Memorial Day across RVA carries layers of meaning tied to military sacrifice, Civil War history, Black freedom struggles, and evolving…
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The Cultural Current
The Pulse of RVA.
Then and Now The Current — May 14, 1607: Jamestown Is Established in Virginia
The establishment of Jamestown on May 14, 1607 launched the first permanent English settlement in North America and transformed the…
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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…
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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…
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VCU Advances Memorial for East Marshall Street Well Victims
VCU approves $3.6M memorial for victims of the East Marshall Street Well, advancing efforts to confront a history of grave…
Read MoreThen and Now The Current — April 25, 1917: Ella Fitzgerald Is Born
Born in Newport News on April 25, 1917, Ella Fitzgerald rose to become one of the most influential voices in…
Read MoreThen and Now The Current — April 24, 1867: Richmond Streetcar Protest
On April 24, 1867, Black Richmonders challenged segregated streetcars, marking an early chapter in the long struggle for equal access…
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Then and Now The Current — April 23, 1933: Annie Easley is born
Born on April 23, 1933, Annie Easley helped power the future of computing and aerospace, expanding the story of Black…
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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…
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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…
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