Scruggs to talk about fellowship project

By Page H. Gifford
Correspondent

Horace Scruggs III will speak for the Preservation Virginia African-American Fellowship celebrating the Enslaved Ancestors Buildings of Fluvanna on Aug. 18 at 4 p.m.

Sunday’s program, to be held at the Spragg-Key Auditorium at the Fluvanna Central Elementary School, will feature music, a short documentary, and open discussions about African-American history.

Scruggs recently became a 2024 fellow at the Preservation Virginia African-American Fellowship and said the project’s focus is to highlight the buildings and structures that were built by enslaved Africans in Fluvanna County. This includes plantation homes, public buildings, and the remnants of locks and dams.

“Re-shaping our understanding of Fluvanna’s America’s history is the primary goal. The African-American contributions have often been left out of the story and this project’s goal is to introduce those stories to our community,” he said.

Shedding light on the contributions of the African-American population shows the industriousness that had little recognition when it came to familiar and iconic landmarks, buildings, and communities. Withstanding time, these sites tell the story of past generations in a way that has not been told.

“I do hope that we reconnect with our past in a meaningful way. That we also take ownership of our county and see that African-Americans have been part of this story from the beginning and that we can continue to do so even today” added Scruggs.

Scruggs, who is known as a musician and teacher,  has made the foray into local history and that of the African-American story his passion.

“I’ve been interested in American history and the African-American contributions to it for quite some time. While teaching at FCHS I was in charge of the African-American history program and preparing for that each year increased my knowledge a great deal,” he said. “In recent years my involvement with the historical society and other historic institutions has given me the platform and connection to dive deeper into this history.”

The program is free and donations are accepted for the Friends of Dunbar.