Johnette Gordon-Weaver is an American historian, genealogist, and activist. She is active in the restoration and historical preservation of black history in Williamsburg, Virginia. In October 2023, she became the first woman of color to join the Williamsburg Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution, one of the society's oldest and largest chapters.
Career
editGordon-Weaver is a media consultant for Williamsburg Action, an organization formed after the Murder of George Floyd that is focused on racial justice and equality in Williamsburg.[1] She participated in the city's George Flyod protest.[2]
She is active in Reservation, the Village Initiative, and other organizations and projects that restore and preserve African-American history in Williamsburg.[3][4] She serves on some of the organization's advisory boards.[5] Gordon-Weaver wrote an essay that was included in a history book published by College of William & Mary's Bray School Lab.[6] She is also an oral historian.[7]
In 2021, she served as a narrator at a Black History Month service at Triangle Block, a historically black business area in Williamsburg.[8][9]
She spoke at Williambsurg's fourth annual National Day of Racial Healing.[10]
Personal life
editGordon-Weaver is the daughter of Myrtle Gordon.[9] She is the sixth-great-granddaughter of Anthony Roberts, a freedman who served as a waggoner in the 1st Virginia Regiment during the American Revolutionary War.[11][12] She is a descendent of students at the Williamsburg Bray School, a school for free and enslaved black children in Williamsburg, Virginia.[6]
In October 2023, she became the first woman of color to join the Williamsburg Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution, one of the society's oldest and largest chapters.[11][13] Her patriot ancestor, Roberts, is the first free African-American patriot recognized by the organization at the national level.[11]
She is Baptist and is a member of First Baptist Church.[14][15]
References
edit- ^ "Williamsburg activists call for racial healing, reparations". News 3 WTKR Norfolk. October 4, 2020.
- ^ "Marchers in Williamsburg shed light on racial injustice". News 3 WTKR Norfolk. June 7, 2020.
- ^ "Colonial Williamsburg unveils markers that will show where bodies were buried at historic Black church". June 20, 2024.
- ^ Kalish, Daniel (February 7, 2023). "New research from the Village Initiative and William and Mary faculty, students highlights history of displaced local Black Reservation community".
- ^ "Williamsburg still seeking stories of Black history for heritage trail". August 16, 2024.
- ^ a b "Johnette Gordon-Weaver Oral History | W&M Libraries Digital Collections".
- ^ "Gordon-Weaver, Johnette | W&M Libraries Digital Collections".
- ^ "Service event held Sunday in honor of Black History Month at Triangle Block in Williamsburg". March 1, 2021.
- ^ a b Nadel, Curated by Amy (May 16, 2021). "Stories from the Triangle Block". ArcGIS StoryMaps.
- ^ "Turning on the light Williamsburg area observes National Day of Racial Healing". enewspaper.vagazette.com.
- ^ a b c "Williamsburg woman becomes first African-American inductee for area's chapter of Daughters of American Revolution". 13newsnow.com. October 3, 2023.
- ^ Hill, Laura D. (October 6, 2023). "Building a bigger table for telling a fuller story".
- ^ "Diversity is top priority for new DAR leadership | VPM".
- ^ "First Baptist Church celebrates 243 years, honors 400th anniversary of first Africans". Williamsburg Yorktown Daily. October 8, 2019.
- ^ "Exploring Black History in Williamsburg, VA | Visit Williamsburg". www.visitwilliamsburg.com. June 16, 2023.