Racial Injustice: What Can We Do?

As part of the VTLA Diversity and Inclusion Alliance’s continuing efforts to encourage all colleagues, friends and families to listen and learn about our past to shape our future, please read this powerful message relating to events from this week in Charlottesville, 123 years ago.

Did you know on July 12, 1898 in our own backyard of Charlottesville, that a Black man named John Henry James was lynched publicly by 150 unmasked white men for a crime he was falsely accused of? In addition to those that were responsible for the lynching of Mr. James, several hundred more white people gathered to celebrate his death and to see his body as it was left hanging there for hours. While there are countless stories like this around this country, this one hits especially close to home.

One thing we can all do in the pursuit for racial justice is to keep learning, listening to our friends of color, and educating ourselves. The Equal Justice Initiative (EJI) has an “On This Day” email alert to learn more each day about the history of racial violence and injustice in this country. Emails are generally brief, highly educational, and deeply impactful. Click here to read the full story of John Henry James and to subscribe to this excellent resource.