The Untold Story of African American Triumph and Tragedy at Christiansburg Institute
I invite you to join me on a BUZZ-adjacent journey to discover a remarkable American story that has gone untold for far too long.
One hundred and sixty years ago, Black Americans in this Appalachian corner of Virginia rose up from slavery and segregation to create a school whose reputation stood alongside Tuskegee, Hampton and other sentinels of Black education. But now external threats from the Trump Administration and in-fighting among its descendants – assault allegations, mental health breakdowns, strokes, and in May 2026 a headline-grabbing lawsuit – threaten to destroy the inspirational legacy and improbable grandeur that once was the Christiansburg Institute.
Five years ago I produced two episodes of my TV show BUZZ starring Christiansburg Institute. On August 13 — the anniversary of sorts marking the dawn of “C.I.” — I’m launching a Substack in which I’ll share excerpts from my still-in-development book Night is Coming, which chronicles C.I.’s triumphant, tragic, inspirational and infuriating saga.
I’m offering both free and paid subscriptions in acknowledgment of the hundreds of hours and tens of thousands of dollars that I’ve personally invested in the project – that’s how much this story means to me.
Each Thursday starting August 13, free subscribers will receive an excerpt from our manuscript so that you too begin to appreciate Christiansburg Institute’s place in African American – indeed, American – history.
Each Sunday, for paid subscribers (just $6/month or $50/year), I’ll share a fascinating behind-the-scenes experience from our research: historical documents, personal reflections, audio and video interviews, extended essays, regular online conversations, and more.
Founding Members (one time $65) will get a signed hard copy of the book when it’s published in 2027.
This time-traveling odyssey presents a fascinating cast of characters connected to C.I. since its creation in 1866:
- The white Civil War Union officer who founded the school for former slaves and spent his remaining 33 years educating and ministering to them.
- Booker T. Washington, the great man himself, who took over as superintendent in 1895 and charged his Tuskegee Institute disciples with building it into a 185-acre destination for Black folks from all over the East coast and as far away as Jamaica.
- The feisty Amanda DeHart who founded an alumni association after desegregation finally took hold in 1966 and the white powers-that-be closed the school and sold it to the highest bidder.
- And Chris Sanchez, executive director of the nonprofit charged with preserving C.I.’s legacy, who now must withstand President Trump’s funding cuts and a lawsuit by the Christiansburg Institute Alumni Association.
But our main character is the school itself, a place that has burned bright for 160 years in the hearts of its alumni — such as the grandmother of NBA great Steph Curry — and those charged with preserving its legacy.
By joining me, you’ll not only contribute to your own understanding of our nation’s ongoing struggle of racial strife and reconciliation, but you’ll help propel the Christiansburg Institute story to where it rightfully belongs: alongside Selma, Freedom Riders, Tuskegee Airmen, Rosa Parks, Jackie Robinson, I Have a Dream, and other seminal moments in America’s history.
Always buzzing,
Michael Hemphill
