Christy S. Coleman facts for kids

Christy S. Coleman is an American historian. She is currently the leader of the Jamestown-Yorktown Foundation. Before that, she was the president and chief operating officer of the American Civil War Museum.

Early Life and Learning

Christy S. Coleman was born in central Florida. In 1973, her family moved to Williamsburg, Virginia. She went to Magruder Elementary School. Her parents taught her a lot about African American history and culture as she grew up.

When she was a teenager in 1982, she got a summer job at the Colonial Williamsburg Foundation. She acted as a character named Rebecca, who was an enslaved person. Christy wanted to be an actress. She started studying government and theater at the College of William & Mary. But she left after two years to follow her acting dreams.

Later, Christy took a job at a museum in Baltimore, Maryland. She hoped it would be easy to get to New York City for acting. At the museum, she noticed that the museum and the nearby public housing community didn't connect well. So, she started programs to get kids and families from the community involved. These programs included junior volunteer groups.

Her ideas were often turned down by the museum leaders. She then left to work as a stockbroker for a short time. But her love for history brought her back. She went to Hampton University and earned two degrees in museum studies. She wrote her final paper about new ways to teach African American history at Colonial Williamsburg.

Career Highlights

Christy Coleman worked at the Colonial Williamsburg Foundation for many years. She became the first woman to lead the African American Interpretations and Presentations department.

In 1994, she organized a reenactment of a slave auction. This event caused some protests from groups like the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People. Christy explained that they wanted to tell the true stories of their ancestors. She said it was "one of the most gut-wrenching things" she had ever done.

Leading Museums

In 1999, Christy left Williamsburg. She became the president and CEO of the Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History. There, she helped create a big exhibit called "And Still We Rise: Our Journey Through African American History and Culture." This exhibit was inspired by a poem by Maya Angelou.

During her time at the museum, she also helped raise a lot of money. The museum's membership grew from 3,500 to 13,000 people. She left in 2005 to spend more time with her family.

In 2008, the new American Civil War Museum opened in Richmond, Virginia. Christy was hired as its president and CEO. She helped combine this museum with the Museum of the Confederacy. She also co-led a group called the Monument Avenue Commission.

Because of her important work, Time magazine named her one of their '31 People Changing the South' in 2018. They said she was "unafraid to wade into the middle of the conversation [of Civil War]."

Christy stayed at the American Civil War Museum until 2019. Then, she became the executive director of the Jamestown-Yorktown Foundation. She is the fourth person to lead this foundation and the first African American leader.

Personal Life

Christy Coleman is married to Art Espey. They have two children together.