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The Souls of Bristol's Black Bottom: Reclaiming a Place, Restoring a Story With Bristol Historical Association
📅 Monday, September 14, 2026
🕐 6:30pm – 7:30pm 📍 Bristol Community
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Monday
September 14
6:30 PM
The Souls of Bristol's Black Bottom: Reclaiming a Place, Restoring a Story
Join community story steward Tina McDaniel and Dr. Daryl Carter, Professor, Associate Dean, and Director/Black American Studies at East Tennessee State University, for a program exploring the history, significance, and legacy of Bristol's Black Bottom.
Dr. Carter will provide historical context by examining the rise of Black business districts across America following Emancipation, their role as centers of entrepreneurship, culture, and community during segregation, and the profound impact of Urban Renewal on these neighborhoods.
Building on that broader history, McDaniel will share the story of Bristol's Black Bottom—once a vibrant African American business district located where the Bristol, Virginia Courthouse now stands. Drawing from her research, she will discuss Bristol's Black Bottom, what was lost when the neighborhood was dismantled, and the ongoing work to reclaim its history through The Souls of Bristol's Black Bottom initiative supported by the Anne & Gene Worrell Foundation and Virginia Humanities.
Together, the presentations will place Bristol's story within the larger history of Black placemaking in America and explore why preserving these histories matters today. The program will highlight current efforts to restore memory, strengthen community connections, and ensure that the legacy of Black Bottom becomes a visible and lasting part of Bristol's shared history.
September 14
6:30 PM
The Souls of Bristol's Black Bottom: Reclaiming a Place, Restoring a Story
Join community story steward Tina McDaniel and Dr. Daryl Carter, Professor, Associate Dean, and Director/Black American Studies at East Tennessee State University, for a program exploring the history, significance, and legacy of Bristol's Black Bottom.
Dr. Carter will provide historical context by examining the rise of Black business districts across America following Emancipation, their role as centers of entrepreneurship, culture, and community during segregation, and the profound impact of Urban Renewal on these neighborhoods.
Building on that broader history, McDaniel will share the story of Bristol's Black Bottom—once a vibrant African American business district located where the Bristol, Virginia Courthouse now stands. Drawing from her research, she will discuss Bristol's Black Bottom, what was lost when the neighborhood was dismantled, and the ongoing work to reclaim its history through The Souls of Bristol's Black Bottom initiative supported by the Anne & Gene Worrell Foundation and Virginia Humanities.
Together, the presentations will place Bristol's story within the larger history of Black placemaking in America and explore why preserving these histories matters today. The program will highlight current efforts to restore memory, strengthen community connections, and ensure that the legacy of Black Bottom becomes a visible and lasting part of Bristol's shared history.
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