Then and Now The Current — May 6, 1931: Willie Mays Is Born
Born on May 6, 1931, Willie Mays became one of the greatest athletes in American history and a towering symbol of Black excellence in sports.
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Then and Now The Current — May 3, 1933: James Brown Is Born
Born May 3, 1933, James Brown revolutionized music, pioneered funk, and helped define Black identity during the Civil Rights era.
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Then and Now The Current — April 29, 1899: Duke Ellington Is Born
Born on this day in 1899, Duke Ellington transformed jazz into an enduring American art form rooted in Black cultural expression.
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Then and Now The Current — April 27, 1927: Birth of Coretta Scott King
Born April 27, 1927, Coretta Scott King became a global voice for justice and a key architect of civil rights memory.
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Then and Now The Current — April 21, 2003: Death of Nina Simone
Nina Simone’s death on April 21, 2003 marked the passing of an artist who turned music into a force of political witness and cultural transformation.
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Then and Now The Current — April 21, 2016: Death of Prince
Prince’s death on April 21, 2016 marked the loss of an artist who redefined musical innovation and artistic control in modern America.
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Then & Now: The Current — April 19, 1967: Kwame Ture Speaks Against the Vietnam War
On April 19, 1967, Kwame Ture, then known as Stokely Carmichael, delivered forceful antiwar speeches linking Vietnam to racial injustice, shaping a message that still resonates in Virginia today.
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Then & Now: The Current — April 18, 1862: Elizabeth Keckly’s Virginia Story Reaches Print
When Elizabeth Keckly appeared in print on April 18, 1862, readers saw a story of talent and reinvention. Beneath it sat the deeper Virginia history of slavery, abuse, and Black women’s determination to survive it.
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A Century of Impact: Honoring Dr. William “Fergie” Reid’s Enduring Influence
Dr. William “Fergie” Reid’s 101st birthday marks more than a personal milestone — it offers a moment to reflect on a historic breakthrough that reshaped Virginia politics. As the first Black candidate elected to the General Assembly since Reconstruction, Reid’s legacy continues to influence leadership, representation, and civic life across the Commonwealth.
