Challenging Racism: Continued welcomes you to an evening of local history and stories with Wilma Jones, author of My Halls Hill Family: More Than a Neighborhood.

Part memoir, part historic chronicle, Jones’ multi-generational narrative, My Halls Hill Family, begins in the mid-1800s and sketches modern drama in an evocative, personal statement on segregation and life-long community ties.

The historic Hall’s Hill neighborhood is full of stories and history. You might have heard of the Hall’s Hill Wall, come learn more about the history and community behind it.

Hall’s Hill Stories
Challenging Racism: Continued
Wednesday, October 2, 2019

6:30 – 7:00 pm  Gathering and Refreshments
7:00 – 8:30 pm  Interview and Q&A

The discussion will be held in the historic Calloway United Methodist Church.

As Arlington Changes, One Neighborhood Looks Back at Its History

Formerly Segregated Neighborhood History to be in the Spotlight

Arlington, VA— September 9, 2019 — The John M. Langston Citizens Association proudly announces two events, a Panel and Performance and a Walking Tour of the Historic Halls Hill – High View Park neighborhood, all funded by a grant award from Virginia Humanities.

The project is an outgrowth of the Cigar Box Project, an initiative led by the organization, Changing Arlington’s Narrative on Race. In this project 280 Arlington middle schoolers participated in a project incorporating Piedmont Blues music, Halls Hill neighborhood history and building cigar box guitars. “We are excited to build upon the successful Cigar Box Project to shine a light on the history of our neighborhood and to continue the dialogue among the community about Race in Arlington,” said Wilma Jones Killgo, President of the Citizens Association and author of “My Halls Hill Family: More Than a Neighborhood.” Ms. Jones Killgo participated in the Cigar Box Project and is Project Director of the grant.

The Panel and Performance event titled, “Learn from This Place: Bringing Arlington to Halls Hill” will be held Wednesday, November 13^th at 6:30 PM at the Virginia Hospital Center’s Auditorium at 1701 North George Mason Drive. The Walking Tour will be Saturday, November 16^th from 10-Noon at various locations in the neighborhood, including Langston Community Center, Fire Station 8, both once segregated facilities in the County.

The purpose of the project is to expose the larger Arlington community to the history of Halls Hill and other Arlington African American neighborhoods to make them aware of the deeply rooted institutional racism that characterized the County and the resiliency of these communities in face of this racism. The evening event includes a panel comprised of former and current African American community residents and educators and a performance by the Phil Wiggins Blues House Party with members of the Arlington middle school Cigar Box Project students.

Virginia Humanities is the state humanities council, working to tell the stories of all Virginians. This program is funded through the Virginia Humanities Community Grants Initiative. The John M. Langston Citizens Association is the civic organization advocating for the Halls Hill – High View Park neighborhood.

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For more information about the event and organizations:

John M. Langston Citizens Association – https://www.highviewpark.com/

Virginia Humanities – https://www.virginiahumanities.org/

Phil Wiggins Blues House Party – https://www.philwiggins.com/

Rick Franklin – https://hokumblues.com/

Cigar Box Project

More info coming soon!