Telling the African-American History Story in Stafford County, VA

About the Program

Category: Civic Education and Public Information (Best in Category)

Year: 2016

As a child in Depression-era Stafford County, VA, Frank White was not allowed to attend school with white children because of segregation. Today, his son David is the Chief Secondary Officer of Stafford County Public Schools. In 1854, Stafford native Anthony Burns escaped slavery only to be forced to return under the Fugitive Slave Act. His escape inspired abolitionists and he later gained his freedom and became a minister. These stories of adversity and triumph define the more than 350 years of African-American experience in Stafford County. The people who know these stories and the landmarks related to them are fading away. Stafford County and its Board of Supervisors have made it a priority to document and preserve the county’s African-American history to honor and recognize the many contributions of African-Americans to the county. Stafford is achieving this through the help of local historians, civic organizations, historic tours, a permanent history wall, road markers, a slavery-related structure study and the historic preservation of a school integral to African-American life. This has resulted in a more comprehensive representation of all of Stafford’s history as well as an increase in opportunities for historic tourism. Stafford is simply telling its story in a better way.