In the early 20th century, a bustling community known as Black Broadway blossomed within the U Street Corridor. Black artists, educators, innovators, entertainers, business owners, and families flooded the neighborhood that stretched out west to Howard University and east through Sixteenth Street.
The mass migration of Black people into the area during a time of segregation and strict Jim Crow laws was largely prompted by the successes of the Reconstruction era. The formation of Howard University in 1867 attracted new Black thinkers and talents to take up residence near the university. By the 1920s, this neighborhood was graced by the likes of jazz star Duke Ellington, singer Billie Holiday, father of Black History Dr. Carter G. Woodson, lawyer Thurgood Marshall, and many more figures of Black excellence.
This month, the DC History Center is excited to announce a collaboration with local historian and author of Black Broadway in Washington, D.C. Briana Thomas to bring these legacy stories to life in a new educational and engaging video series, “Who Lives Here.”
The series will highlight Black women history makers who lived in LeDroit Park during the 1900s. A number of historic homes that were once inhabited and owned by Black residents are still standing in the neighborhood today. From leaders like activist and founding member of the NAACP Mary Church Terrell to remarkable educators like Anna Julia Cooper, the nearly three-century-old neighborhood was once home to the Black elite of DC.
At a time when gentrification plagues minority neighborhoods in the District—in addition to a rough history of redlining, racial covenants, and discrimination—it is important to preserve this important cultural heritage and pass the narrative on to the next generation of Washingtonians.
As more Black businesses shut their doors and longtime residents move out of the area, the traditions and story of Black Broadway—and other historic minority communities in the city— are being lost. According to a recent report from Mayor Muriel Bowser’s office, just 34% of Black residents own their home. That is a 12% decrease from the 46% Black home ownership rate that stood in 2005. While the number of Black residents has dropped over the years in the District, home ownership has increased for White residents.
From DC natives to young professionals who are new to the city, we hope this series will encourage viewers to learn about the groundbreaking history that has taken place in their backyards. We want to uplift the message of Black Broadway, and share the stories of triumph, inspiration, ownership, and legacy in a way that’s accessible and engaging for audiences of all ages looking to explore DC’s vibrant women’s history.
This series is made possible by the National Association of Realtors. Its creation is an effort to deepen understanding of DC’s history and shed light on repeated patterns of discrimination against housing for people of color, as well as challenge disparities in minority home ownership today. It will be available on TikTok, Instagram, and Youtube.
Briana A. Thomas is a journalist and author of Black Broadway in Washington, D.C. She has been published in Washingtonian Magazine, the historic Afro-American newspaper, and the Washington Post throughout her journalism career. Briana earned a Master of Journalism degree from the University of Maryland-College Park and a Bachelor of Arts degree in English and communications from Greensboro College. To learn more, visit blackbroadwaywashingtondc.com, or join one of her guided neighborhood walking tours.