The Until Freedom Comes exhibit is open during library hours:
Monday-Thursday: 10 am-8 pm
Friday: 10 am-6 pm
Saturday & Sunday: 1 pm- 5 pm
The unprecedented, comprehensive exhibit Until Freedom Comes: The African American Experience in Newport News chronicles the history of African Americans in Newport News from 1623 to present day. Covering historical periods from slavery, the Civil War, Jim Crow, and Reconstruction as well as contemporary events in local African American history, the exhibit strives to place local events within the context of a national framework.
Each panel includes a quick response (QR) code that viewers can scan with their mobile device, which feature related audio recordings, historical letters, stories, and oral re-enactments.
This exhibit is part of the ongoing work of the Say It Loud Project managed by the Virginiana Room of the Main Street Library. It was partially supported by grants from the Virginia Humanities and the Peninsula Junior League. You can learn more about the Say It Loud Project and their work telling the stories of the African American experience in Newport News by visiting theirFacebook page and following them onTwitter.