Tired of the same old standard University tour? Everyone knows Jefferson's story. But some of the lesser known struggles behind what we see around Grounds today remain stuck in time.
Throughout February, in celebration of Black History Month the University Guide Service is featuring a tour of the history of black life at U.Va, "From Slave to Scholar: The History of African Americans at U.Va."
Fourth-year College student and Diversity Outreach Chair for the University Guide Service, Erin-Marie Burke, created this black history tour a year ago.
Inspired by a lecture on black history, Burke developed the one-hour outdoor tour, which takes a chronological look at the African-American journey from slave to scholar at the University.
"The tour begins at the Rotunda, where we speak about the construction of the Rotunda by slaves and white laborers and follows a chronological path that ends at the Office of African American Affairs," Burke said.
In order to make the tour more personal and interesting, tour guides tell several individual stories of blacks at the University, she said.
Tour-guides tell groups the story of Robert Bland, the first black man to graduate from the College in 1954. Alice Jackson, another significant black figure highlighted by the tour, applied to the University in 1935. Although Jackson's race prevented heracceptance to the University, she paved the way for future black applicants.
The tour, which is featured in February, also can be given upon request at any time of year.
"Many times, a minority group or other specific interest groups will request tours," Burke said.
And according to Burke, the first tour given last Saturday was a success.
"I gave the tour to about 15 people, which is a good number, considering we didn't advertise as much as we did last year for the tour's kick off," she said.
Tours will be open to the public every Saturday during February, beginning at 3 PM at the Rotunda.
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