Martinsville hosted the 2025 Culture and Soul Expo on Feb. 26 at the Tad Space, focusing on the contributions of African Americans in labor. The event featured several guest speakers, including Natalie Hodge Davis, owner of Rudy’s Girl Media; Dr. Melanie Lewis, an educator and community leader; and Dr. Franklin Ellis, a multicultural counselor.
Several city officials attended the event, including Mayor LC Jones, Vice Mayor Kathy Lawson, Council Members Rayshaun Gravely and Julian Mei, and City Manager Aretha Ferrell-Benavides.
“We dedicate February to highlighting the individual contributions that African Americans have made in U.S. history,” Jones said. “Celebrating Black history transcends mere remembrance—it’s also about envisioning a future brimming with hope, growth, and opportunity.”
Honoring Black Labor Through Words and Reflection
Davis contributed to the spoken word portion of the evening, reading an excerpt from her book, Mahogany Blues. “We carry life, even when it’s stripped from us,” she said, focusing on themes of labor and powerful women.
Lewis spoke about the impact of African American workers on Martinsville and beyond, noting families such as the Hairston and Gravely families, who played a role in shaping the city.
“Black labor has been the backbone of advancement in our society,” Lewis said. “Black labor has been at the core of all industries, from the tobacco plantations of Chatmoss and Oakhill to the furniture making of Bassett and Hooker.”
She also acknowledged the systemic barriers that African American workers have faced.
“In return for their sacrifice, they were met with systematic discrimination. They were forced into lower wages, segregated workspaces, and limited opportunities. But still, they labored, still, they trained, and still, they became architects of their own destiny to gain a better future.”
Lewis highlighted local history, pointing to figures such as Lucy Manns, who refused to give up her seat on a bus six years before Rosa Parks and served 30 days in jail for her defiance. She also referenced the Martinsville Seven, a group of Black men executed in 1951 in what has since been widely regarded as an unjust legal process.
“Their memories live on as a reminder of the injustices we struggled to overcome,” Lewis said. She urged the audience to “labor” for a better future. “Let us labor to preserve our history, not just in Black History Month, but every day.”
The Hardships and Rewards of Labor
Ellis expanded on the theme of labor, likening it to the physical and emotional struggle of childbirth.
“Labor is hard,” he said. “Think about it—it is so hard that we call childbirth one of the most painful, yet miraculous processes known to humanity. We call it what? We call it labor.”
Ellis discussed the additional challenges African Americans have historically faced, including discrimination, systemic oppression, and economic struggles that have often required sacrifices at the cost of their own well-being.
“We labor with our hands, we labor with our heads, we labor with our heart, we labor with our spirit,” he said. He noted that Black workers are frequently overworked and underpaid but continue to persevere. “We do it because kindness runs throughout our veins.”
Ellis encouraged attendees to recognize their worth. “You are priceless,” he said. “The world will try to put a price tag on you, they will try to discount your value, but you are not on clearance.”
Music and Community Gathering
The Martinsville High School Gospel Choir performed throughout the evening, offering musical interludes between speakers. A catered sit-down dinner was also provided for attendees.
The Culture and Soul Expo served as both a reflection on African American contributions to labor and a call to action for continued progress and recognition.
