About

Revolutionary War Hero and Double Agent James Fayette spied for the Marquis de la Fayette right here in Portsmouth! His story "Black Patriot" is the first interpretive presentation in Black History Alive's Front Porch Talk Series. A Portsmouth front porch meant laughter. It meant tears. It meant stories. IT STILL DOES!

In many ways, the front porch replaced the fires of old, where folks recounted the events of the day, as well as the events of yesterdays. Before Facebook or photographs or even books, oral storytelling is how humanity shared and passed on its history. Laugh with us! Cry with us! Hear stories of our shared American History as it impacted African slaves and their descendants in Portsmouth, Hampton Roads, the State of Virginia, and Our Nation.