Virginia has a rich and complex history when it comes to Black Americans. The state of Virginia was home to one of the earliest and largest populations of enslaved Africans brought to the American colonies. It was also the site of many significant events in Black history, both positive and negative.

One of the most well-known events in Virginia's Black history is the arrival of the first Africans in English North America in 1619 at Point Comfort (present-day Fort Monroe) in Hampton. These Africans were forcibly brought to the colony and sold into slavery, marking the beginning of the transatlantic slave trade on the North American continent.

During the period of slavery, Virginia was a major hub for the institution, with many plantations relying on enslaved labor for their economic prosperity. Some free Black communities also emerged in the state during this time, such as the settlement of Free Blacks in Norfolk known as "The First Baptist Church," which was formally established in 1806.

Virginia was also the birthplace of several prominent figures in Black history, including Booker T. Washington, a leading educator and civil rights activist who founded the Tuskegee Institute in Alabama, and Dr. Carter G. Woodson, known as the "Father of Black History," who established Negro History Week (now Black History Month).

In the 20th century, Virginia played a significant role in the civil rights movement. The state was at the center of several key legal battles, including the landmark Supreme Court case Brown v. Board of Education, which originated in Topeka, Kansas, but included a case from Virginia. The student-led sit-in movement for desegregation also took hold in Virginia, with the "Richmond 34" being among the first groups of Black students to stage a sit-in protest in 1960.

Today, Virginia continues to be an important stage for ongoing conversations and actions around racial equity and social justice. The state has seen the rise of Black political leaders and activists advocating for change and challenging systemic racism in various forms.