From enslaved women performing domestic labor at plantations and in urban homes, to Black women’s participation in the Civil War, from African American women’s roles as teachers and educators, to Black women’s activism during and after the Civil Rights Movement, Black women have been foundational to the development and evolution of the Fredericksburg community. Dr. Gaila Sims, Curator of African American History and Special Projects, will share individual stories of Black women in Fredericksburg, Stafford, and Spotsylvania, beginning during enslavement with Ellen Mitchell, Sarah Tucker, and Maria Richards, continuing into the twentieth century with activists Gladys Poles Todd, Mildred Brown Queen, and Mamie Scott, and culminating with contemporary leaders Dr. Marci Catlett, Gaye Adegbalola, and Juanita Shanks. Rooted in historical documentation, oral histories, and archival research, this presentation will celebrate Black women’s essential contributions to the past, present, and future of our shared community.

Virtual Presentation

12 p.m. at the Central Rappahannock Regional Library

Free and open to the public

For more information, visit Lunch & Learn: African American Women in Fredericksburg, Spotsylvania, & Stafford History | Events | Central Rappahannock Regional Library (bibliocommons.com)