News

Happenings on the Hill

Journey for Change Documentary Filming

This past Monday and Tuesday, Richmond Hill was the location for the filming of several interviews that will be part of an upcoming documentary The Richmond Slave Trail: A Journey Towards Understanding. The film seeks to memorialize the experience of walking the Richmond Slave Trail for this generation and many generations to come. As the Journey for Change organization puts it: “A film can only contribute to the change we seek, not create it…. As those motivated to action by the film move outward from themselves and encounter and collaborate with others working to make Richmond its very best, we will have provided a valuable tool and service in support of our region.” Learn more and watch a nine-minute concept piece on our homepage.

The following articles provide good background reading on the "Richmond Slave Trail”.

A Way In - richmondmagazine.com (Plans for Slave Trail entrance improvements at Ancarrow Landing) (Richmond Magazine, July 20, 2022)
Council approves land acquisition for Richmond Slave Trail (Richmond Free Press, Feb. 13, 2025)
Acquisition of 4.5 Acres along the Richmond Slave Trail Continues Partnership Between City of Richmond and Capital Region Land Conservancy - Capital Region Land Conservancy (Capital Region Land Conservancy, (March 27, 2024)
Conservancy purchases portion of Richmond Slave Trail, expanding public access (Includes a 3:34 min. video on the wooded pathway area at the start of the trail where CRLC acquired a permanent easement to prevent its development) (WTVR Ch. ) News, April 3, 2024)
In the Footsteps of the Enslaved – DNyuz (Excellent and detailed article on the Dawoud Bey exhibit that was at VMFA in 2024-25.) (DNyuz News, Jan. 30, 2025)
New Burying Ground honors enslaved labor at University of Richmond (VPM, April 25, 2025)

Shockoe Project to encompass Richmond's 'full history' (February 28, 2024)
Tours by Elegba Folklore Society
Acquisition of 4.5 Acres along the Richmond Slave Trail Continues Partnership Between City of Richmond and Capital Region Land Conservancy (Capital Region Land Conservancy)
Richmond Slave Trail (Oberlander Prize – The Cultural Landscape Foundation)
In the Footsteps of the Enslaved (The New York Times)
Richmond’s Leigh Street Armory history removed in national DEI purge (VPM March 14, 2025)
Sacred Ground Historical Reclamation Project
Richmond’s Black History Museum joins UNESCO slavery education network (VPM Oct 16, 2024)
“Deacon Charles Opens Ears, Hearts to the Reality of Slavery”, Brian Olszweski (The Catholic Virginian, 2019)
“Discover Richmond: Richmond Slave Trail”, Michael Paul Williams (2015 Richmond Times Dispatch)
“A Way In”, Harry Kollach Jr. (2022 web posting PDF)
“The Richmond Slave Trail Provides Valuable Lessons on the Dark Legacy of American History,” John Rogers (2023 web posting PDF)
Shockoe Project To encompass Richmond's full history (VPM, Feb 2024)