History of Formerly Enslaved African Americans in Virginia, Task Force for the ID of the
Purpose
With such funds as are appropriated by the General Assembly and with the agreement of the Virginia Foundation for the Humanities (the Foundation), the Foundation shall identify the history of formerly enslaved African Americans in Virginia and determine ways to preserve that history for educational and cultural purposes.
Term
Legislative members shall serve terms coincident with their terms of office. Gubernatorial appointments shall be for a term of two years. Appointments to fill vacancies, other than by expiration of a term, shall be for the unexpired terms. Nonlegislative citizen members may be reappointed. Vacancies shall be filled in the same manner as the original appointments.
Composition
To assist the Foundation in its work, a task force is hereby created consisting of 17 members as follows: three members of the House of Delegates to be appointed by the Speaker of the House of Delegates in accordance with the principles of proportional representation contained in the Rules of the House of Delegates; two members of the Senate to be appointed by the Senate Committee on Rules; seven nonlegislative citizen members to be appointed by the Governor, at least one of whom shall be a recognized historian with scholarship in American history and slavery and at least one of whom shall be the president of a historically black college or university located in the Commonwealth. The Director of the Department of Historic Resources or his designee, the Director of the Black History Museum and Cultural Center of Virginia or his designee, the executive director of the Virginia Tourism Authority or his designee, the chairman of the board of trustees of the Virginia Outdoors Foundation or his designee, and the President of the Foundation shall serve ex officio.
Vacant Seats
No seats are available at this time. If you are interested in joining this board in the future, please submit an application here.
Current Board Members
President Makola Abdullah
President of a Historically Black College or University Membership expires on 6/30/2026Brenton H. Hammond
Member of the General Public Membership expires on 6/30/2026Nikki Nichole Rattray Baldwin
Member of the General Public Membership expires on 6/30/2026Dr Jonathan White
Historian (American History and Slavery) Membership expires on 6/30/2027Pastor Roger Douglas Cheeks
Member of the General Public Membership expires on 6/30/2027Rita Parks
Member of the General Public Membership expires on 6/30/2027