Join us for a virtual presentation from Tev'n Powers, a Virginia Humanities Fellow, on his archival research project “Fugitive Data Portraits: Self-Emancipation in Virginia.” Powers, a software engineer, independent researcher and community organizer, uses Library of Virginia records from counties across the Commonwealth to learn about the lived experiences of enslaved Black people and to document those who self-emancipated during the Civil War and in some cases were captured during their escape. 

Powers’ “Fugitive Data Portraits” website features interactive data visualizations that illuminate trends and patterns in what is documented of Black Virginians’ escapes from slavery. Contextualized by individual accounts of self-emancipation, these data portraits provide a glimpse into the identities and experiences of some of Virginia’s earliest freedom fighters, who often become footnotes in or were altogether omitted from the historical record and narratives of Black resistance. 

This is a free event, but registration is required. For more information, contact education@lva.virginia.gov.