By Ms Jheri Worldwide
Shirley Plantation, nestled on the banks of the James River in Virginia, stands as a stately monument to America’s formative era. Established in 1613, this sprawling 800-acre estate is steeped in history, boasting the title of “America’s oldest family-run business.” Yet, beneath the veneer of manicured landscapes and meticulously preserved buildings lies a story that remains largely incomplete.
I pulled up mid-morning to a parking area with only one other car. A woman looked at the property nervously with her children in the car. We spoke briefly and she expressed how eerie, uncomfortable, and unwelcoming it felt from the parking area. She ultimately decided to leave, and I began my solo self-guided tour. A strong sense of hardship and lonely success permeated the air. If more money, more problems had a photo to accompany the lyric it would be this large ornate home with no one around. The wind whispered through the ancient trees, the only sound in the vast expanse of land next to a roaring river. A 350-year-old tree stood as a silent witness to centuries past, alongside a smokehouse, kitchen, ice house, and storehouse – remnants of a once-thriving plantation economy. Shirley Plantation’s strategic location on the James River made it a hub of commerce, receiving and distributing goods to its neighbors during its early periods like a colonial-era Amazon.
Amidst the grandeur and historical significance, a crucial element was missing: the voices of the enslaved. Unlike other plantations I’ve visited, Shirley Plantation made next to no mention of the enslaved community who toiled on its lands and built its infrastructure. Their stories, their struggles, and their contributions were largely absent from the narrative presented on plaques and walls of the open buildings. This omission is a stark reminder of the complexities of plantation tourism. While these sites offer glimpses into the past, they often fail to fully acknowledge the brutal realities of slavery. The stories told, and those left untold, shape our understanding of history and its lasting impact. By not acknowledging the whole of the history the tour felt incomplete, lacking in relevancy, and overall misleading.
As I wandered the grounds, I couldn’t help but wonder about the lives lived and lost on this land. Ancestors of the Carter family still live in the home, yet I wondered about the ancestry of those enslaved here. What were they told by their elders? What stories remain about Shirley Plantation that haven’t been heard or that might be suppressed? The silence was deafening, a testament to the erasure of a vital part of Shirley Plantation’s history.
Shirley Plantation, like many historic sites, has an opportunity to tell a more inclusive and truthful story. Acknowledging the contributions of the enslaved is not about shaming the current residents; it’s about honoring the full spectrum of human experiences that shaped these historic places. By incorporating the voices of the enslaved, Shirley Plantation can create a more meaningful and impactful experience for all visitors. It can foster a deeper understanding of the complexities of the past and inspire a more just and equitable future.
