Driving Tour Traces Civil Rights History in Southside Virginia.

The birthplace of the free public education system the country now enjoys has its roots in Southside Virginia.  A self-guided tour of the Civil Rights in Education Heritage Trail explains the history that brought today’s African Americans, Native Americans and women the right to an equal education with white males.

The tour visits 53 historically significant sites to tell the story of civil rights in education in our country. Prince Edward County, where officials in 1959 shut schools rather than integrate them, plays prominently in the trail. Many African American Roanoke Valley residents emigrated here for school when that happened.

Driving this trail is a great opportunity to have an outing with social distancing and learn important history of our area. More information can be found at these sites:

https://www.hmdb.org/results.asp?SeriesID=284

https://visitfarmville.com/civil-rights-in-education-heritage-trail/

http://richmondfreepress.com/news/2020/oct/08/civil-rights-heritage-trail-adds-12-new-sites-focu/