Historical marker honors Black political activism in Charles City

Descendants of Black Charles City political activists Richard Bowman, James Bradby, Iona Adkins, and Edward Banks gather around a historical marker honoring their work during Sunday afternoon's ceremony.

Charles City County unveiled a historical marker dedicated to Black Political activism and the historic rights movement during an Oct. 15 ceremony.

The movement was spearhead by four individuals in Charles City County, NAACP leader Richard Bowman, James Bradby, Iona W. Adkins, and Edward T. Banks.

The fight for Black Political rights was highlighted in the 1959 Ebony Magazine. The historically black magazine recognized Charles City County as Virginia’s Model County for equal rights, as well as among the nation.

During the presentation, history on the struggles of the suffrage of African-Americans began with speaking about how a poll’s tax was implemented on black citizens, even though the 15th Amendment provided them the right to vote. Banks organized black citizens to gather together and pay the poll tax and register to vote, despite the opposition from the state’s restrictions. And while additional test that included literacy were imposed, those tactics did not sway the movement.

In 1951, Banks was elected to Charles City’s Board of Supervisors and by 1960, the county’s board and commission leadership were all occupied by African-American members. In 1965, Bowman orchestrated a movement seeking the desegregation of schools, filing a civil lawsuit after the passing of Brown vs. The Board of Education. The movement allowed for the integration of Charles City and Ruthville High Schools. In 1967, Bradby became the first black citizen in Virginia to be elected as Sheriff in the state, and Adkins became the first African-American to hold the position of Clerk of Circuit Court.

The historical marker sits at the southeast corner at the intersection of Route 5 (John Tyler Memorial Highway) and Route 155 (Courthouse Road).

A close-up of the historical marker depicts the importance of the Black suffrage movement in Charles City.