Celebrating a Century of Black History and Virginia’s Legacy of Justice

One hundred years ago, Dr. Carter G. Woodson—a son of Virginia—put forth a bold idea: that the nation should pause to honor the history, brilliance, and contributions of Black people. What began as Negro History Week has grown into Black History Month, a century‑long testament to our resilience and our refusal to let our stories be erased.

This year, as the NAACP Virginia State Conference celebrates 90 years of advocacy, we stand at the intersection of two powerful anniversaries—100 years of intentional Black historical preservation and nine decades of organized struggle for justice in the Commonwealth. Our legacy is intertwined with Virginia’s own milestones: the triumph of Barbara Johns in Prince Edward County, whose student‑led strike helped ignite Brown v. Board of Education; the leadership of Oliver Hill and Spottswood Robinson, who dismantled segregation through the courts; the courage of the Danville civil rights protesters; and the trailblazing public service of leaders like Douglas Wilder, the nation’s first elected Black governor.

We honor the countless Virginians—named and unnamed—who pushed this Commonwealth toward justice. Their footsteps paved the way for our branches, our youth councils, our college chapters, and every advocate who continues the fight today.

Yet commemoration is not nostalgia. It is a call to clarity.

We enter 2026 in a moment of shifting political leadership in Virginia, where the stakes for truth, equity, and democracy are unmistakably high. Across the nation, we see renewed attempts to suppress Black history, silence honest education, and weaken the very rights our ancestors bled to secure. These efforts echo the same forces that once sought to bury our stories, restrict our votes, and deny our humanity.

But the NAACP has never bowed to erasure.

For 90 years in Virginia—and 117 years nationally—we have stood on the front lines, defending civil rights, expanding access to the ballot, challenging discriminatory systems, and ensuring that Black voices shape the future of this Commonwealth. Our recent Legislative Advocacy Day reaffirmed that commitment, as members from across Virginia filled the halls of power with informed, united, and unwavering demands for justice.

This Black History Month, we honor a century of remembrance and a lifetime of resistance. We recommit to protecting our history, defending our children’s right to learn the truth, and ensuring that every Black Virginian has the opportunity to thrive.

The next chapter of our history is being written now—by us, through our advocacy, our courage, and our collective determination. And just as Dr. Woodson intended, we will continue to ensure that Black history is not only preserved, but lived, taught, and advanced for generations to come.