The john mitchell jr. project

Citation: History of the American Negro and His Institutions, E185.96 .C14 1917, Special Collections, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Va.

The Firehouse Theatre, in collaboration with the Virginia Museum of History and Culture and the Richmond Planet Foundation, has commissioned playwright Kristen Adele Calhoun to dramatize the life and times of John Mitchell Jr., the “fighting editor” of The Richmond Planet Newspaper. The John Mitchell Jr. Project serves as a pilot for ongoing partnership between Firehouse Theatre and the Virginia Museum of History and Culture to dramatize untold stories from Virginia's history. Project strategy and marketing will be provided by BROWNBAYLOR™.

John Mitchell Jr. (1863–1929) was a prominent newspaper editor, politician, banker, and civil rights activist. Born enslaved near Richmond, Mitchell became the editor of the Richmond Planet in 1884 at the age of 21. Mitchell used the Planet to promote civil rights, racial justice, and racial pride. As an editor and an activist, he became a key figure in the antilynching movement and played an instrumental role in organizing the Richmond streetcar boycott of 1904. Mitchell’s bold protest against racial injustice, which at times included calls to take up arms in self-defense, earned him his reputation as “the Fighting Editor.” He “fought for” the Planet until his death in 1929. On his tombstone it reads, “A man who would walk into the jaws of death to serve his race”.

Playwright Kristen Adele Calhoun is a writer, actor, producer and curator. Her writing commissions include the Lucille Lortel Theatre, the NAACP, St. Louis Black Repertory Company, 651 ARTS, Penumbra Theatre, the Black American West Museum and Firehouse Theatre.

Firehouse and its partners will host Ms. Calhoun in Richmond for multiple research and script development residencies throughout 2025 and the early months of 2026, with the aim of having a first draft ready for presentation ahead of semiquincentennial celebrations. Throughout the life of the project, Firehouse and its partners will create several community education and engagement opportunities. Firehouse anticipates the world premiere production will be part of their 2026-27 season.

Press release

Kristen Adele Calhoun: aWARD-winning playwright

photo by Alberto Emoûnah

Playwright Kristen Adele Calhoun is a writer, actor, producer and curator. Her writing commissions include the Lucille Lortel Theatre, the NAACP, St. Louis Black Repertory Company, 651 ARTS, Penumbra Theatre, the Black American West Museum and Firehouse Theatre. Her plays include winner of a 2024 Edgerton New Play Award: Black Cypress Bayou, WILDCAT, blood work, out the mud, and Canfield Drive. Her film and television writing credits include: HBO’s adaptation of Toni Morrison’s novel SULA helmed by showrunner Shannon M. Houston and Stephanie Allain’s Homegrown Pictures BLKNWS: TERMS & CONDITIONS directed by Kahlil Joseph, produced by A24 (premiering at Sundance Film Festival 2025).She is the co-curator of BLKSPACE, a two-week, rest-centered residency for Black artists and a recent I AM SOUL Playwriting Resident at Dr. Barbara Ann Teer’s National Black Theatre. Kristen’s television and film acting credits include House of Cards, Orange is the New Black, Elementary, Blue Bloods, and The Good Wife. A native of Dallas, Texas, she is a graduate of the University of North Texas (Bachelor of Fine Arts) and the Mason Gross School of the Arts at Rutgers University (Master of Fine Arts). She splits her time between Ghana, Mexico, and Massachusetts where she is the 2024 - 2025 Sterling A. Brown Distinguished Visiting Professor of Africana Studies at Williams College.

What does this mean to me, (you) and our communities?

The captivating and inspiring life of John Mitchell Jr. stands as a poignant reminder of the tumultuous journey that the United States has undertaken throughout its history. His story is a reflection of the deep-rooted history of Richmond, encapsulating the horrors of slavery and the Civil War, the struggle for emancipation and reconstruction, the Jim Crow era, the civil rights movement, and the post-Obama era. The seeds planted during the reconstruction era cannot be disregarded if we want to unite as a nation. Despite the remarkable achievements of black people during that time, they were not given the opportunity to flourish and were brutally cut down by violence and intimidation. As citizens of this country, it is our responsibility to remove the blinders of ignorance and take action to correct the injustices of the past. We owe it to ourselves and our nation to be the catalysts of truth, to nurture our seeds, and to allow them to grow. By doing so, we can bring light to darkness, and transform how we interpret, understand, and expand our story. This will lead us towards a future that uplifts us as a nation and delivers on its promise that “all men are created equal.

We are encouraging people to get involved in many different using your unique Time, Talent, and Treasure!

Opportunities to get involved with the John Mitchell Jr. Project are coming soon and will be posted here — please check back for updates!

In the meantime, we invite you to make a gift in support of this important initiative. Your contribution helps preserve and share the legacy of John Mitchell Jr., ensuring his impact continues to inspire future generations.

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