Day nine- the penultimate promenade
Today we went on our last official excursion together. The choice for our final field trip was in support of D.C.’s singular cultural history. Much like the child of a celebrity, the city of D.C. is often overlooked and instead viewed primarily as the Nation’s Capital rather the vibrant and unique community that it is.
Our final adventure was to explore Black Broadway with author and historian, Briana Thomas. Primarily located along U street, Black Broadway represents a time of rapid commercial growth, economic success and Black excellence. While I am fairly well versed in the Harlem Renaissance, I never knew that there was a D.C. Renaissance which predated Harlem by roughly 20 years. This era sounds like it was a party accompanied by an epic soundtrack of musicians that came up in the community. With legendary artists like Duke Ellington and Pearl Bailey, the jazz was hot and the vibes were cool.
We started our journey at the historic Howard Theatre. Briana had just started to tell us about it as the theater’s production manager, David asked if we would like to take a look inside. We have gotten an unprecedented amount of exclusive access on this trip, but this was by far the most unexpected! David graciously took us through the auditorium and behind the scenes to get a look at their star studded staircase and greenrooms. It was amazing to see how the rich history of the theatre has been honored, but also how it has continued to evolve over the years, welcoming in new artists.
The historic Howard Theatre, outside and IN!
After we emerged from the theatre, Briana continued our tour. She shared how the community has been impacted over time by gentrification and the ways in which its identity as a predominantly black neighborhood has changed over time with the introduction of government services like Housing and Urban Development which forced many Black families out of their homes. Many of these displaced people were forced to move east, ultimately creating the community that Phillips@THEARC serves in the present day.
DC Jazz Heroes by Kate DeCiccio & Rose Jaffe. Located on what was once “Frank Holiday’s Pool Room” where Duke Ellington was known to frequent in the early 1900’s.
In addition to the heroes of Black Broadway, we also learned about the over 200,00 brave Black men who served in the Civil War. Historic interpreter, Marquett Milton, provided a robust overview of the United States Colored Troops regiments’ heroic contributions to the Union’s victory.
Marquett Milton telling us about the The African American Civil War Memorial.
We ended our tour at the iconic Ben’s Chili Bowl for some lunch and then headed back to 555 to work on our group projects. Our group was down to mostly minor tweaks with content so much of our energy was focused on navigating ArcGIS to ensure that our presentation looks as good as it sounds. We were one troop down as poor Halley is struggling this week (I understand the pain all too well). Despite her condition, she has been a trooper and made sure to contribute through our Google Docs.
The tour was unlike any other site visit we have had in that it was not tied to a place providing historical context, but rather, historical context using places somewhat like exhibited objects. This is an inherently educational experience; without Briana’s interpretation, I would have had no clue that most of the buildings we saw today had such rich histories. This was a good example of why it is important to know how to connect with an audience and present history in a way that feels current. Just as objects can carry meaning, places often feel as though they hold memory, so Briana’s approach of essentially reintroducing their lineage to the public allows her audience to make an emotional connection and establish a sense of place organically.
Ben’s Chili Bowl mural
Tomorrow is the last day. This trip has felt like it’s only been a few days but also somehow a few months… I am incredibly grateful for the opportunities I have had to meet my professors and peers in person in addition to the unbelievable experiences we have had at our site visits. That being said, I miss my dog so I am looking forward to going home on Sunday.
I will leave you with my favorite Pearl Bailey video, it makes me laugh every time!
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