Sort by category
November - 2025
Nov 13 |
Black Freedom, the Burning of Norfolk, and the Birth of American Independence Andrew Lawler Blocker Auditorium 12:00 p.m. - 12:50 p.m. In 1775 Virginia, a British governor’s offer of freedom to enslaved people ignited chaos and revolution. Andrew Lawler, author of “A Perfect Frenzy: A Royal Governor, His Black Allies, and the Crisis That Spurred the American Revolution,” shares the story of how these Black allies and the burning of Norfolk pushed the colonies toward revolution. Join us as Lawler uncovers how the fight for Black freedom set America on fire—literally—pushing the colonies to declare independence. For more information, contact the Robert Nusbaum Center at 757.455.3129 or NusbaumCenter@vwu.edu.
|
Nov 20 |
Monuments and Morality: How Public Sites Shape Our Values, and How They Ought to Do So Blocker Auditorium 12:00 p.m. - 12:50 p.m. Public sites and structures shape what we honor and what we forget. They can embody the legacy of one group and the trauma of another—the Confederate Memorial in Portsmouth once stood on the site of a slave whipping post, and the Emancipation Oak in Hampton is more than just a tree. How should public sites be designed considering complex histories. How can we develop a consistent view when historical pride, personal attachment, and moral discomfort share the same ground. Levi Tenen leads a provocative exploration of these issues and the ethics of public space more generally. For more information, contact the Robert Nusbaum Center at 757.455.3129 or NusbaumCenter@vwu.edu.
|