Black History Museum and Cultural Center 

The Black History Museum and Cultural Center in Richmond, Virginia is located within one of the original neighborhoods where Richmond's historically black community began to take form. From the street, the brick building stands from the other buildings around it, with its four large pillars framing the entrance to the museum. Upon arrival, visitors watch a video that sets the tone for the rest of the exhibit. The video previews the history of Richmond's black community which contextualizes the displays and artifacts included in the exhibit. The video features commentary by black Richmond natives which infers that the museum tells its narrative the way the people of the community want it to be told. Upbeat jazz music is played in the background which sets a celebratory tone.

The video at the beginning of the exhibit is an important element that explains the purpose of the exhibit, which is to proudly reflect on and honor the achievements and history of Richmond's oldest African American community. The video aligns with the structure of the exhibit and is used to preview the questions that guide the exhibits structure. These questions include, what is the history of Richmond's oldest black community? What is the significance and impact the community locally and nationally? Who and what were their major contributions and how did they fit into American history as a whole?

The exhibit, titled “Banks, Boutiques and 'The Deuce': The Legacy of Jackson Ward,” chronicles Richmond's historically African American community, Jackson Ward. Jackson Ward has been described as the “hub of Black Capitalism,” “the cultural mecca of black society in the South” and “the Harlem of the South.” The exhibit tells the story of how Jackson Ward gained its notoriety and how it fit into the historical landscape of the United States in the 19^th and 20^th centuries. 

The exhibit is organized chronologically, starting in the mid-1800s when the first black community in the city of Richmond began to take shape. Each section of the exhibit has a title which is representative of its specific time period, starting with “The Birthplace of Black Capitalism.” Black capitalism is the most significant theme throughout the exhibit as Jackson Ward is known for and proud of its astounding economic achievements. This section includes artifacts such as documents, books, awards, newspapers and pictures of notable members of the community. The historical context of each section of the exhibit is of great importance. The economic success of Jackson Ward as an African American community in the South was unprecedented at the time. The original members of Richmond's African American community were newly freed slaves who relocated to Richmond following the Civil War. The exhibit pays respect to the people who inhabited the neighborhoods and built a business community from the ground up.

The subsequent section, titled “Independent Business Owners,” displays artifacts from businesses started in Jackson Ward such as eye glass stores, and barber shops. It also recognized the entrepreneurs within the community. 

As the exhibit moves on to the 20^th century it addresses how the Civil Rights Movement impacted Jackson Ward. This section is titled, “Separate but Equal?” and highlights people from the community who challenged separate but equal. The narrative discusses how people from Richmond played an important role in contributing to the success of the Civil Rights Movement. This section honors two African American lawyers from Richmond who worked on one of the five cases that set the precedent for Brown vs. Board of Education. This section, like the exhibit as a whole, portrays Jackson Ward as a community that made significant contributions to the progress of African Americans in the United States.

After contextualizing Jackson Ward within the history America, the exhibit focuses on the culture of the Jackson Ward community. The section titled, “United We Stand” addresses the importance of the church within Richmond's black community. The display calls the church “the backbone of black society,” and includes photographs of the first churches and a description of the church's role within the community in the 19^th and 20^th centuries.

The exhibit's final section, “Let Me Entertain You,” continues to display important aspects of the community's culture which discusses how the entertainment within the neighborhood shaped the culture of the community, which came to be known as “the Harlem of the South.” The display explains how shops, restaurants, beauty parlors and hotels contributed not only to the economic success of the community, but also to the cultural importance of Jackson Ward. Photographs of the renowned entertainers who spent time in Jackson Ward, including Duke Ellington and Ella Fitzgerald. Certain buildings within the community also contribute to the community's culture. The well known Hippodrome theater provided a location where artists and spectators could gather for performances. Entertainment was said to be the heart of Jackson Ward, and the artists and establishments within the community caused Jackson Ward to be known for its artistic and cultural contributions, as well as its economic contributions.

The exhibit initially explains the national significance of Jackson Ward which draws in the viewer by proving its importance in United States history, then details the more specific culture and accomplishments of the community. The exhibit celebrates the success of the community as a whole within the context of the time. The exhibit mentions that compared to the white community in Richmond, Jackson Ward would be considered less successful, therefore, the exhibit must carefully contextualize the community within the South for viewers to understand how impressive Jackson Ward's achievements are. Overall, the Black History Museum and Cultural Center of Virginia narrates the origins, contributions, setbacks and culture of Richmond's oldest African American community the way in which the people of Jackson Ward would want it to be told.