'Unite The Right' Rally Forced Charlottesville To Rethink Town's Racial History

Charlottesville has long been known known as a charming college town — home to the University of Virginia and its founder Thomas Jefferson. After a deadly clash between white nationalists and counterprotesters on Aug. 12 last year, Charlottesville has become shorthand for racial strife. "As a community I honestly feel more divided than ever, which is sad," says Michael Coleman, a 30-year-old musician and sales manager. He's African-American, and spoke while standing by the statue of Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee that white nationalists came to defend from removal last year. The space brings reflection. "How it's been such a source of hate and turmoil and conflict," Coleman says. NPR first met Coleman at a candlelight vigil on the U.Va. campus last year where he posed a provocative question: "Three-thousand people gathered with candles singing is beautiful, but are you going to engage yourself, are you going to talk to people tomorrow and the next day and next day?" A year later he