Writer’s Block is RVA Magazine’s series highlighting contemporary writers working in Richmond and across the Commonwealth. Each week, we feature original poems, short stories, or essays. Just real voices writing right now. This week, we’re featuring two poems by...
Disclaimer: The following is a letter to the editor submitted by a writer who has requested to remain anonymous. It represents their personal views on this issue. RVA Magazine is committed to providing a platform for community voices on important local matters. The opinions expressed do not necessarily reflect those of RVA Magazine, its...
"A key figure in Richmond’s ongoing music renaissance, TRAPCRY is absolutely killing it. If you’re not already familiar, it’s time to change that. His music is captivating, fun, and truly unique. I first saw him perform while working security at one of his shows, and I was completely blindsided—at a loss for words because I couldn’t stop smiling....
Placing a swastika to intimidate churches has been a felony in Virginia for years. However, the seldom-used law has only ever been applied once since the rise of fascist movements in the last decade. The difficulty in charging neo-Nazi vandals lies in proving intent to intimidate. Simply placing a hateful symbol is not enough for the law to step...
A Year of Magical Thinking—or Rather Dancing (Self Care for Black Men) How does self-care show up for you, especially in the wake of January 20, 2025? As we witness rollbacks in DEI initiatives and shifts in race relations, it seems that external affirmation is becoming harder to find. More than ever, it must come from within. For me,...
On Tuesday, February 25, Bucha will be screened at The Byrd Theatre, presented by FREEDOM | Ukrainian Community and the Leonid Foundation, immersing Richmond in a reality most Americans only know from news headlines. But this isn’t just a film screening—it’s an urgent act of remembrance, a call for awareness in a world already shifting focus to...
This marks the third year of our annual poll, and for the first time it really feels like a passing of the torch. Richmond’s next wave of musicians is taking center stage. That shift likely has something to do with who showed up to vote. The majority of this year’s voters were under 25, and they’re actively shaping the city’s music scene with new...
It’s the kind of connection that would’ve been unthinkable in hip-hop’s pre-internet days, when geography was everything and a Virginia MC had to drive to New York just to get in the right room. But in today’s digital-first landscape, persistence is currency—and Chandler Matkins has been spending it wisely. For years, he’s kept himself in the...
Hundreds gathered at Capitol Square on Sunday to be a part of a nationwide Presidents’ Day protest organized by the 50501 Movement, continuing the opposition to President Donald Trump’s policies and the increasing political influence of billionaire Elon Musk. Demonstrators held signs condemning Trump’s executive actions and Musk’s role in shaping...
It is not our failures that make us human, but rather our convictions to yet succeed. The accelerating collapse of corporate and governmental accountability has led to widespread civic abandonment. Mass layoffs at social safety net agencies, executive rollbacks on identity rights, the erosion of science-based policymaking, and the privatization...
