Getting Word African American History at Monticello

05/20/2026

The future of cultural conservation is in good hands! 👩🏾‍🎓

Please send kudos to Jenna Owens, a Getting Word oral historian, for earning her Master of Arts in Cultural Heritage Management from Johns Hopkins University. We are oh-so proud of you and lucky to call you a teammate!

05/13/2026

Join us on Thursday, June 25 for a conversation with mixed media artist Jabari Jefferson, for a discussion of his latest work, "Who Is Edith Hern Fossett?".

Jefferson will explore the inspiration, research, and creative process behind his contemporary interpretation of Edith Hern Fossett, an enslaved, French-trained chef who served at the White House during Thomas Jefferson's presidency and later ran the kitchen at Monticello. Hern Fossett was sold from her husband and children after Jefferson's death, but later gained her freedom and reunited with most of her family in Ohio. Auriana Woods, director of the Getting Word African American History Department at Monticello, will moderate.

The talk will also explore Jabari Jefferson's connection to Monticello as a descendant of its enslaved community. Following the talk, attendees will get a chance to view the portrait in Monticello's new gallery space.

Purchase your tickets at the link below:

Join us for an engaging conversation with artist Jabari Jefferson as he discusses his latest work, “Who Is Edith Hern Fossett?”

05/12/2026

We're thrilled to announce that Karice Luck-Brimmer has joined our department as a genealogy consultant!

Born and raised in Danville, Karice LB brings decades of experience rediscovering and amplifying African American history in the Dan River Region. Her sharp skills and strong community ties make her a perfect addition to Getting Word, as our team works to reconnect with descendants of Monticello's enslaved community beyond Central Virginia.

Karice spoke with Tiana Woodard, our department's research and oral historian, about her beginnings in genealogy, ongoing projects in her hometown, and her biggest hopes through collaborating with our department. Welcome Ressie!

Danville-based genealogist Karice Luck-Brimmer is bringing her family history expertise to Getting Word as our newest consultant.

04/30/2026

Ty'Leik C. Chambers, Getting Word's community outreach coordinator, delivered the keynote at this year's Freedom Fund Banquet for the NAACP Buckingham County Branch. This annual banquet is the organization's signature fundraising event, allowing local branches across the country to continue advancing human and civil rights.

We are ever-so proud of you, Ty'Leik!

04/20/2026

Dr. Henry Louis Gates, Jr., the 2026 recipient of the Thomas Jefferson Foundation Medal in Citizenship Leadership, recently spoke with Getting Word’s research and oral historian, Tiana Woodard, about the role places like Monticello can play in helping people understand their own family story and its role in our nation’s history. Thank you for joining us, Skip!

🎥: Lorenzo Dickerson

04/17/2026

Still not over these gorgeous portraits from our recent family photo sessions!

As committed as we are to preserving African American history, archiving the present is just as crucial. Special thanks to the members of First Baptist Church, Ebenezer Baptist Church, and Zion Union Baptist Church for trusting Kori Price Photography with creating these precious family mementos.

04/13/2026

The application deadline for the 2026 Southern Pilgrimage has been extended to Thursday, April 16 at 11:59pm! Visit gettingword.link/sp26 to learn more and apply for a spot!

The 2026 Southern Pilgrimage, Refounding Legacies, marks America’s 250th by exploring the places where everyday people have fought to protect and expand our rights—from the founding era through the Civil Rights Movement.
From June 8-13, we’ll visit key sites across Tennessee, West Virginia, North Carolina, and Virginia, tracing movement birthplaces, former capitals, and historic sites of the Upper South. The Southern Pilgrimage is a joint program of Monticello’s Getting Word African American History Department and the Center for Community Partnerships at UVA.
APPLICATIONS ARE NOW OPEN! Apply by 11:59 PM on April 13 at the link in our bio.

04/08/2026

The 2026 Southern Pilgrimage, Refounding Legacies, marks America’s 250th by exploring the places where everyday people have fought to protect and expand our rights—from the founding era through the Civil Rights Movement.
From June 8-13, we’ll visit key sites across Tennessee, West Virginia, North Carolina, and Virginia, tracing movement birthplaces, former capitals, and historic sites of the Upper South. The Southern Pilgrimage is a joint program of Monticello’s Getting Word African American History Department and the Center for Community Partnerships at UVA.
APPLICATIONS ARE NOW OPEN! Apply by 11:59 PM on April 13 at the link in our bio.

03/23/2026

Sharon "Shay" Banks-Young (1944-2016) was just a teenager when she first learned of Sally Hemings.

Banks-Young was the 4th great-granddaughter of Sally Hemings, an enslaved woman who had at least six children with Thomas Jefferson at Monticello. Sally Hemings's story didn't mean much to her at first, Banks-Young remembered, until "Roots" author Alex Haley took an interest in her family history. From then on, amplifying her family's place in American history became her life's work.

In multiple oral histories with the Getting Word African American History Department, Banks-Young reflected on her ancestor's everlasting legacy.

"As long as there is a Thomas Jefferson in a history book, Sally Hemings will be there, too."

Visit our website for more oral history snippets from descendants of Monticello's enslaved community.

10/22/2025

Join the Jefferson School African American Heritage Center for theirMurals and Memorials Tour on Saturday, October 25, from 10am to 12pm. Led by Executive Director Dr. Andrea Douglas, this guided walk explores four Charlottesville sites to examine how public art and memorials shape memory, belonging, and spatial justice.

Learn more using this link: https://jeffschoolheritagecenter.org/events/murals-memorials-tour/