A Southern City
Based on a True Story
The true story of how an uneducated, impoverished, disabled Black social activist sued the white city council of the former capital of the Confederacy and upended his hometown in the 1970s.
Meet Curtis Holt Sr.
The Unlikely Activist
Think…
Jeffrey Wright
Wood
Harris
Rob
Morgan
Despite having very little formal education, being permanently disabled due to a workplace injury, and lacking public speaking skills, Holt became a social activist and leader amongst his community: the Creighton Court government housing project.
Holt unsuccessfully ran for Richmond City Council in 1970. Convinced that the election had been rigged, Holt sought out assistance from The Richmond Crusade: the largest, most influential civil rights political organization in Richmond…
Meet Henry Marsh, III
The Suave Attorney
Think…
Michael B. Jordan
Michael Ealey
Anthony Mackie
As one of the lead attorneys for The Richmond Crusade, Marsh was one of the most influential members of the growing community of middle-class, Black professionals in Richmond. Marsh was also the only Black member of Richmond’s City Council in 1970.
Fearing Holt’s efforts to overturn the 1970 election would negatively impact Richmond Crusade’s growing movement, Marsh declined offering assistance to Holt. Hurt but determined, Holt prayed to God and was inspired to call every lawyer in the phone book until he found one willing to represent him…
Meet Cabell Venable, III
The Young, Shady Lawyer
Think…
Taron Egerton
Timothée Chalamet
Austin
Butler
Coming from an old line Virginia family, Venable was fresh out of law school and looking to make a name for himself with a big splash case. Venable had previously worked on the Senate campaign for Harry Byrd, a Virginia politician who supported racial segregation.
Without any other options, Holt reluctantly agreed to let Venable represent him. Venable was quickly shunned by the middle-class white community, and Holt received similar disapproval from middle-class Blacks. But together they uncovered a greater political conspiracy that would change the course of Richmond history…
The Annexation of Chesterfield County
A Richmond Conspiracy
As the American outpost of the transatlantic slave trade and former capital of the Confederacy, Richmond’s story has been one defined by white racial subjugation of the Black community. However, in the 1970s, the Black community was beginning to assert a newfound political influence in the city they called home.
Holt exposed how Richmond’s City Council, fearing Black political power, illegally annexed portions of land from neighboring Chesterfield County. This annexation added 40,000 new residents, of which 95 percent were white. This influx of white voters intentionally diluted Black voting power. Holt, with the assistance of Venable, sued the City of Richmond…
A Seven Year Journey
Holt’s lawsuit led to an injunction which halted the 1972, 1974, and 1976 city council elections from taking place, freezing the current members in place.
Holt and Venable ultimately took their case all the way to the Supreme Court. Although the Justices all agreed the annexation was purposefully racist, the Supreme Court did not order deannexation.
Instead, the Supreme Court ordered the city to adopt a new system of electing city council. This resulted in a Black majority city council and Black mayor for the first time in the history of Richmond in 1977.
Although Holt’s efforts transformed local politics, he would never hold public office. Today, Holt’s legacy is largely unknown.
Marsh, in 1977, after becoming Richmond, VA’s first Black mayor.
Marsh (third from right) and the historic winners of the Richmond City Council special election of 1977 are sworn into office.
For the first time ever, Richmond’s City Council would be represented by a majority of Black members…
Thanks in large part to the tireless work and sacrifices of Richmond’s most unlikely hero.
CURTIS HOLT
1920 - 1986
Marsh addresses the citizens of Richmond as mayor in 1978
For additional information about the project or to read the script please email KevinHershnerFilms@gmail.com!