drive
Event Location: Event Location: Nathan Richardson 441-1750
Norfolk, Va 23510
Towne Place at Greenbrier On the Elizabeth River between Event Dates:
Executive Boulevard & Eden Way N. Downtown Norfolk and Olde Towne June 13 - July 28, 2009 July 4th Celebration at Mount
Drawings & Prints by
Chesapeake, Va 23320 Portsmouth Monday, Wednesday to Saturday, Trashmore
Tidewater Artists
Contact Info: 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Event Date:
Event Dates:
Ashley Hallmark Fridays at the Fountain Concert Series Sunday, 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. July 4, 2009 4:00 p.m. - 10:00 p.m.
June 13 - July 19, 2009
757-456-5212 Event Dates: Event Location: Event Location:
Tuesday - Friday 10:0 0 am - 6:00 pm
Starting June 5 - July 3, 2009 The Newsome House Mount Trashmore Park
Friday - Sunday 1:00 pm to 5:00 pm
Jewelry Making Workshop (Teens) (Every Friday) 6:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Museum & Cultural Center 310 Edwin Drive
Event Location:
Event Date: Event Location: 2803 Oak Ave., Virginia Beach, Va 23452
Charles H. Taylor Arts Center
Saturday, July 11, 2:00 PM - 3:30 PM City Center Fountain Plaza, Newport News, VA Contact Info:
4205 Victoria Blvd,
Event Location: Newport News, VA Contact Info: 757-427-5856
Hampton, VA 23669
Jordan-Newby Branch Contact Info: 757-247-2360 smoore@vbgov.com
Contact Info:
961 Park Avenue, Norfolk, VA 757-282-2822
(757) 727-1490
Contact Info: VA’s Church of God In Christ Beat the Heat
441-2843 Saturday Summer Storytime (COGIC) 2nd Jurisdiction Event Date:
Stars & Stripes Explosion
Event Date: Celebrates 93rd July 11, 2009; July 18, 2009
Event Date:
4th of July Stars in the Sky July 11 - July 25, 2009 (Saturday) Annual Holy Convocation 11:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.
July 4, 2009
Event Date: Event Location: Event Dates: Event Location:
Event Location:
July 4, 2009, 6:00 p.m. - 10:00 p.m. North Suffolk Library August 3rd - August 9th, 2009 City Center at Oyster Point
20th Street,
Event Location: 2000 Bennett’s Creek Park Road Event Location: 700 Town Center Drive
Virginia Beach, Va 23451
Downtown Superblock and Victory Suffolk, Va 23435 Hampton University Convocation Center Newport News, Va 23606
Contact Info:
Landing Park, Contact Info: Contact Info: Contact Info:
757-491-SUNN
Newport News, Va 23606 757-514-7150 757-593-7653 757-926-1408

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