THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, June 30, 1996 TAG: 9606280221
SECTION: PORTSMOUTH CURRENTS PAGE: 15 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY SUSAN W. SMITH, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: 62 lines
``Portraits of the Past,'' an exhibition of more than 300 photographs, prints and artifacts chronicling the life, culture and experiences of blacks, whites and Indians, are on display at the Virginia Beach Center for the Arts.
The event is sponsored by The African-American Cultural Council of Virginia Beach, an organization that promotes community events to acknowledge the many contributions and accomplishments of various cultures in local communities.
``It is important to not only understand our differences, but to recognize that we have much in common,'' said Freddi E. Moody, president of the African-American Cultural Council. ``All the different groups have made Hampton Roads what it is today. Now we should cross racial and cultural barriers and work for a common goal.''
The photographs and original documents on exhibit offer a glimpse of 18th and 19th century people of Norfolk County, Princess Anne County, Portsmouth and Norfolk.
Many local citizens who worked for the improvement of their schools, churches and government have been forgotten in the passage of time, said Edna M. Hendricks, the council historian.
Hendricks said she became interested in the black history of Hampton Roads when her son had a school project, and they could not find much information. She began visiting homes and collecting photographs, documents, stories and family histories.
Since then she has presented her collection to many area schools and colleges.
``We have to remind ourselves and teach our children that our forefathers had a great struggle to get where we are today,'' Hendricks said. ``It is important that we make our children aware of our past history. They should have the will and gumption to want to continue to make things better. It was tough for everyone. Now we must all work together.''
Hendricks said she wanted the pictures and records to unfold the past so it will not be forgotten but passed on to the next generation.
The pictures on display include those of Charles E. Hodges and Willis A. Hodges. The brothers were leaders in education, religion and politics in Princess Anne County and Norfolk County during the Reconstruction years.
Charles Hodges was a property owner, a minister and a justice of the peace. He was the founding pastor of Divine Baptist Church in Deep Creek, and he served in the House of Delegates for Norfolk County and Portsmouth from 1869 to 1871.
Hendricks said the Hodgeses took blacks by the wagonload to register and vote. The historian said the brothers were driven out of Princess Anne County several times for taking black men to the polls. Other times, they were arrested and jailed for encouraging blacks to not only vote but to run for office.
In 1867 at a constitutional convention, Willis Hodges boasted that his grandfather, a free man, fought in the Revolution for American Independence. Willis Hodges later founded a school and a church in Norfolk County.
Portraits of Hodges and other black officeholders were presented at the opening ceremony last week to representatives from Chesapeake, Virginia Beach, Portsmouth and Norfolk in hope that the pictures will be displayed in the cities' courthouses, said Hendricks. MEMO: More information about Edna Hendricks' historical collection is
available by calling her at 557-9724. by CNB