Blind musician James Lee “Jimmie” Strother’s 1936 recordings at the Virginia State Prison Farm provide a unique window into Virginia traditional music in the early twentieth century. Just as important, his life and lyrics tell us much about the experiences of Black people in America in an age of segregation and heightened racial violence. Author and historian Gregg Kimball will discuss the social meaning of Strother’s songs, which speak of labor exploitation, sundown towns, and the dangers of the world. Strother’s personal experiences as an industrial laborer, migrant to the city, and street performer all reflect these larger social forces that shaped Black life in America. Kimball will also perform selected songs from Strother’s repertoire.
Gregg Kimball is an author, musician, and historian. He is the senior consulting historian for the Shockoe Institute and the former director of public services and outreach at the Library of Virginia. Gregg is the author of American City, Southern Place: A Cultural History of Antebellum Richmond and, most recently, Searching for Jimmie Strother: A Tale of Music, Murder, and Memory.
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