The Black Belt of Virginia with Jeff Bennett

Book People welcomes local author Jeff Bennett for the launch of his new book The Black Belt of Virginia. The Black Belt of Virginia uncovers the hidden history of the Black communities that built, shaped, and survived Virginia, restoring stories nearly erased by slavery, war, and modern displacement. Witness the unique and often-overlooked history and contributions of Black people in the Commonwealth. From 1865 to 1877, there was a robust presence of more than eighty Black politicians throughout the state. Learn about the little-known history of a Black woman spy disguised covertly as an enslaved woman working in Confederate President Jefferson Davis’s home. Navigate the significant network of free Black communities during slavery through essays collected for an exciting narrative of important historical issues, such as detailing more than seventy Black communities displaced in Virginia, a church’s legacy through 135 years, and the significance of the land the author’s mother gifted him. Jeff Bennett is a writer and author whose work explores the intersections of race, policy, culture, and history. Jeff received a bachelor of arts in English from Virginia Military Institute. His debut nonfiction book, The Black Belt of Virginia: Untold Stories of African American History, will be released by The History Press on January 13, 2026.