Join author, historian, and musician Gregg D. Kimball for an evening exploring the life and legacy of blind Virginia musician James Lee “Jimmie” Strother. In 1936, Strother recorded powerful songs while imprisoned at the Virginia State Prison Farm, offering a rare window into early 20th-century Black life and Virginia’s musical traditions. Kimball will examine the historical context of Strother’s work—touching on segregation, labor, and survival under racial terror—and connect it to broader Black experiences of the time. The event includes live performances of Strother’s songs. |
