A message to our community
In our city and across the nation, Americans are standing together against a long history of inequality and violence toward people of color. They are demanding political change and meaningful reform to address the institutional racism and pervasive injustices that African Americans especially face every day.
The Historical Society of Washington, D.C. stands in solidarity with these goals.
We share the outrage of Americans and the world at the brutal murder of George Floyd at the hands of police, a tragedy that occurred as the coronavirus pandemic and the resulting economic devastation have disproportionately affected vulnerable communities of color.
We also recognize that a long history of systemic racism and the murders of many other African Americans have brought us to this point. Our shared passion for justice must be our guide going forward. The past cannot also be our future.
Our mission—to collect, preserve, and share the history of our nation’s capital—means we have a responsibility to shed light on the social, political, and economic forces that have led us to this place. As a starting point, in the days ahead, we will offer articles and educational resources to help our community reflect on our past and how it continues, unrelentingly, to inform the present.
But we know that there is much more to do in the months and years ahead. As Coretta Scott King said, “The greatness of a community is most accurately measured by the compassionate actions of its members.”
Sincerely,
Laura Brower Hagood CFRE
Executive Director, Historical Society of Washington, D.C.