Race and Place in Charlottesville Mon, 06 Apr 2026 10:16:03 -0400 http://www.studycenter.net/race-place-cville en-us © 2026 Race and Place in Charlottesville yes Charlottesville, VA, USA Support this Podcast 917ea4b6-c4b1-526d-b4f3-cb19c3421787 The Center for Christian Study episodic false Buzzsprout (https://www.buzzsprout.com) race, Charlottesville, history, racism, African-American, Christianity, neighbor, neighborhood The Center for Christian Study https://storage.buzzsprout.com/m315e1pu52on2uj79ebi5pz38z2l?.jpg Race and Place in Charlottesville http://www.studycenter.net/race-place-cville Race and Place Trailer Race and Place Trailer Preview a tour of race and racism in Charlottesville led by former Study Center Board Chair and Architectural History professor at UVA Louis Nelson. 

New episodes will be released each weekday in February. Stay tuned! 

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]]> Preview a tour of race and racism in Charlottesville led by former Study Center Board Chair and Architectural History professor at UVA Louis Nelson. 

New episodes will be released each weekday in February. Stay tuned! 

Support the show

]]> Center for Christian Study Buzzsprout-935826 Fri, 01 Mar 2019 15:00:00 -0500 73 full false Episode 1 | The Second Slave Trade Episode 1 | The Second Slave Trade Motivated by Jesus' command in Scripture to love our neighbors, Louis Nelson begins his "Race and Place in Charlottesville" tour with this statement: "We cannot possibly love our neighbor if we don't know our neighbor or know our neighbor's story." Standing at the foot of UVA's Rotunda, Nelson (Board Chair at the Center for Christian Study and Architectural History Professor at UVA) brings to light the ways in which the slave trade—first from West Africa and then within the American South—impacted the landscape of a small university town in Albemarle County. 

"Race and Place in Charlottesville" is a production of the Center for Christian Study.

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]]> Motivated by Jesus' command in Scripture to love our neighbors, Louis Nelson begins his "Race and Place in Charlottesville" tour with this statement: "We cannot possibly love our neighbor if we don't know our neighbor or know our neighbor's story." Standing at the foot of UVA's Rotunda, Nelson (Board Chair at the Center for Christian Study and Architectural History Professor at UVA) brings to light the ways in which the slave trade—first from West Africa and then within the American South—impacted the landscape of a small university town in Albemarle County. 

"Race and Place in Charlottesville" is a production of the Center for Christian Study.

Support the show

]]> The Center for Christian Study, Louis Nelson Buzzsprout-938957 Thu, 28 Feb 2019 00:00:00 -0500 604 race, racism, Charlottesville, UVA, Wahoos, Thomas Jefferson, slave trade, love your neighbor, 1 1 full false Episode 2 | Building the University Episode 2 | Building the University Thomas Jefferson has long been lauded as the architect of the University of Virginia's distinctive Academical Village. But what—or better, who—did it take to actually build it? See the Lawn with new eyes as we meet Sam McCarpenter, an enslaved black man, in episode 2 of "Race and Place in Charlottesville." 

A production of the Center for Christian Study.

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]]> Thomas Jefferson has long been lauded as the architect of the University of Virginia's distinctive Academical Village. But what—or better, who—did it take to actually build it? See the Lawn with new eyes as we meet Sam McCarpenter, an enslaved black man, in episode 2 of "Race and Place in Charlottesville." 

A production of the Center for Christian Study.

Support the show

]]> The Center for Christian Study Buzzsprout-939019 Wed, 27 Feb 2019 00:00:00 -0500 714 race, racism, Charlottesville, UVA, Wahoos, Thomas Jefferson, slave trade, love your neighbor, 1 2 full false Episode 3 | Hidden Stories at UVA Episode 3 | Hidden Stories at UVA At surface level, the University of Virginia's Academical Village has always represented a landscape of opportunity, community, and academic possibility. Take a short flight of stairs from the Lawn, however, and you'll find a different story—the story of Lucy Cotrell—unveiled in the basements of UVA's famous Pavilions. 

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]]> At surface level, the University of Virginia's Academical Village has always represented a landscape of opportunity, community, and academic possibility. Take a short flight of stairs from the Lawn, however, and you'll find a different story—the story of Lucy Cotrell—unveiled in the basements of UVA's famous Pavilions. 

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]]> The Center for Christian Study Buzzsprout-943425 Tue, 26 Feb 2019 00:00:00 -0500 656 race, racism, Charlottesville, slavery, motherhood, University of Virginia, Wahoo, Pavilions, Louis Nelson 1 3 full false Episode 4 | Secret Gardens Episode 4 | Secret Gardens Listener discretion is advised.

The University of Virginia's serpentine walls that border its famous Gardens originally rose to an impressive eight feet tall. Learn more about the hard work that took place behind these walls during the university's early years... and the hard stories of the men and women who walked the alleys between them every day. 

We welcome archaeologist Benjamin Ford of Rivanna Archaeological Services to this episode.  

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]]> Listener discretion is advised.

The University of Virginia's serpentine walls that border its famous Gardens originally rose to an impressive eight feet tall. Learn more about the hard work that took place behind these walls during the university's early years... and the hard stories of the men and women who walked the alleys between them every day. 

We welcome archaeologist Benjamin Ford of Rivanna Archaeological Services to this episode.  

Support the show

]]> The Center for Christian Study Buzzsprout-940989 Mon, 25 Feb 2019 02:00:00 -0500 553 race, racism, Charlottesville, UVA, Wahoos, Thomas Jefferson, slavery, love your neighbor, walls, architecture, neighborhood 1 4 full false Episode 5 | Archaeology at UVA Episode 5 | Archaeology at UVA Take a break from the walking tour to sit down with archaeologist Benjamin Ford of Rivanna Archaeological Services, LLC, as he and Professor Nelson discuss what the University of Virginia's archaeological record has to tell us about the lives—and deaths—of its enslaved laborers. 

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]]> Take a break from the walking tour to sit down with archaeologist Benjamin Ford of Rivanna Archaeological Services, LLC, as he and Professor Nelson discuss what the University of Virginia's archaeological record has to tell us about the lives—and deaths—of its enslaved laborers. 

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]]> The Center for Christian Study Buzzsprout-946719 Sun, 24 Feb 2019 04:00:00 -0500 783 race, racism, Charlottesville, UVA, Wahoos, Thomas Jefferson, slavery, love your neighbor, neighborhood, graves, Benjamin Ford, archaeology 1 5 full false Episode 6 | Digging Up Graves Episode 6 | Digging Up Graves Professor Nelson returns for the next stop of the "Race and Place in Charlottesville" tour: the site of the University of Virginia's Anatomical Theater. Once located near present-day Alderman Library, the Theater served as the stage for a 19th-century innovation in medical research—dissecting human cadavers for anatomical study. The demand for corpses lead to an increase in bodysnatchers, who pilfered the graves of enslaved laborers.

With archaeologist Benjamin Ford of Rivanna Archaeological Services, LLC. 

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]]> Professor Nelson returns for the next stop of the "Race and Place in Charlottesville" tour: the site of the University of Virginia's Anatomical Theater. Once located near present-day Alderman Library, the Theater served as the stage for a 19th-century innovation in medical research—dissecting human cadavers for anatomical study. The demand for corpses lead to an increase in bodysnatchers, who pilfered the graves of enslaved laborers.

With archaeologist Benjamin Ford of Rivanna Archaeological Services, LLC. 

Support the show

]]> The Center for Christian Study Buzzsprout-946723 Sat, 23 Feb 2019 04:00:00 -0500 439 race, racism, Charlottesville, UVA, Wahoos, Thomas Jefferson, slavery, Anatomical Theater, anatomy, medicine, gravedigging, enslavement, cadavers 1 6 full false Episode 7 | Futility of Resistance Episode 7 | Futility of Resistance The "Race and Place in Charlottesville" tour leaves UVA Grounds to head toward the Downtown Mall. On the way there, stop at the base of the George R. Clark Monument, now standing at the intersection of West Main and Jefferson Park Ave. Discover the history of this statue, its unveiling, and the implications it continues to have for Charlottesville's African-American community. 

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]]> The "Race and Place in Charlottesville" tour leaves UVA Grounds to head toward the Downtown Mall. On the way there, stop at the base of the George R. Clark Monument, now standing at the intersection of West Main and Jefferson Park Ave. Discover the history of this statue, its unveiling, and the implications it continues to have for Charlottesville's African-American community. 

Support the show

]]> The Center for Christian Study Buzzsprout-938954 Fri, 22 Feb 2019 03:00:00 -0500 413 race, racism, Charlottesville, UVA, Wahoos, Thomas Jefferson, love your neighbor, futility of resistance, clark, monument, statue, 1920s, World War I 1 7 full false Episode 8 | Eugenics at UVA Episode 8 | Eugenics at UVA Still standing at the base of the George R. Clark monument, Professor Nelson explores how the University of Virginia medical school in the 20th century embraced the scientific movement of the day: the race-based science later known as eugenics. With its emphasis on the inferiority of “the American negro,” eugenics served as the justification for laws that supported race-based segregation and sterilization of African-Americans. 

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]]> Still standing at the base of the George R. Clark monument, Professor Nelson explores how the University of Virginia medical school in the 20th century embraced the scientific movement of the day: the race-based science later known as eugenics. With its emphasis on the inferiority of “the American negro,” eugenics served as the justification for laws that supported race-based segregation and sterilization of African-Americans. 

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]]> The Center for Christian Study Buzzsprout-946829 Thu, 21 Feb 2019 03:00:00 -0500 567 eugenics, medicine, race, legal, law, Virginia, Charlottesville, 1 8 full false Episode 9 | Building Bridges Episode 9 | Building Bridges The Drewary Brown Bridge, which crosses the train tracks above the Amtrak, is named for one of Charlottesville’s most important African-American Civil Rights leaders. On this stop of the tour, Professor Nelson introduces us to Charlottesville’s heroic “Bridge Builders” and their commitment to rising above the oppression of segregation to fight for the well-being of the entire city. 

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]]> The Drewary Brown Bridge, which crosses the train tracks above the Amtrak, is named for one of Charlottesville’s most important African-American Civil Rights leaders. On this stop of the tour, Professor Nelson introduces us to Charlottesville’s heroic “Bridge Builders” and their commitment to rising above the oppression of segregation to fight for the well-being of the entire city. 

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]]> The Center for Christian Study Buzzsprout-953405 Wed, 20 Feb 2019 00:00:00 -0500 631 race, racism, Charlottesville, Downtown Mall, Amtrak, train station, train tracks, Civil Rights, Building Bridges, Bridge Builders 1 9 full false Episode 10 | Property and Power Episode 10 | Property and Power Journalist Jordy Yager joins Professor Nelson in the Study Center library to share his findings from research concerning Charlottesvillle's black citizens' access to property (and the power that comes with it) from the plantation era to today. 

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]]> Journalist Jordy Yager joins Professor Nelson in the Study Center library to share his findings from research concerning Charlottesvillle's black citizens' access to property (and the power that comes with it) from the plantation era to today. 

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]]> The Center for Christian Study Buzzsprout-955122 Tue, 19 Feb 2019 00:00:00 -0500 637 race, racism, property, real estate, plantations, landownership, Charlottesville, Belmont, codes, housing covenants, deeds 1 10 full false Episode 11 | Just After Reconstruction Episode 11 | Just After Reconstruction Following the Civil War, Reconstruction promised newly freed black citizens the opportunity for freedom and agency in a new, integrated society. The Compromise of 1877 lead to the shattering of these promises. The effect of the making—and breaking—of these promises to black Americans can be seen in the location of sacred buildings close to heart of their communities: their churches. 

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]]> Following the Civil War, Reconstruction promised newly freed black citizens the opportunity for freedom and agency in a new, integrated society. The Compromise of 1877 lead to the shattering of these promises. The effect of the making—and breaking—of these promises to black Americans can be seen in the location of sacred buildings close to heart of their communities: their churches. 

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]]> The Center for Christian Study Buzzsprout-956009 Mon, 18 Feb 2019 00:00:00 -0500 568 race, racism, Charlottesville, history, Thomas Jefferson, churches, worship, reconstruction, tour, walking tour, Louis Nelson 1 11 full false Episode 12 | An Oral History of Starr Hill Episode 12 | An Oral History of Starr Hill Hidden between West Main Street and Preston Avenue, Charlottesville’s Starr Hill neighborhood has long been home to a thriving black middle class. In this episode, longtime resident Pat Edwards reminisces on the history of her beloved neighborhood and her church, First Baptist on Main Street. 


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]]> Hidden between West Main Street and Preston Avenue, Charlottesville’s Starr Hill neighborhood has long been home to a thriving black middle class. In this episode, longtime resident Pat Edwards reminisces on the history of her beloved neighborhood and her church, First Baptist on Main Street. 


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]]> The Center for Christian Study Buzzsprout-956902 Sun, 17 Feb 2019 00:00:00 -0500 895 neighborhood, Starr Hill, Charlottesville, black middle class, race, racism, Louis Nelson, Pat Edwards 1 12 full false Episode 13 | The City Inside a City Episode 13 | The City Inside a City Welcome to Starr Hill, Charlottesville's city inside a city. In response to the conditions of segregation, residents of this historically black neighborhood developed an economy of their own, complete with medical care, a daycare, and its own bank system. 

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]]> Welcome to Starr Hill, Charlottesville's city inside a city. In response to the conditions of segregation, residents of this historically black neighborhood developed an economy of their own, complete with medical care, a daycare, and its own bank system. 

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]]> The Center for Christian Study Buzzsprout-958377 Sat, 16 Feb 2019 00:00:00 -0500 534 race, racism, Charlottesville, Starr Hill, Pat Edwards, Louis Nelson, architecture, neighborhoods 1 13 full false Episode 14 | Separate and Unequal Episode 14 | Separate and Unequal The landmark Supreme Court ruling Plessy v. Ferguson led to the state-sanctioned racial segregation of public facilities, as long as said facilities were "separate but equal." Today's stop on the tour explores the impact that segregation had on the schooling system in Charlottesville, revealing just how unequal conditions were between the city's black and white school. 

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]]> The landmark Supreme Court ruling Plessy v. Ferguson led to the state-sanctioned racial segregation of public facilities, as long as said facilities were "separate but equal." Today's stop on the tour explores the impact that segregation had on the schooling system in Charlottesville, revealing just how unequal conditions were between the city's black and white school. 

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]]> The Center for Christian Study Buzzsprout-961964 Fri, 15 Feb 2019 00:00:00 -0500 602 race, racism, separate but equal, education, Charlottesville, school system, school, high school, private school 1 14 full false Episode 15 | Remembering Integration Episode 15 | Remembering Integration In this episode we take a tour of the Jefferson School African American Heritage Center with its director, Andrea Douglas, as she traces the process of integration in the Charlottesville schooling system. Then, we rejoin Pat Edwards on her porch as she reminisces on what the integration experience meant to her. 

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]]> In this episode we take a tour of the Jefferson School African American Heritage Center with its director, Andrea Douglas, as she traces the process of integration in the Charlottesville schooling system. Then, we rejoin Pat Edwards on her porch as she reminisces on what the integration experience meant to her. 

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]]> The Center for Christian Study Buzzsprout-961973 Thu, 14 Feb 2019 00:00:00 -0500 564 race, racism, Charlottesville, segregation, separation, church and state, school, Jefferson School, Pat Edwards, Starr Hill 1 15 full false Episode 16 | Vinegar Hill: Eminent Domain Episode 16 | Vinegar Hill: Eminent Domain In this first episode of a two-part series, Professor Nelson explores the Vinegar Hill neighborhood: a once-vibrant African-American neighborhood located near Preston Avenue and Ridge/McIntire Road. Claimed by the Charlottesville government under eminent domain, the neighborhood was razed and left as a vacant scar in the city's landscape for 20 years before being rebuilt. 

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]]> In this first episode of a two-part series, Professor Nelson explores the Vinegar Hill neighborhood: a once-vibrant African-American neighborhood located near Preston Avenue and Ridge/McIntire Road. Claimed by the Charlottesville government under eminent domain, the neighborhood was razed and left as a vacant scar in the city's landscape for 20 years before being rebuilt. 

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]]> The Center for Christian Study Buzzsprout-963076 Wed, 13 Feb 2019 00:00:00 -0500 405 race, racism, Charlottesville, history, eminent domain, Vinegar Hill, neighborhood, African American 1 16 full false Episode 17 | Vinegar Hill: Enfranchisement of Place Episode 17 | Vinegar Hill: Enfranchisement of Place Professor Nelson continues to meditate on the history surrounding Charlottesville's Vinegar Hill neighborhood. As he stands in the parking lot that has come to replace the black-owned and -occupied homes and businesses, he expounds on the disenfranchising impact that loss of place has had on the city's black communities. 

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]]> Professor Nelson continues to meditate on the history surrounding Charlottesville's Vinegar Hill neighborhood. As he stands in the parking lot that has come to replace the black-owned and -occupied homes and businesses, he expounds on the disenfranchising impact that loss of place has had on the city's black communities. 

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]]> The Center for Christian Study Buzzsprout-963087 Tue, 12 Feb 2019 00:00:00 -0500 353 race, racism, Charlottesville, community, black community, neighborhood, enfranchisement 1 17 full false Episode 18 | Acting Out the Lost Cause Episode 18 | Acting Out the Lost Cause Standing in front of the Downtown Mall's Jefferson Theater, Professor Nelson explores the ways in which the white citizens of Charlottesville looked back with great fondness on the way of life of the antebellum South—slavery included—through social gatherings, re-enactments, and minstrelsy shows.

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]]> Standing in front of the Downtown Mall's Jefferson Theater, Professor Nelson explores the ways in which the white citizens of Charlottesville looked back with great fondness on the way of life of the antebellum South—slavery included—through social gatherings, re-enactments, and minstrelsy shows.

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]]> The Center for Christian Study Buzzsprout-968072 Mon, 11 Feb 2019 00:00:00 -0500 667 race, racism, Charlottesville, art, reenactment, history, 1 18 full false Episode 19 | Three Histories of the KKK Episode 19 | Three Histories of the KKK Professor Nelson expounds on three historical iterations of the Ku Klux Klan's presence in Charlottesville—including the August 11 and 12 rallies in 2017—and the impact the white supremacist group has had on the city's minority communities, including its African-American and Jewish citizens.  

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]]> Professor Nelson expounds on three historical iterations of the Ku Klux Klan's presence in Charlottesville—including the August 11 and 12 rallies in 2017—and the impact the white supremacist group has had on the city's minority communities, including its African-American and Jewish citizens.  

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]]> The Center for Christian Study Buzzsprout-968074 Fri, 08 Feb 2019 00:00:00 -0500 781 race, racism, Charlottesville, KKK, history, synagogue, church 1 19 full false Episode 20 | Monumental Legacies Episode 20 | Monumental Legacies Professor Nelson concludes his walking tour with a powerful reflection on the monument of Stonewall Jackson, located in what is now called Court Square. 

"Adopting a framework of celebrating the peaceable city of Charlottesville and not recognizing the legacy of white supremacy and marginalization that have been inscribed in this landscape for centuries is simply not hearing our neighbor."

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]]> Professor Nelson concludes his walking tour with a powerful reflection on the monument of Stonewall Jackson, located in what is now called Court Square. 

"Adopting a framework of celebrating the peaceable city of Charlottesville and not recognizing the legacy of white supremacy and marginalization that have been inscribed in this landscape for centuries is simply not hearing our neighbor."

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]]> The Center for Christian Study Buzzsprout-963107 Thu, 07 Feb 2019 00:00:00 -0500 619 race, racism, Charlottesville, Court Square, Downtown, monuments, legacy, monumental, Charlottesville monument, 1 20 full false Episode 21 | Where Are We Today? Episode 21 | Where Are We Today? At the end of his walking tour, Professor Nelson sits down with Dayna Mathew, William L. Matheson and Robert M. Morgenthau Distinguished Professor of Law at UVA, to discuss Charlottesville's current landscape of racial inequity. The episode ends with a set of statistics of where we are today.

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]]> At the end of his walking tour, Professor Nelson sits down with Dayna Mathew, William L. Matheson and Robert M. Morgenthau Distinguished Professor of Law at UVA, to discuss Charlottesville's current landscape of racial inequity. The episode ends with a set of statistics of where we are today.

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]]> The Center for Christian Study Buzzsprout-975770 Tue, 05 Feb 2019 00:00:00 -0500 1224 race, racism, Charlottesville, inequity, law, UVA, racial disparities, statistics 1 21 full false Episode 22 | Calling the Church Episode 22 | Calling the Church Still sitting in the Study Center library, Professor Nelson and Dayna Matthew's conversation moves from discussing the current state of racial inequity in Charlottesville to examining what the church can do next.

"Instead of just giving ear to the problem, the church can roll up its sleeves and give love to the problem." - Dayna Matthew. 

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]]> Still sitting in the Study Center library, Professor Nelson and Dayna Matthew's conversation moves from discussing the current state of racial inequity in Charlottesville to examining what the church can do next.

"Instead of just giving ear to the problem, the church can roll up its sleeves and give love to the problem." - Dayna Matthew. 

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]]> The Center for Christian Study Buzzsprout-975771 Wed, 30 Jan 2019 00:00:00 -0500 907 race, racism, Charlottesville, inequity, church, response, love, love your neighbor 1 22 full false