Courtesy The Virginia Department of Historic Resources

—The court case helped lead to the establishment of the Mutual United Brotherhood of Liberty, a forerunner of the NAACP—

—Text of marker reproduced below—

PLEASE NOTE: DHR creates markers not to “honor” their subjects but rather to educate and inform the public about a person, place, or event of regional, state, or national importance. In this regard, erected markers are not memorials.

RICHMOND – The Virginia Department of Historic Resources (DHR) has announced that a state historical marker approved by the Virginia Board of Historic Resources will be dedicated this weekend highlighting the events that led to The Stewart Sisters v. The Steamer Sue, a 19th-century court case that became an impetus for the establishment of the Mutual United Brotherhood of Liberty, a forerunner of the NAACP.

The dedication for the marker will be held Saturday, October 4, starting at noon, at New Jerusalem Baptist Church, located at 2695 Kings Mill Road in Kinsale (22488). The marker unveiling will take place at the marker’s location on Route 202, a few yards east of 13890 Cople Highway in Kinsale. Guest parking for the dedication will be available at the parking lot of New Jerusalem Baptist Church. For the marker unveiling, guests may park on the side of the road or in the parking lot at the marker site. This event is free and open to the public.

The dedication ceremony will begin with an invocation led by Bishop Gerald Smith, the pastor at New Jerusalem Baptist Church, followed by a statement of occasion from Dallas G. Henderson, a descendant of the Stewart sisters. Also scheduled to speak at the dedication are the Rev. Darryl Fisher, chair of the Westmoreland County Board of Supervisors; Dennis Patrick Halpin, Ph.D., an associate professor of history at Virginia Tech; the Rev. Dr. Alvin C. Hathaway, Sr., pastor emeritus at Union Baptist Church in Baltimore, Maryland; DHR’s Division Director of Community Services Amanda Terrell; Bessida Cauthorne White, president of the Middle Peninsula African-American Genealogical and Historical Society; and other descendants of the Stewart sisters. The dedication will feature musical selections by Juanita Cox. The unveiling of the marker will be led by Fannie R. Thomas, a granddaughter of Mary Stewart Johnson and the only surviving grandchild of the Stewart sisters, along with other descendants of the Stewart sisters. Refreshments will be served after the conclusion of the unveiling.

On August 15, 1884, while traveling aboard the steamer Sue from Baltimore to visit family in the Kinsale community of Westmoreland County, four Virginia-born sisters, Martha and Winnie Stewart, Mary Johnson, and Lucy Jones, were denied first-class quarters because they were Black. The sisters filed a lawsuit in federal court with help from the Rev. Harvey Johnson, a civil rights leader and the longtime pastor of Union Baptist Church in Baltimore, contending segregated quarters were illegal and that the Sue’s were unequal. The trial court ruled that segregation was reasonable but gave the sisters $100 each because the quarters were unequal. This ruling was affirmed on appeal. The case was one of many brought by Black women in the late 1800s and became an impetus for the creation of the Mutual United Brotherhood of Liberty, a forerunner of the NAACP.

The Virginia Board of Historic Resources, which is authorized to designate new state historical markers, approved the manufacture and installation of The Stewart Sisters v. The Steamer Sue historical marker in September 2024. The cost of the marker was covered by its sponsor, the Middle Peninsula African-American Genealogical and Historical Society.

Virginia’s historical highway marker program began in 1927 with installation of the first markers along U.S. Route 1. It is considered the oldest such program in the nation. Currently there are more than 2,600 state markers, mostly maintained by the Virginia Department of Transportation, except in those localities outside of VDOT’s authority.

Full Text of Marker:

The Stewart Sisters v. The Steamer Sue

On 15 Aug. 1884, Virginia-born sisters Martha and Winnie Stewart, Mary Johnson, and Lucy Jones were denied first-class quarters because of their race when traveling on the steamer Sue from Baltimore to visit family in Kinsale. With support from the Rev. Harvey Johnson, they filed suit in federal court asserting that segregated quarters were illegal and that the Sue’s were unequal. The trial court’s ruling that segregation was reasonable but giving the sisters $100 each because the quarters were unequal was affirmed on appeal. The case, one of many brought by Black women in the late 1800s, was an impetus for the creation of the Mutual United Brotherhood of Liberty, a forerunner of the NAACP.

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Courtesy, UVA Media Relations

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. — The Education Rights Institute at the University of Virginia School of Law will host a conversation with U.S. Supreme Court Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson on Thursday, Sept. 18 from 6-7:30 p.m. at UVA’s Old Cabell Hall.The event, “Reflections on Education with Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson,” will open with an introduction by UVA Interim President Paul Mahoney, then a short reading by Jackson from her bestselling memoir, “Lovely One.”

Event host Professor Kimberly Jenkins Robinson, the founding director of the Education Rights Institute (ERI), will offer remarks, and will join Justice Jackson for a wide-ranging conversation on education..

“We are thrilled to welcome Justice Jackson to the University of Virginia,” Robinson said. “Her story and leadership exemplify the powerful impact of education and the importance of high-quality educational opportunities, which ERI strives to advance.”Robinson has a personal connection with Jackson — the pair were roommates at Harvard Law School. “Justice Jackson has been a supportive friend since we were roommates, and I have been honored to encourage her along her journey to the Supreme Court,” Robinson said.The event is free and open to the public, and registration is required.Signed copies of “Lovely One” is be available for purchase at the UVA Bookstore and will be available at the event. No live book signing will occur.

Registration Details

Registration for the free event opens Wednesday, Aug. 27 at 8 a.m. on the event website. Registration will close on Sept. 7 at 11:59 p.m. unless all seats are claimed earlier. Seating is limited and will be filled in order of registration. For security reasons, only registered attendees will be admitted. Registration is non-transferable, and there will be no standby line. All attendee names will be submitted to the appropriate federal authorities for screening purposes.

On Sept. 18, doors at Old Cabell Hall will open at 4:30 p.m. The program runs from 6-7:30 p.m. Government-issued ID will be required at check-in for all attendees on the day of the event, and names on the cards must match registration information exactly. A clear bag policy will be enforced. Non-approved bags, laptops, food and beverages will not be permitted, and any items left outside the auditorium will be removed.

Four-Day Gathering Featured Top Culinary Talent, Thought-Provoking Conversations, Memorable Performances, and Signature Family-Style Experiences

Courtesy Salamanda Media Relations

(Middleburg, VA; August 20, 2025) – The Family Reunion, the nation’s leading culinary celebration of diversity and excellence, marked its fifth anniversary with a sold-out weekend of food, culture, and community from August 14–17, 2025, at the Five-Star Salamander Middleburg resort.

Presented by Chef, Restaurateur, and Author Kwame Onwuachi in collaboration with Sheila Johnson’s Salamander Collection and Food & Wine, the four-day festival drew  1,000 daily attendees for dynamic programming that blended culinary mastery with cultural conversation. The event once again supported the Onwuachi ’13 Scholarship Fund at The Culinary Institute of America, with the help of partners including Wells Fargo, Amazon, Lexus, Google, Coca-Cola, and others.

This milestone year featured an all-star roster of culinary luminaries, including Mashama Bailey, Erick Williams, Rodney Scott, Gregory Gourdet, Nyesha Arrington, Carla Hall, Tavel Bristol-Joseph, Tiffany Derry, and Alexander Smalls. Together, they led a rich program of panels, cooking demonstrations, family-style meals, spirited evening events, and late-night afterglows.

Thursday opened with the “Fore Us, By Us” Golf Excursion at Creighton Farms Golf Club followed by a Welcome Reception Cookout presented by United Airlines and Virginia Tourism Corporation, featuring pitmasters Rodney Scott, Bryan Furman, Kevin Bludso, Rasheed Philips, along with Torrence “Chef T” Gregoire and Virginia Ali/Ben’s Chili Bowl. Highlights included Chef Bryan’s Carolina Peach Mustard Ribs, Chef T’s OG Crunch Fried Chicken, and for dessert, Bourbon Peach Hand Pies by Salamander’s Pastry Team. The inaugural Legacy Dinner, a unique culinary experience presented by OpenTable, was held at Harrimans Grill, the resort’s renowned Five-Star restaurant. Mashama Bailey and Erick Williams crafted a delectable menu featuring deviled quail eggs and caviar, fried soft shell crab, roast chicken, and buttermilk pound cake. The evening was capped with a lively “Purple Haze” R&B Party featuring a surprise performance by Mario.

Friday began with the Rise and Dine Breakfast led by Chef Mawa McQueen and Food & Wine Editor in Chief Hunter Lewis. Guests then rotated through Breakthrough Sessions,anew addition this year, featuring cooking demos by Tiffany Derry, Erick Williams and Tavel Bristol-Joseph; trivia with Dr. Jessica B. Harris and Alexander Smalls; while Wells Fargo hosted “The Times Are Changing and So Are Our Wallets,”  a fireside chat with Mayor Leo Williams of Durham, NC, and the National Restaurant Association. Following the panels, Dōgon by Kwame Onwuachi and Dakar NOLA showcased a variety of signature dishes during a Family-Style Lunch. Dōgon offered curried branzino and BBQ greens, while Dakar presented chicken yassa and a black-eyed pea salad. Vallery Lomas’ dessert rounded out the meal. Afternoon highlights included BBQ 411 with Rasheed Philips and Rodney Scott and “Jerk: The Dish That Freed a Nation,” with chefs Andre Fowles, a masterclass with Nicola Blaque and Lamar Moore leading guests through an in-depth tasting of delicious jerk cuisine.

That evening paid tribute to the Harlem Renaissance celebrating the era that reflected on Black identity. Culinary showcases included Adrienne Cheatham’s Lobster Beignets, JR Robinson’s Fraiche Gumbo, Melba Wilson’s Harlem Fried Chicken and Waffles, oysters from King St. Oyster Bar, and many more delectable dishes. For the Legacy Dinner by Gregory Gourdet and Nyesha Arrington, guests enjoyed Chilled Sweet Corn Soup with Peekytoe Crab, Epis Rubbed Snapper, Roasted Suya Shrimp, Beef Cheek, and a Strawberry-Sorrel Shortcake. The evening concluded with musical and cultural performances, including a special appearance by the legendary Slick Rick.

Saturday featured marquee panels, including a Food & Wine–curated discussion on renowned chef, author and teacher Edna Lewis and the legacy of black women chefs moderated by Cheryl Slocum, with panelists Carla Hall, Mashama Bailey and Dr. Jessica B. Harris. The Family-Style Lunch showcased Tatiana’s Sofrito Roasted Chicken and Piri Piri Salad, while Lure Fishbar offered a Grilled Mediterranean Sea Bass Sandwich and Bacon-Wrapped Shrimp. Breakouts included a “Chopped”-style competition presented by Google and a fireside chat titled “Turning Your Passion Project into a Money Maker,” hosted by Gigi Dixon from Wells Fargo, entrepreneur Hill Harper, and Janell Stephens, the founder and CEO of Camille Rose Hair Care. The evening came to a close with a 1970s-themed Block Party that showcased culinary talents from various chefs. Brian Jupiter’s lamb carnitas, Damarr Brown’s dirty grits, Douglas Williams’ New England Fry Basket, Muhammad Hadi’s lamb sausage pizza, and Kareem Queeman’s sweet potato rum cake were just a few of the dishes on offer. To add to the nostalgic vibe, the Salamander Pastry Team created tie-dye boozy Jello shots to honor the 70s theme. Saturday evening’s Legacy Dinner featured Tiffany Derry and Tavel Bristol-Joseph, who showcased a variety of dishes, including ceviche, a New York Strip, smoked yams, and watermelon lime sorbet. The evening also included a special Lifetime Achievement Award honoring the late James Beard Award-winning chef Patrick Clark, accepted by his son, Preston Clark.

Sunday closed the weekend with an uplifting Sunday Service featuring the Baltimore Urban Choir, sending attendees home inspired and connected.

As in previous years, attendees were divided into four “families”—Harry Belafonte, Sammy Davis Jr., James Baldwin, and Billie Holiday—competing for points in interactive games and chef-led activities. Team Sammy Davis Jr. claimed this year’s victory.

Supported by Salamander’s acclaimed culinary team, the weekend featured more than 50 chefs, authors, and hospitality leaders, including: Virginia Ali, Nyesha Arrington, Mashama Bailey, Kareem Bakeman, Shorne Benjamin, Osei “Chef Picky” Blackett, Nicola Blaque, Kevin Bludso, Tavel Bristol-Joseph, Maya-Camille Broussard, Damarr Brown, Adrienne Cheatham, Preston Clark, Tiffany Derry, Andre Fowles, Bryan Furman, Deb Freeman, Charles Gabriel, Gregory Gourdet, Torrance “Chef T” Gregoire, Muhammad Abdul Hadi, Carla Hall, Dr. Jessica B. Harris, Brian Jupiter, Vallery Lomas, Matthew Lyons, Serigne Mbaye, Mawa McQueen, Lamar Moore, Nina Oduro, Kwame Onwuachi, Ken Pettus, Rasheed Philips, Jamila Robinson, JR Robinson, Rodney Scott, Alexander Smalls, David Thomas, Tonya Thomas, Georgiana Viou, Chip Wade, Erick Williams, Douglass Williams, and Melba Wilson.

The mission of The Family Reunion is to nurture, develop and celebrate racial and ethnic diversity within the next generation of hospitality professionals. The celebration took place at Sheila Johnson’s Salamander Middleburg resort, which is one of only five properties in the USA to hold separate Forbes Five-Star ratings for accommodations, spa and dining. Experiences took place throughout Salamander’s 340 acres, including its Culinary Garden and Library. There was also a sweeping outdoor Grand Stage venue hosting a rotating lineup of meals and events.

The only African American woman to wholly own a Forbes Five-Star resort, Johnson is renowned for co-founding Black Entertainment Television. In addition to collaborating on The Family Reunion, Johnson and Kwame Onwuachi also partnered to create the highly acclaimed restaurant, Dōgon, at Johnson’s Salamander Washington DC hotel. Onwuachi, who owns the renowned Tatiana in New York City, also recently announced two new dining projects: Maroon in Las Vegas and Las’ Lap Miami.

The 2025 Family Reunion event’s full list of partners includes Salamander Collection, Food & Wine, Wells Fargo, Virginia Tourism Corporation, United Airlines, Sheila Johnson Collection, National Restaurant Association and the Multicultural Foodservice & Hospitality Alliance (MFHA), Amazon, Google, Lexus, OpenTable, Toast, Select Events, Coca-Cola, Inspire, Zigma World, AmaWaterways, Ecolab, Glad, Tilit, Visit Loudoun, La Colombe, and Nubian Hueman.

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By Bonnie Newman Davis

Photos by Bonnie Newman Davis and Chinae Renee

I recently spent my fourth year documenting the Kwame Onwuachi Presents The Family Reunion hosted by the Salamander Collection’s resort in Middleburg, Virginia. This year’s reunion, which drew hundreds of people from various parts of the U.S., was bigger and better than ever. The first Family Reunion rolled out in 2021, when pandemic-weary folks finally felt comfortable consuming good food and good libations among friends old and new. This past weekend’s event (August 14-17) celebrated culture and cuisine mixed with panel discussions about building community, legacy and wealth. Congratulations Shelia Johnson and Kwame on your Fifth Family Reunion! Cheers to many more!!

hashtag#TheFamilyReunion

The inaugural Petersburg Book Fest, hosted by Resist Booksellers, will take place onSaturday, Sept. 13 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Appomattox Regional Governor’s School in Petersburg, Virginia.

This one-day literary festival will showcase local and national authors, educators, artists and independent publishers, offering something for everyone – from author meet-and-greets, book signings and panel discussions to family-friendly programming such as children’s story time sessions, local food vendors and hands-on activities.

Demetrius Frazier is the owner of Resist Booksellers, a Black-owned independent bookstore that opened in Petersburg in 2022. He saw a literary festival as a way to improve access to diverse voices and create inclusive spaces where literacy, creativity and community can flourish.

“Petersburg deserves a space that not only celebrates books, but also affirms the richness of our stories and culture,” said Frazier in a press release. “We’re excited to bring people together across generations to read, learn and grow.”

The Petersburg Book Fest is free and open to the public.

For more details about the event and featured guests visit www.petersburgbookfest.com

Keynote Speakers:

Keynote speakers are, from left: Ayanna Gray, Kelly J. Baptist, Frederick Jones and Sandra Jackson-Opoku.