Voices Unheard VA

09/21/2021

We’re saddened to share that Ms. Marne Jones has transitioned . She was a friend of the family for 70+ years and we are beyond grateful that she lent her time to us earlier this year to share her role in the Bonner family history . We find some peace & understanding knowing that she has now joined grandma Lau & grandpa Moses along with her husband and parents on the other side . May she rest peacefully , we will always remember you 🕊

04/26/2021

Voices Unheard - Family Ties streaming now on YouTube!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AEQQtEkKqDg

Voices Unheard is a collection of Black stories from right within our backyards that uplifts, informs & inspires.____________________________Part one of this...

04/17/2021

Today we honor Aunt Gladys on what would have been her 73rd birthday!
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She was the 7th child of John Moses & Laura Mae Bonne, and in the words of Uncle Lester, “If you put Evelyn & Sharon together, you’d get Gladys.” She’s forever in our hearts and always watching over us til this day. May she continue to rest in peace. 🙏🏽
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Stay tuned for the Voices Unheard premiere on April 25!

04/08/2021

In 1920, there were more than 1 million farmers in the United States. Today, that number is an estimated 45,000! What happened to cause the decline?
In this clip, Lester Bonner shares how he and his dad were once bribed to sell their land and to stop farming. And well... check out the clip to see what happened 👀
Stay tuned to learn more about the journey of Black farmers during the premiere of Voices Unheard on Sunday, April 25th!

04/05/2021

April 25th 🎬

04/05/2021

When you think of the word legacy, what’s one thing that comes to mind? When you think of how you wish to be remembered, what would you say your character says about you?John Moses & Laura Mae Bonner taught their family many things, but one thing that stands out is the fact that love is the recipe for survival and your character is your highest form of currency. Voices Unheard explores the legacy of the Bonners and what life was like as Black sharecroppers raising a family in the rural South. A family that’s still here today to share their story (ain’t God good?) ! You’ve met their children, now it’s time to hear their story. Mark your calendars for the premiere of the first installment of “Voices Unheard”, April 25th.

03/30/2021

Sharon Bonner Yates is the eighth child of John Moses and Laura Mae Bonner. She's the baby of the bunch and much like her parents, has always been strong-willed and determined to be the best she can be! While she didn’t continue farming as an adult, she did sew similar seeds for her own family, having participated in the Freedom of Choice decision that made her part of the first group of students to integrate Dinwiddie County Public Schools.
Sharon loves her HBCU, Virginia State University, and after receiving her degree she went on to make a lasting impact in Dinwiddie County as an English teacher, Assistant Principal, and finally Director of Secondary Education before retiring after 40+ years in the game!
Stay tuned for more on Sharon’s story in the premiere of “Voices Unheard” just a few weeks away…. Are you ready? Let us know in the comments.

03/29/2021

Happy Birthday Aunt Janie! We love you 🤎
Emma Jane is the second daughter of John Moses and Laura Mae Bonner! Today she’s celebrating 80 years of life and continues to persevere no matter what life throws her way.
Before her health declined, you could find her at any sporting event there was, especially those visits to witness the greatness that is Serena Williams and late great Kobe Bryant.
Affectionately known to the family as Aunt Janie, she was a seamstress and fashionista with a vision and a passion for fashion, even forming her own modeling troupe known to the community as the Black Magic Models. If you know Aunt Janie you know about her love for frogs which you can find all over her home along with her Buddhas!
Stay tuned this week for more from the Bonner family!

03/22/2021

Uncle Lester just completed his 74th trip around the sun! Help us wish him a happy birthday in the comments 🎉
Lester Bonner is the second and baby son of Laura Mae and John Moses Bonner. He grew up and quickly took after his father, forming a love for farming that no one could ever take away. And similar to his brother, Bubba, Lester served in the military, but once his tenure was over, it was all about helping his father on the farm.
Stay tuned for more on Lester’s story and his role as one of the few Black farmers left in the country, and his commitment to not letting anyone talk him out of farming. Voices Unheard is set to premiere in April 2021!
Be sure to also follow us on Instagram for more updates.

03/19/2021

If you know the Bonner sisters, you know that they always showed up and showed out when they stepped on the scene and it’s pretty hard to catch one at an event without another! Sharon, Dot, & Evelyn may be pictured here, but before Emma’s health declined, you could find her right on the scene with her sisters.

Drop a 🎶 if you’ve had a chance to check out the Bonner Bunch Playlist! If not, check it out here: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/0u5vlksIsOceGBl1yAQz0u?si=fKUIQq5ETcetiEcQV3sswA

03/19/2021

He didn't just become Dinwiddie’s Hometown Hero. John W. Bonner has always been a hero here in the family! Affectionately known as Bubba, he has done it all… from serving in Vietnam to returning to his roots in farming, Bubba has always been committed to serving others. As the first son of John Moses and Laura Mae Bonner, John learned the importance of servitude at an early age and continues to carry those same values with him today in his everyday life. He is one of the few Black farmers who still plow and heal from the land today and says despite him trying his hardest to get away from farming, it’s always been in his blood.

Stay tuned for more from the Bonner family in “Voices Unheard," a collection of Black stories uncovered to uplift, inform, and inspire.

Learn more about our mission here: https://shaniqueyates.medium.com/voices-unheard-a-mission-to-amplify-untold-black-stories-e4dcd51cb03f

03/16/2021

Founder of the National Black Farmer's Association, Dr. John Boyd, shares more about the legacy of John "Moses" Bonner and explains why he was so pivotal to the Black Farmer's Movement 🚜 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5_ttgpwyUGQ

Of the 3.4 million farmers in America, only 45,000 are Black! I had the chance to sit down with a leader in the Black Farmer's Movement to discuss where the ...

03/10/2021

Of the 3.4 million farmers in America, only 45,000 are Black 🚜Today, John & Lester Bonner continue the legacy of their father, John “Moses” Bonner, and his love for farming. As a sharecropper, he saw the highs and lows that came with the territory and still committed his life to fighting for the rights of Black farmers across the nation as a pioneer of the Black Farmers Movement that was birthed right in the rural counties of Dinwiddie & Brunswick, Virginia. “Voices Unheard” shares the story of sharecroppers John Moses & Laura Mae Bonner through the eyes of their children. Turn on post notifications to stay up to date with information leading up to the premiere 🎥