We're excited to share with you the work of the Christiansburg Institute in honor of Juneteenth and in solidarity with Black Lives Matter.
Juneteenth was first celebrated on June 19,1865 in Galveston, Texas where the enslaved there first heard of their freedom, two years after the Emaciation Proclamation by President Lincoln.
On Friday, June 19th, we are donating 20% of all our sales from our online farm store to the Christiansburg Institute.
You can donate directly to the Christiansburg Institute here.
Christiansburg Institute (CI, Inc.) is a 501(c)(3) cultural heritage and historic preservation non-profit located in Christiansburg, Virginia, and one of the few sites on the National Register of Historic Places that commemorates the contributions of African Americans.
The Christiansburg Institute is a fascinating historical site right here in Montgomery County. You can learn much more from their digital photo exhibit, but here is a brief bit of history .
By 1860 over 20% of the population of Montgomery County was enslaved African Americans by Whites primarily to work on region's farms. In 1866 a school was formed, to eventually become the Christiansburg Institute, to teach the formerly enslaved. There was enthusiastic support from the Black community with 232 students taught by just 2 teachers by 1868. The school was later advised by Booker T. Washington and became a center for learning trades, including agricultural, as well as traditional studies. The educational center eventually became a high school for the Black community until it closed in 1966 with integration. Many Christiansburg Institute alumni are still living in the area.
The mission of the Christiansburg Institute is more pertinent today than ever. They describe their work as being "centered around grassroots community organizing, participatory education and inter-generational learning, and the historic preservation of the Edgar A. Long Building. We celebrate life, ancestors, tradition, art, music, food, and culture through programs, events, and Restorative Memorymaking."
The Christiansburg Institute is holding a Juneteenth Celebration Friday, 6/19 at on the grounds at 140 Scattergood Drive in Christiansburg. Masks and social distancing applies! If you can't make it there in person, hopefully you can make it in spirit. Here is their invitation:
Christiansburg Institute invites you to join for, 'Juneteenth 2020: A Celebration of Black lives, Black Talent & Black Joy' on Friday, June 19, from 5:00 PM - 8:00 PM.
Celebrating Black lives and Black history is more important now than ever. In a time filled with so much anger and frustration we want to continue to carve out intentional moments for joy and healing.
It is time to center our wellness, our voices, and our contributions to the greater community. This day of liberation will highlight so much of the Black talent we have right here in the New River and Roanoke Valleys.
This peaceful nonviolent community gathering is FREE and open to the public. The celebration is being hosted at the historical site of the first high school in Southwest Virginia to educate the formerly enslaved, Christiansburg Institute.
Come out to support Black-owned businesses and artists! There will be restaurants and local businesses onsite selling food, apparel, services, and giving consultations & demos. There will also be a line-up of speakers and live music to celebrate National Black Music Month!
Bring your family, lawn chairs, blankets, masks and get ready to have a great time! Social distancing is encouraged.
Want to get more involved with race dialogue right here in our own community? This list is by no means exhaustive, but are some local groups that are working towards just that.
Dialogue on Race
https://www.dialogueonrace.info/
The Dialogue on Race’s mission is to "create a forum that examines racial issues articulated by the African American community in Montgomery County, VA, and then develops and implements solutions."
Check out their resources page and recommended readings under “Articles and Tools”.
Montgomery-Floyd NAACP
https://www.mrfnaacp.org/
Our local branch of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People. Founded in 1909, the NAACP is a national group with active local branches that serves as a multi-racial endeavor to advance the rights of African Americans.
Colors VA Magazine
https://www.colorsvamag.com/
ColorsVA’s mission is "to illuminate issues relevant to Southwest Virginia’s communities of color through high-quality, enlightening and thought-provoking content. Integrity, professionalism and dedication to open and balanced dialogues will be our guides. Through education and exposure, we will foster pride and mutual respect among people of all cultures and ethnicities."
June issue download is free!
VT Center for Food Systems and Community Transformation
https://foodsystems.centers.vt.edu/
This VT center aim is "to build capacity to address food system issues across the rural-urban community divide and to cultivate more resilient, socially just, and economically viable food and farming systems in Virginia and beyond." They often invite a racially-diverse group of speakers and have presentations here in Blacksburg on defining and creating food justice. Dr. Kim Niewolny does an excellent job here and I recommend joining their email list to learn of their many presentations. Her recent newsletter is a must-read that focuses on African Americans' contributions and challenges to agriculture and healthy food access.
Happy Juneteenth from the farmers at Glade Road Growing!
