Author: Alexandra Byrum

Famous Visitors, Uncategorized

Abolition as an Interracial Fight in Richmond, Virginia

By Sharon Lim, ’16 Solomon Northrup’s and Charles Dickens’ visit to Richmond, and subsequent personal testimonies shed insight into the institution of slavery, through the very different eyes of a freeborn African American  and  an acclaimed British author.  Their vastly different social standing affected how they documented their experiences with slavery, and on what they chose to focus. Northrup’s testimony about slavery is based on … Continue reading Abolition as an Interracial Fight in Richmond, Virginia

Alexandra Byrum
Interpretive Essays

“5 Minutes in Richmond, VA:” The 2015 UCI Races and Exclusionary Representations of RVA

By Damian Hondares, ’17            “Today could be a huge day for Richmond,” the Richmond Times-Dispatch predicted in September 2011. “Mayor Dwight C. Jones is overseas in Copenhagen, Denmark, awaiting an announcement of the winning bid for the 2015 World Road Cycling Championships.” Hours later, it was official: Richmond would host the championships, “cycling’s pinnacle event.” Three hundred million eyes would be on Richmond, from … Continue reading “5 Minutes in Richmond, VA:” The 2015 UCI Races and Exclusionary Representations of RVA

Alexandra Byrum
Interpretive Essays

A President in the Pew in Richmond: The Forces behind the Culmination of a National Identity

By Kenneth Anderson, ’17        On Sunday morning, April 2, 1865, regular services were in progress at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church on Grace Street in Richmond, Virginia. The Rev. Dr. Charles Minnigerode was in the midst of delivering his sermon as parishioners prepared  for the distribution of the Eucharist. The church, located across from the Virginia capitol was the place of worship and social center for … Continue reading A President in the Pew in Richmond: The Forces behind the Culmination of a National Identity

Alexandra Byrum
Interpretive Essays

Mr. Day-Lewis! Over Here…Over Here! Analyzing the Breakdown of Social and Traditional Media

By Victoria Charles, ’16            When onlooker Michael Phillips decided to capture and share a photo of Academy-Award winning actor Daniel Day-Lewis eating at a Richmond restaurant via Twitter he contributed to the ever-growing repository of user-generated content that is the substance of social media. Currently, consumers of media are also producers of media in a way that blurs the lines of distinction between mass … Continue reading Mr. Day-Lewis! Over Here…Over Here! Analyzing the Breakdown of Social and Traditional Media

Alexandra Byrum
Interpretive Essays

Jenny Lind: An Angelic Icon Consumed by the American Public

By Katie Neatrour, ’16 Under the wings of Phineas T. Barnum, known as “the Greatest Showman on Earth”, the Swedish Nightingale, Jenny Lind created a musical sensation across America. Although he had never heard Lind’s voice before inviting her to America, P.T. Barnum was well aware of Lind’s international fame. With many other American tour offers on her plate, Lind was nonetheless intrigued by Barnum’s. … Continue reading Jenny Lind: An Angelic Icon Consumed by the American Public

Alexandra Byrum