VCC Magazine Summer 2019

V irginia C apitol C onnections , S ummer 2019 4 Publisher’s Introduction By David Bailey Several weeks ago, while my dermatologist was examining my back, the conversation went something like this. “I’m glad the Governor did not resign.” Glancing around, I replied, ‘Oh, why?” “If he had, everyone would have sighed and it would have been over. We would have moved on. But since he’s staying we will not ignore race and racism. We will be forced to deal with it.” “Besides that,” she said, “I know the Governor. He’s not a racist.” Ah, powerful thought-provoking words . . . . If he had resigned some would have said what a terrible thing he had done, what a bad person he was. Others would have defended him saying that’s not who he is. Many of us might have moved on, ignoring current racism. For those willing to confront racism, I invite you to react to the five points raised by Bagby and Barton’s 2019 anniversary. Consider what South writes about restoration of rights, and then celebrate with Gray that Richmond now has an Arthur Ashe Boulevard. Agree with Rasoul, “Equity is a journey, not a destination. We were reminded this winter that it’s a complicated journey.” Before you read her book, enjoy Munson’s tribute toWythe. What were those 126 new and revised laws thatWythe and Jefferson proposed that moved Virginia’s General Assembly beyond the Colonial period? Now consider our Governor’s Executive Order 32 that directs a new commission to “review the Virginia Acts of Assembly, Code of Virginia, and administrative regulations with the goal of identifying and making recommendations to address laws that were intended to or could have the effect of promoting or enabling racial discrimination or inequity. In the case of the Acts of Assembly, discriminatory laws were enacted and in some cases obviated by court rulings, but the words still remain.” If not now, when? NRV Putting Passengers A Broad-based Regional Initiative For more information, visit www.nrvpassengerrail.org • Enabling future economic development opportunities • Promoting safer, more efficient travel on the I-81 corridor Passenger train travel to the New River Valley, one of Virginia’s fastest-growing regions Safe, Efficient and Convenient Passenger Rail for a Fast-Growing Region NewRiver Valley RA I L 2 0 2 0 Putting Passengers On Track Virginia Capitol Connections seeks to add to both dialogue and action through this and subsequent issues in our 25th anniversary year. Send comments to the publisher: DBailey@CapitolSquare.com . About the cover Charles Mallory, a Virginia militia colonel sent three of his enslaved men to Sewell’s Point in Norfolk to aid in the construction of Confederate gun emplacements. Fearing they would be sent further south, three courageous men, Frank Baker, James Townsend, and Shepard Mallory, travelled across Hampton Roads and sought sanctuary at Fort Monroe on May 23rd, 1861. Although they had travelled north for, they were in danger of being sent back to Mallory under the Fugitive Slave Act of 1850. Former lawyer, Union Major General Benjamin F. Butler, who had recently taken command of Fort Monroe, decided to offer the three men protection after hearing that they would become laborers for the enemy. He decided to offer the men protection as confiscated “contraband” in an effort to deny labor to southern forces. This would later be known as the Contraband Decision of 1861, and it would eventually lead to Confiscation Acts, The Emancipation Proclamation and the 13th Amendment to the United States Constitution. Thanks to the staff at Fort Monroe for providing this explanation. Information on the 400th commemoration is available at fortmonroe.org . V I R G I N I A Q U A R T E R L Y M A G A Z I N E Contrabands arrive at themain gate of FortMonroe CasemateMuseumArchives “Thosewhodeny freedom toothers, deserve itnot for themselves” ABRAHAM LINCOLN SUMMER 2019 INSIDE RaceandReconciliation Virginia’sHistory V V