Diverse, Equitable, and Inclusive Dialogues are Progressing in Charlottesville: Here’s How

I graduated from the University of Virginia (UVA) in 2005. But, to be honest, I was not keen on living in Charlottesville from my initial visit. As a fresh transplant from Southern California, I had negative perceptions about living in the Southern part of the United States.

After making the decision to attend UVA, I tried to keep an open mind about my experiences. Outside of the classroom, I remember feeling a distinction among different races. As an Asian-American of Indian and Bengali descent, I felt uncomfortable in my own skin from time to time, but I didn’t know how to express these thoughts. I remember my numerous visits to Monticello, listening to tour operators gloss over the history of Sally Hemmings. Talking about diversity, equity, and inclusion felt like a taboo subject that was not to be addressed.

As a diversity, equity, and inclusion professional, I have visited Charlottesville a number of times since 2005, and I have witnessed and personally experienced change taking place. Charlottesville has been engaging the community in progressive dialogue and has taken great strides to creating a welcoming place for visitors from all backgrounds and identities.

It is no secret that Charlottesville has received much attention since the white supremacist rallies that took place in August 2017. That event sparked necessary dialogues about systemic racism, and the critical need to create a space that genuinely harbors belonging for all community members.

Progressive Discussions Are Taking Place

Monticello, Highland, and the University of Virginia have taken extraordinary measures to thoroughly research and offer more honest accounts about race relations and the treatment of enslaved labor to construct and operate these historical sites.

Monticello openly addresses the complex nature of slavery in a variety of ways. The visitor center exhibits in-depth information about the Hemmings family and familial ties to Thomas Jefferson. Exploring Slavery at Monticello provides online and in-person educational avenues to learn about the multifaceted dynamics of enslaved people during that time period. Monticello also shares oral histories and memoirs from descendants in an effort to genuinely uncover important truths of American history. The operators of Highland, the home of James Monroe have openly acknowledged the contradictory viewpoints of this president who advocated to abolish slavery yet enslaved over 250 persons in his lifetime. In person and virtual tours are available to learn about the sequence of history from this time period. Visitors have the opportunity to gain greater insight into the lives of some of the enslaved people through biographies that have been uncovered. Efforts to reveal more information about the people of Highland are continuous and updated as research progresses and is validated.

The University of Virginia has initiated numerous programs to reconcile the complexities of an educational institution that is revered for academic and athletic programs, founded by Thomas Jefferson, and built by enslaved labor. A Memorial to Enslaved Laborers has been erected on the Grounds to acknowledge and honor the 4,000+ individuals who built and maintained operations of the University for more than four decades. What started as a student led effort in 2010 is now an honored site to educate University attendees, the community, and visitors about a painful past in an effort to transform perceptions of bias in the present and future.

As a part of ongoing diverse, equitable, and inclusive actions, the University is contextualizing the statue of Thomas Jefferson in front of the Rotunda and removing and relocating the George Rogers Clark statue depicting this Revolutionary War general on a horse overlooking three Native American individuals. A taskforce has been established to address racial equity within the University, and a variety of programs are being developed to provide Alumni with opportunities to learn about race, gender, and belonging.

Originally built to serve as a segregated high school, the Jefferson School African-American Heritage Center now serves as a historic institution educating visitors about the rich heritage and legacy of the African-American community of Charlottesville and Albemarle County. Visitors have the opportunity to view permanent exhibits such as Pride Overcomes Prejudice, an exhibition that uses oral and written histories of African Americans who participated in the fight for racial equality over six eras of the school’s history. The Center participates in community events to activate dialogue about racial equity in addition to planning special events, leading interactive tours, and commissioning temporary gallery exhibits for visitors seeking to learn more about race and belonging in the United States.

IX Art Park

The IX Art Park beautifully incorporates their mission to provide accessible art, culture, and programming to community members and visitors from all backgrounds. Located in a former site of the Frank Ix & Sons textile factory near downtown Charlottesville, the art park is one of the coolest places to be a kid, play with your kids, to enjoy free music with community members, and to find inspiration through expressions of art.

Interactive and immersive exhibits such as the Looking Glass are available for all ages, abilities and socioeconomic statuses. Events are designed in collaboration with local Latinx and African-American artists and leaders to represent community voices and to provide opportunities for multiculturalism to thrive. The energy of this space is everything positive: vibrant, welcoming, and inspiring.

An Exemplary Example of Progress

Charlottesville is one of many places in the United States confronting topics pertaining to systemic racism, equity, and inclusion. These ongoing issues are challenging to navigate, and members within the Charlottesville community have taken progressive strides that can be seen and felt throughout.

I admire the human effort to acknowledge the hard truths and inequities of the past, and I admire the human dialogues about diversity and inclusion that are taking place and will continue to take place in Charlottesville.

I encourage you to visit this beautiful town with an open mind; to learn about and honor the enslaved individuals who are finally acknowledged, and to support local businesses whose stories exemplify community togetherness.