The history of black Americans in Washington, D.C. is one brimming with conflict. Whether it be the dawn of black people (as a minority) in the city by means of the transatlantic slave trade, or the year 1970, when the black population dominated the nation’s capital with “71.1%” (Wikipedia, 2010, 1), the culture of Black Washington is one of endurance. Blacks in Washington endured slavery, until they were freed. They endured segregation as outcasts, until they were conjuncted into white society, and all along the way they endured stereotyping, discrimination, and violence. However, as time moved forward, Black Washington, with compassionate whites standing at its side, steadily transcended the mandated checks on its ability to coexist equally and peacefully with its white associate.
Even when slavery was legal in D.C. during the 1800’s, there were “free” blacks. However, non-enslaved black Americans did not enjoy the same luxuries of Constitutional freedom as their white counterparts. “For the nonenslaved people of color, restrictive and discriminatory laws stringently inhibited their economic, social, educational, and political activities” (Fitzpatrick & Goodwin, 1999, 16). Furthermore, “free persons of color were required to carry at all times a certificate of freedom” (Lewis, 1976, 43).
As time progressed, slavery was ended by President Lincoln’s preservation of the Union during the Civil War. However, America did not enjoy peace for long enough, as shortly after the turn of the Twentieth Century it entered the Great War, in which black Americans made contributions in valor. Even so, just credit was not awarded to the enduring black American soldiers. “...but at its end, white Americans were disinclined to acknowledge or appreciate the contributions that African Americans had made to the war effort” (Fitzpatrick & Goodwin, 199, 18).
Before, during, and after the time of the Great War, mostly blacks, and some whites were so impoverished that they had to live in crowded, dirty, back alley houses. Even in the shared struggle that poverty brought, the alleys were racially segregated. In 1897 a federal census was conducted on the alleys. Among the findings was the fact that “Blacks made up 93 per cent of alley residents, and black alley dwellers accounted for nearly one-fourth of the city’s non-white population” (Borchert, 1972, 277).
Due to increasing outrage, President Franklin Roosevelt sought to address segregation and the housing crisis facing black Washingtonians in his New Deal. “Efforts...spearheaded by Washington’s African American citizens finally removed many restrictive barriers in housing, employment, recreation, movie houses, and restaurants” (Fitzpatrick & Goodwin, 1999, 19-20). Unfortunately, Roosevelt’s honest efforts did not do enough to address segregation and equitable housing for Black Washington, and the struggle carried on for several decades to come. “The New Deal had done practically nothing about black housing conditions and little enough about jobs beyond some relief for unskilled labor through the WPA” (Lewis, 1976, 79).
Over time, the housing conditions for black Washingtonians advanced, and the ending of segregation was also brought to conversation, especially in education. In 1952 “Board [of education] instructs superintendent to study possibility of desegregation” (Richards, 2005, 24). This once seemingly-impossible feat of desegregating public education was finally accomplished in 1954. “...the historic Supreme Court decision of Brown vs. Board of Education...was handed down. Segregation—if not yet integration—was over in Washington” (Lewis 1976, 80).
Unfortunately, times were met in Washington when efforts for justice were not always peaceful and patient. Washington has had it fair share of riots, and one that made American history was the reaction to the assassination of the beloved Dr. King Jr. “The worst of the rioting lasted until Saturday evening, when 13,600 troops, more than were used in any other riot in the nation’s history, occupied the city and regained control” (Schaffer, 2004, 15). While many whites attempted to label the black Washingtonian rioters with having the desire for unwarranted violence, others held the perspective that the rioters were expressing their grievances and long-bottled rage over their seemingly endless pending state of social, economic, and political justice. This viewpoint is supported by the fact that overwhelmingly, community members that supported racial equality were spared from the destruction that the riots brought. “...but in many instances “rioters and looters spared establishments that were either owned by Negroes, treated Negro employees favorably, or were owned by “White soul brothers””” (Schaffer, 2004, 18-19).
Black Washington certainly has a history of abundant struggle. However, black Americans have continued to show strength and rise above their social, economic, political, and geographical challenges while contributing to American culture and history in profound ways.
Bibliography
Borchert, James. "The Rise and Fall of Washington's Inhabited Alleys." Historical Society of
Washington, D.C. (1972): n. pag. Print.
Fitzpatrick, Sandra, and Maria R. Goodwin. "The Guide to Black Washington Places and Events
of Historical and Cultural Significance in the Nation's Capital." Hippocrene Books(1999):
n. pag. Print.
Lewis, David. "District of Columbia : A Bicentennial History." NY: Norton (1976): n. pag. Print.
