By Shawn Nowlin
There are many Roanoke Valley residents living today who experienced the Jim Crow Laws firsthand. History books often depict that time period in the late 19th and early 20th centuries that enforced racial segregation as one of America’s many dark chapters.
Rhonda Smith, 79, says to this day, it saddens her when she thinks about what she and her family had to endure.
“How history is presented matters. Too often, it is distorted. When I hear young people complain today, I sometimes explain that while what they are dealing with may be valid, it pales in comparison to what previous generations went through,” she said.
For years, the Gainsboro Library at 15 Patton Avenue has highlighted often-overlooked history through various art exhibits. Their latest effort amplifies the story and impact of the Christiansburg Industrial Institute.
The exhibit features various artwork, photographs and newspapers of the Institute’s 158-year history.
For nearly a century, the Institute, which Booker T. Washington once supervised, educated thousands of African American students throughout Southwest Virginia.
The exhibit’s opening night reception was on Sept. 3. Attendees enjoyed light refreshments as Christiansburg Institute, Inc.’s Executive Director Chris Sanchez answered questions before participating in a panel discussion.
After experiencing the exhibit, Jaylen Walters said he felt “calm” and “grounded.”
“There is tremendous value in learning about history from those who experienced it,” he added. “Many people have to rely solely on textbooks to learn about certain aspects of Black history. I do not, and I never take that fact for granted.”
The exhibit will last through Sept. 27. Sanchez and the other individuals who worked behind the scenes to make the exhibition a reality hope as many people as possible take advantage of this learning opportunity.
It wasn’t until Malcolm Smith became an adult that a popular quote by W.E.B. Dobois began to resonate with him: “The cost of liberty is less than the price of repression.”
When Smith’s family in New York and South Carolina visit him in a few days, taking them to the library exhibit will be on the agenda. “I’m sure that none of them will know what the Christiansburg Institute is. I hope that their takeaway is one of pride and perspective,” he said.
According to its website, “The Christiansburg Institute is a grassroots 501c3 cultural heritage nonprofit with a mission of community education, intergenerational empowerment, and the responsible stewardship of African American history and culture in Southwest Virginia.”
