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A tribute to Black legacy in performance and public service

Photos by Julianne Tripp Hillian/Richmond Free Press | 7/10/2025, 6 p.m.
Richmonders paid tribute to two historic legacies with commemorative events held days apart. The Richmond Fire Department and community partners …
The Richmond Fire Department, Engine Company No. 9 and Associates Inc., and Brothers & Sisters Combined Professional Firefighters Inc. commemorated the 75th anniversary of Virginia’s first professional Black firefighters on July 1 at Main Street Station.

Richmonders paid tribute to two historic legacies with commemorative events held days apart. The Richmond Fire Department and community partners marked the 75th anniversary of Virginia’s first Black professional firefighters, while the Astoria Beneficial Club Inc. hosted its 52nd annual service honoring the enduring legacy of Bill “Bojangles” Robinson.

photo  Charles W. Ellis, retired firefighter, gives a presentation on the history of Black firefighters in Virginia during the event.

photo  A guest reads the program during the ceremony. The firefighters’ hiring on July 1, 1950, marked a significant step forward in the struggle for civil rights.

photo  The Astoria Beneficial Club Inc. honored the legacy of Bill “Bojangles” Robinson on Saturday, June 28, with its 52nd anniversary commemorative service at the park on Adams and Leigh streets. The bronze statue of Robinson, unveiled in 1973, stands at an intersection where he funded the installation of a traffic light to protect children crossing the street.

photo  Janice Pankey, president of The Charmettes Inc., speaks at the 52nd anniversary commemorative service.