Black Mobility in Arlington County, VA
/Black Mobility in Arlington County, Virginia
2024
Mason Exhibitions is partnering with artist Veronica Jackson on a research project documenting evidence of Black Mobility in Arlington County, Virginia.
Over the course of the next year, we will create a curated database of researched information that evidences Black displacement, migration, mobility, and the legacy of the Black diaspora that remains today in Arlington County.
The definition of Black Mobility goes beyond physical movement, to include emotional, social, metaphorical, political, and economic opportunities to move/thrive through life.
Research categories will seek to identify key Black individuals, places, moments, lore, objects, artifacts, and events that can be used to shed new light on Arlington’s history through future public art projects.
Our curated database will go back as early as 1619 when the first enslaved Black people arrived in Virginia, but is not a comprehensive repository of historic and contemporary information. It will identify key issues, topics, and events that lead to meaningful artistic engagements, and will be a significant learning source for the Arlington community.
This project is generously funded by Arlington County’s Historic Preservation Fund.
Please Note:
Arlington’s current physical borders are not the same as in the 1800s, due to retrocession and other manipulative land ordinances. This affects the geographies and stories of modern-day Washington, DC and Alexandria, VA. As a result, this project may also include research related to DC and Alexandria.
Modern day boundaries between Arlington VA, Alexandria VA, and DC
Boundaries of DC 1835-1946 (prior to Retrocession of Alexandria back to VA)
1906 Boundary Stones of DC by Fred F. Woodward