by Jackie L. Williams, Ph.D. Southwest Washington is home to notable African Americans who have made significant contributions in human and civil rights, social justice, law, education, music, and health care such as Joe Madison “The Black Eagle,” Dr. Dorothy Height, Justice Thurgood Marshall, Rev. James Dent, Dick Gregory, and […]
Gedney, Parks Photo Collections Provide Window into Southwest Before Urban Renewal
A boy poses in an inhabited Southwest alley. Photograph by Gordon Parks, courtesy of Library of Congress, Prints & Photographs Division, Farm Security Administration/Office of War Information Black-and-White Negatives By Carolyn Swope and Thelma D. Jones Southwest Neighborhood Assembly History Task Force Subcommittee on Black History Before urban renewal began […]
“Where Are They Now?”: A 1966 Study on Outcomes for Southwest’s Displaced Residents
Joseph Curtis took this photo in 1949 of a group of shops on 4th Street, SW, including the former site of Frank’s Department store, across the street from current-day Amidon-Bowen Elementary School. The owner of Frank’s sued the government because it deemed the area “blighted” at the time this photo […]
National Museum of African American History and Culture Features Local Icons in Exhibit of Historic Images
By Southwester Staff Washington, DC-based musicians, leaders and activists are among the 37 prominent Black Americans featured in the Smithsonian’s National Museum of African American History and Culture’s new exhibit Spirit in the Dark: Religion in Black Music, Activism, and Popular Culture. The exhibit examines Black religious life through a […]
Riverside Baptist Marks 165th Anniversary
By Georgine Wallace On September 25th, Riverside Baptist Church held a special service to mark its 165th anniversary. Members of the public who missed the celebration of this historic occasion can still walk into the church’s atrium and view their rotating history exhibit of photographs and artifacts that highlight milestones […]
World War II Airplanes over SW DC
One of the most diverse arrays of World War II aircraft ever assembled flew over Southwest DC on May 8 to commemorate the 70th anniversary of Victory in Europe (VE) Day, as part of the Arsenal of Democracy World War II Victory Capitol Flyover. The flyover included dozens of World […]