There are hundreds of books written about the history of Princess Anne County and Virginia Beach, but hardly any of them include African-American history in this part of our state.
Two women in Virginia Beach decided to change that, leaving their own mark along the way.
Dr. Joanne Lucas has a deep appreciation for African-American history. Her father walked alongside Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. during the first march from Selma.
“I love learning about someone else’s culture, and I want someone to love to learn about mine,” said Lucas, a retired history teacher.
She and her friend, Edna Hawkins-Hendrix, a Virginia Beach historian, teamed up to write a research paper called History of African-American Communities in Princess Anne County/Virginia Beach.
“Personally, as a black woman, I want to be counted. I want my history to mean something, be relevant,” said Lucas.
The Virginia Beach Historic Preservation Commission said there is hardly anything in city libraries on this topic, and these women are providing a tremendous service.
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Source: Two women strive to shine brighter light on African-American history in Virginia Beach
