John Mitchell Jr., the fearless newspaper editor who used the Richmond Planet to fight racial injustice during the Reconstruction and Jim Crow eras, will soon take center stage in a new play commissioned by Firehouse Theatre.

The theater, in partnership with the Virginia Museum of History and Culture and the Richmond Planet Foundation, has tapped playwright Kristen Adele Calhoun to dramatize Mitchell’s life. Known as the “fighting editor,” Mitchell used his platform to advocate for civil rights, racial pride and justice, earning a reputation as one of Richmond’s most courageous historical figures.

“It is an honor to work with the Mitchell family, Firehouse Theatre, the Virginia Museum of History and Culture and the Richmond Planet Foundation to tell the remarkable story of Mr. John Mitchell Jr., a man who was triumphant in the face of unthinkable Southern horrors,” Calhoun said.

“Armed with a deep love for community and justice, Mr. Mitchell’s life teaches us so much about facing our fears and meeting our current moment with courage, strategy, and strength.”

The play marks the first in a planned series of collaborations between Firehouse Theatre and the Virginia Museum of History and Culture to explore untold stories from Virginia’s history. The project will also include community education and engagement opportunities throughout its development.

Mitchell, born enslaved in 1863 near Richmond, became editor of the Richmond Planet at 21. He used the newspaper to advocate for civil rights, expose injustices and mobilize community action, including leading the Richmond streetcar boycott of 1904. His activism extended to the anti-lynching movement and calls for self-defense against racial violence.

“Far too often, history is seen as a distant occurrence or a list of dates and events on a page,” said Joseph S.H. Rogers, director of partnerships and community engagement at the Virginia Museum of History and Culture. “It is talked about as though it were just something that happened in the past that has little to no bearing on the present. The truth is that history is alive and being made every day. It shapes our communities and motivates us to explore the possibilities of our future.

This project brings history forward in a powerful and personal way. By telling the story of John Mitchell Jr. as a living, breathing person who had to make important decisions while uncertain of the eventual outcome, we show how all of us can rise to the challenge and bring about change in our lives.”

The play’s development will include research and writing residencies in Richmond through 2025 and early 2026. A first draft is expected to be completed ahead of semi-quincentennial celebrations, with a world premiere slated for Firehouse Theatre’s 2026-27 season.