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Is D.C. Still ‘Chocolate City’? Unpacking the Demographic Shift and the Cost of Cultural Change

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A City’s Soul: The Enduring Value of Black Washington in a Changing America

For decades, Washington, D.C., was known to many as “Chocolate City,” a tribute to its predominantly African-American population, which peaked at 71.1 percent in 1970. Today, the District has transitioned into one of the most diverse cities in the U.S., raising a profound question: What does the fading of “Chocolate City” mean for the nation’s capital and for American culture? This transformation is a pivotal moment that compels us to look beyond statistics and recognize the bedrock of culture and history that Black Washingtonians laid.

Need To Know

D.C. is no longer a Black-majority city, having dropped below 50 percent Black population for the first time in half a century. The District now joins a small number of states without any one racial group forming a majority.

  • Demographic Shift: The Black or African American population represented less than half of the city’s total population as of July 2024, according to a WTOP analysis of census data. As of 2014, the Black population was 49 percent, while the white population had risen to 43.6 percent, narrowing the difference to 5.4 percent.
  • Causes of Change: Experts cite multiple contributing factors, including new waves of immigration, a diversifying economy, and shifting housing patterns.
  • Gentrification and Displacement: Gentrification has dramatically transformed neighborhoods like Shaw, U Street, and Petworth, which were once almost exclusively Black. The rise in property values has made D.C. one of the most expensive cities in America, forcing many long-time residents to move to more affordable suburbs in Maryland.
  • Voluntary Migration: It is important to realize that the movement is not solely displacement. According to Michael Bader, middle-class Black D.C. residents are also leaving for the suburbs like Prince George’s and Montgomery County for reasons similar to other racial groups: a search for more space and schools with better reputations.

Take-Aways

The shift in D.C.’s demographics presents complex realities about urban change and opportunity.

  • Diversity and Segregation Coexist: While D.C. has become one of the most diverse metropolitan areas in the country, a high degree of racial segregation persists. The majority of the city’s mono-racial census tracts (90% or more of a single race) are located East of the Anacostia River, an area that has remained virtually unchanged racially for 35 years.
  • The Threat to Culture: As the city transforms, there is concern that the cultural identity established by Black residents is being eroded. The once vibrant African-American cultural and business heart of Shaw is now home to new condominiums and fusion restaurants, leading some residents to lament the potential loss of D.C.’s distinct musical heartbeat, Go-Go.
  • Suburban Growth: The Black population is not necessarily declining, but rather, as demographer Hamilton Lombard notes, the city’s population growth is outpacing it. Simultaneously, the suburban regions of Maryland and Virginia have seen their Black populations rise.

Implications for American Culture

The story of D.C.’s transition underscores a crucial American tension: how to achieve progress and diversity without erasing the foundational culture and history of marginalized communities. The decline of “Chocolate City” reflects a national pattern where economic revitalization often pushes out the people who created a city’s character. Black Washingtonians, who were drawn to D.C. during the Great Migration in search of educational, economical, and political opportunities, established cultural landmarks and institutions that shaped the nation’s capital. The struggle to create stable racial diversity and address the extreme racial isolation east of the Anacostia River remain pressing challenges for D.C..

The story of Washington, D.C., is a microcosm of the American story—one indelibly shaped by the perseverance and unmatched value Black people have created in this nation. Despite the systemic brutality of chattel slavery, Jim Crow, and long-upheld oppression, Black Americans built institutions, communities, and culture that shaped our nation’s capital, from the style of its neighborhoods and the infrastructure they developed to its distinct food and the entertainment heartbeat of U Street, which gave rise to Jazz and Go-Go. In D.C., the question of belonging echoes Langston Hughes’ poignant truth in America Was Never America To Me. Yet, the ongoing demographic change is not an ending, but a new phase in the unyielding work to realize the America yet to be—one that truly lives up to its creed of being a beacon of hope for mankind, ensuring freedom and liberty for all people, and enforcing the belief that all men are created equal.

The Barrier Breaker: How One Black Woman Mastered Science and Politics

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The convergence of Black History Month and the enduring legacy of the Women’s Suffrage movement offers a vital moment for reflection, compelling us to see American history not as a set of separate struggles, but as interwoven battles for equality. We celebrate the trailblazers who shattered barriers, laying the groundwork for the more perfect union we still pursue. This February, we honor a woman whose achievements in science, academia, and politics exemplify the perseverance required to overcome the dual challenges of racial and gender bias in America: Dr. Alfreda Johnson Webb.

Dr. Alfreda Johnson Webb: A Pioneer of Science and Justice

Dr. Alfreda Johnson Webb was a profound trailblazer, achieving a series of “firsts” that opened doors for generations of Black women in the United States. Born in Mobile, Alabama, in 1923, she earned her Bachelor of Science degree from the Tuskegee Institute (now University). In 1949, Dr. Johnson Webb graduated from the Tuskegee Institute College of Veterinary Medicine, becoming the first Black woman to graduate from veterinary school in the United States and the first Black woman licensed to practice veterinary medicine in the country. That same year, she became the first Black member of the Women’s Veterinary Association.

Her commitment to education continued; she earned a Master’s degree in Anatomy from Michigan State University in 1950, stating her interest was sparked because the department head of anatomy was a woman. Dr. Johnson Webb returned to Tuskegee to teach anatomy, rising to Associate Professor before serving as a professor of biology and mathematics at North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University (NC A&T) from 1959 to 1978.

Dr. Johnson Webb’s leadership extended into politics when she was appointed as the first Black woman in the North Carolina General Assembly in 1971 (serving in 1972). She served as the Chairperson of Minority Affairs for the North Carolina State Democratic Executive Committee, was a delegate to the Democratic National Convention in 1976, and was president of Democratic Women of North Carolina. Today, her dedication to teaching and focus on companion animals are recognized by North Carolina State University’s College of Veterinary Medicine, where one of the four houses is named House Webb, bearing a crest with a dog and the motto: fairness, equity, and justice.

Need to Know

  • Veterinary Pioneers: Dr. Alfreda Johnson Webb and Dr. Jane Hinton were the first two Black women to earn DVM degrees and become licensed to practice veterinary medicine in the U.S. in 1949.
  • Tuskegee’s Legacy: The Tuskegee University School of Veterinary Medicine was founded to provide professional training to Southern Black Americans when education was segregated, and today it has graduated approximately 50 percent of the nation’s African-American veterinarians. Dr. Frederick Douglass Patterson, who received his doctorate from Cornell, overcame tremendous obstacles to establish the veterinary college at Tuskegee.
  • Political Trailblazer: Dr. Johnson Webb was the first Black woman to hold a position in the North Carolina General Assembly.

Take-Aways

  • Pioneering Mentorship: Dr. Webb’s decision to attend Michigan State was influenced by the fact that the department head of anatomy was a woman, highlighting the importance of seeing women in leadership roles, especially in science.
  • Sustained Political Action: Beyond her professional career, Dr. Webb remained active in the Democratic Party, demonstrating a lifelong commitment to political engagement and minority affairs.
  • Legacy of Justice: The naming of House Webb at NC State’s College of Veterinary Medicine, with its motto of “fairness, equity, and justice,” encapsulates the enduring principles of her life’s work.

Analysis and Context: BHM and Women’s Suffrage

Black History Month (BHM) is a critical time to acknowledge not only the prominent leaders of the Civil Rights movement but also the everyday heroes who pushed boundaries in their professional lives, like Dr. Johnson Webb, and those who fought for interconnected rights. The establishment of institutions like the Tuskegee School of Veterinary Medicine, founded by figures like Dr. Frederick Douglass Patterson and Dr. E.B. Evans, was a direct response to the enormous social and economic hurdles Black Americans faced, particularly in the segregated South.

The struggle for Women’s Suffrage, culminating in the 19th Amendment in 1920, was a monumental step, yet the right to vote primarily benefited white women at the time, with women of color often excluded from elected office until the 1960s and 1970s.

Historic figures associated with both movements, celebrated as part of BHM, demonstrate the deeply linked nature of the fight for racial and gender equality:

  • Dr. Anna Julia Haywood Cooper: Born a slave in 1858, she became an advocate for gender equality, civil rights, and women’s suffrage. Her book, A Voice from the South (1892), is foundational to Black feminism and described the specific oppression faced by African American women. She advocated for women’s suffrage, arguing it would establish the “supremacy of moral forces of reason and justice and love in the government of the nation”.
  • Pauli Murray: A towering civil rights and gender equality activist, lawyer, and poet, Murray co-founded the National Organization for Women and wrote crucial legal arguments, such as those used to retain “sex” in Title VII. Murray wrote in 1971 about how the Equal Rights Amendment (ERA) would specifically benefit Black women.

Dr. Johnson Webb’s journey—from pioneering veterinary medicine to breaking the color and gender barrier in the North Carolina General Assembly—serves as a tangible link between these movements, showing that progress in one area often fueled progress in another.

Implications for American Culture

The life of Dr. Alfreda Johnson Webb is a powerful counter-narrative to the homogeneity that once defined American professions and political institutions. Her success, achieved despite systemic barriers, is a testament to the resilience and talent that has historically been marginalized. Her contributions underline the fact that diversity is not just an ethical obligation but a source of strength, as demonstrated by Tuskegee’s continuing legacy of championing minority students in veterinary medicine. For American culture, recognizing figures like Dr. Webb means accepting a fuller, more complex history, one that requires us to examine the intentions behind movements; for instance, noting that some suffrage advocates like Chief Justice Walter Clark supported women’s votes primarily to strengthen “White Supremacy,” rather than out of a belief in true equality for all. Dr. Webb’s career—focused on science, education, and political reform—shows the potential for genuine, inclusive leadership to shape a more just society.

We stand at a crossroads today, where the pursuit of justice remains our most urgent, unfinished work. The fight for parity—for women, for Black Americans, and for all oppressed people—is a shared American destiny. Women, particularly Black women, who have historically suffered the most and continue to carry the burden of a nation unwilling to fully recognize their contributions and value, are vital to finally realizing the dreams of America. Their enduring resilience, exemplified by pioneers like Dr. Alfreda Johnson Webb, Dr. Anna Julia Haywood Cooper, and Pauli Murray, is the bedrock upon which we must build a future unyielding to the racism and unjust social construct and fabric that continues to divide us.

In line with this year’s Black History Month celebration, A Century of Black History Commemorations, we must continue to collectively pursue justice and the America yet to be; one nation under God, with liberty and justice for all.

A Giant Departs: Honoring the Life and Unfinished Work of Reverend Jesse Louis Jackson Sr.

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The world today pauses in solemn remembrance of a true Civil Rights giant and American icon, the Reverend Jesse Louis Jackson Sr., who passed away peacefully this morning at the age of 84. Rev. Jackson was more than a leader; he was a towering figure who stood on the battlefield for justice, forever transforming the landscape of American politics and opportunity. As a protégé of the Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., he inherited the torch of the movement and boldly carried it forward, opening giant doors not only in civil rights but in the highest echelons of economic and political power. His life was a testament to the persistent, necessary fight for equality, dedicating every ounce of his energy to challenging the status quo and redefining who belonged at the center of the American story.

Need To Know and Take-Aways

Rev. Jackson’s monumental legacy encompasses activism, politics, and a transformative focus on economic justice:

  • Civil Rights and Succession: Born in Greenville, South Carolina, he rose from humble beginnings to become one of the most consequential leaders in American history. He was instrumental in the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC) and later founded the Rainbow PUSH Coalition.
  • Political Trailblazer: As a two-time presidential candidate (1984 and 1988), he organized the Rainbow Coalition—a historic multiracial alliance—and demonstrated that a Black candidate could successfully run a nationwide campaign, significantly increasing Black voter turnout and shaking the foundation of the Democratic Party’s status quo.
  • Economic Advancement: His impact on Black economic advancement was profound and intentional. Through initiatives like the Rainbow PUSH Wall Street Project, he tirelessly challenged corporate America—including the auto industry, telecommunications, and Silicon Valley—to acknowledge the power of Black consumers and demand reciprocity. This work opened critical pathways for Black entrepreneurs to become suppliers, dealers, distributors, and owners across numerous sectors of the U.S. economy.

Implications for American Culture

Rev. Jackson’s activism fundamentally reshaped American culture by insisting that civil rights and economic rights are inseparable. His work moved the conversation from segregated lunch counters into the nation’s boardrooms, trading floors, and executive suites where economic power is forged. He forced America to see itself as a “quilt: many patches, many pieces, many colors, many sizes, all woven and held together by a common thread”. His campaigns legitimized the political aspirations of future generations of minority leaders and broadened the concept of inclusion within the Democratic Party platform to encompass diverse communities, including LGBTQ+ individuals and Arab and Jewish Americans. His relentless challenges to corporate America laid the groundwork for modern efforts aimed at diversity and inclusion at the highest levels of business, making him, as noted by the U.S. Black Chambers, Inc., “GOOD FOR BUSINESS”.

The Unbowed Dream

The Reverend Jesse Jackson Sr. was a giant in the overall story of America and politics, leaving an indelible mark on the Black spirit and psyche. His courageous fight was waged for a nation built under the brutality of ancestral chattel slavery—a nation that has perpetually denied true equality to its Black founders. He channeled the deepest yearnings of Black Americans and all marginalized communities for a genuine democracy.

His enduring call to action, the iconic phrase, “Keep Hope Alive,” was never a sentimental appeal. It was a strategic, political, and spiritual mandate—a charge not just for Black Americans, but for all those beholden to the dreams of America. That dream, yet to be fulfilled, was so poignantly captured by Langston Hughes in the final verses of his poem,

“Let America Be America Again”:

O, yes,

I say it plain,

America never was America to me,

And yet I swear this oath—

America will be!

Rev. Jackson spent his life forcing America to face the dissonance between its professed ideals and its lived reality. By embracing the oath that “America will be,” he inspired millions to pursue that redemptive work. As we mourn his passing, we honor his legacy by committing to the daily work of fulfilling his vision for a fair economically and socially vibrant America. The work continues.

Keep Hope Alive.

A Hidden Door to Freedom: The Merchant’s House Discovery and the Unfinished Quest for Justice

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The discovery of a hidden passage within New York City’s Merchant’s House Museum is more than an architectural footnote; it is a flash of light illuminating a profound, painful, and persistent truth about the American story. This masterwork of concealment—a two-foot-by-two-foot sanctuary tucked behind a dresser—is physical evidence that, even in the heart of elite Manhattan, the fight for Black liberty was a real, high-stakes battle waged in secret. This generational find forces us to confront the bravery of those who sought freedom and the courage of the rare few who risked everything to help them.

Need to Know

  • The Discovery: Archaeologists at the Merchant’s House Museum in Manhattan’s NoHo neighborhood found a small, concealed vertical passageway, complete with a ladder, behind built-in drawers on the second floor.
  • The Function: Experts believe the space was a “safe house” used as an emergency hideout and quick escape for enslaved people who had fled bondage in the South before and during the Civil War.
  • The Context of Danger: The passageway was designed to be “absolutely invisible” to slave catchers and city marshals, who sought bounties for capturing freedom-seekers as authorized by the Fugitive Slave Act of 1850.
  • The Abolitionist: The safe house was likely installed by the building’s original builder, Joseph Brewster, whom an architectural historian credits as being “almost certainly an abolitionist”—a stance that was “incredibly rare among white New Yorkers, especially wealthy white New Yorkers”.

Take-Aways and Implications for American Culture and History

This recent discovery in Manhattan is a tangible link in the long, courageous lineage of the Underground Railroad (UGRR), a clandestine network of abolitionists, both Black and white, who secured safe passage for tens of thousands of enslaved people to states where slavery was illegal, and often, all the way to Canada.

The UGRR represents an era when Black Americans, in the face of unimaginable brutality and codified injustice, defined their own freedom through sheer will and relentless struggle. For an estimated 30,000 people, the journey culminated in Canada, where they went on to make an “indelible mark on their new home,” creating thriving communities and paving the way for future Black migration.

The discovery reframes New York’s historical narrative, acknowledging its role in the abolitionist movement and connecting “what happened in the south” with what transpired in Northern cities. Furthermore, the legacy of these freedom-seekers is not relegated to dusty archives; it is a “living history,” continually preserved and honored by their descendants through efforts like the North Is Freedom photo essay exhibit. This continuous work of preserving the past is a vital act, ensuring that the historical truth of the Black struggle for justice remains at the forefront of American consciousness.

The Long Road to Freedom and the Necessary Repair of Reparations

The road to freedom for Black people in America began not with a single legislative act, but with generations of struggle, sacrifice, and the unwavering pursuit of a just future. The Underground Railroad, with its hidden doors and secret paths, stands as a testament to the profound sacrifices—physical, emotional, and spiritual—Black people made to escape the calculated brutality and inhumanity of American chattel slavery. Their hopes and dreams for a just America, where they could finally live in dignity and safety, fueled this monumental resistance.

Today, those dreams remain incomplete. The wealth and institutional structures built on the foundation of slavery have never been fully dismantled, and the descendants of those who suffered under that barbaric system continue to face systemic oppression—the enduring legacy of a debt never paid. This is why the on-going call for Reparations is not merely a political talking point, but a moral and economic necessity.

Reparations are the crucial repair required to address the long-suffering Black community in America, a concrete acknowledgment of the centuries of stolen labor, stolen opportunity, and stolen humanity. Without this necessary step of repair, the discomforting truth remains: the “America yet to be,” that vision of true liberty and justice for all, can never be realized. A nation cannot heal what it refuses to acknowledge, nor can it progress while standing on a foundation of uncompensated injustice.

Reparations are the pathway to finally, truly, forging a more perfect union.

The Battle of Brooklyn: The High Cost of the American Dream

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The Declaration of Independence was signed in ink in Philadelphia, but the commitment to liberty was “signed in blood in Brooklyn”. While many remember the first shots of the Revolution fired in 1775, America’s true path to independence began in August 1776 with the Battle of Brooklyn. This event, the first major military engagement following the adoption of the Declaration of Independence in July 1776, remains a turning point that established the high cost of the American experiment.

Need-to-Knows: The Battle of Brooklyn (1776)

  • Significance: It was the largest battle of the entire Revolutionary War in terms of total combatants, directly following the signing of the Declaration of Independence.
  • The Conflict: On August 27, 1776, over 20,000 British troops successfully defeated 10,000 trapped Americans. The fighting raged across areas of present-day Brooklyn, including the Gowanus Heights, Prospect Park, and Green-Wood Cemetery.
  • The Heroic Stand: The pivotal moment was the stand of the 400 Maryland soldiers at the Old Stone House in Gowanus. Led by General William Alexander, Lord Stirling, 400 Marylanders repeatedly charged 2,000 British forces commanded by General Charles Cornwallis, allowing General Washington’s army to escape.
  • The Retreat: Despite the tactical disaster and roughly 1,400 to 2,000 American casualties, General George Washington executed a skillful, foggy overnight retreat across the East River on August 29–30. This daring maneuver saved the Continental Army, enabling them to “fight again, and eventually, win the war”.
  • Outcome: The British won the battle and proceeded to occupy Brooklyn and Manhattan for seven years, though they failed to capture Washington’s entire force.

Take-Aways and Implications for American Culture 

The Battle of Brooklyn is not a symbol of defeat but of persistent, resolute survival in the face of overwhelming odds. It proved that the fight for American destiny would be long and brutal. The sacrifice of the Maryland 400 established a core American ideal: the willingness of the few to sacrifice everything to save the future of the many.

The legacy of the battle is that American history is a constant process of memory and reinterpretation. Exhibitions today use primary source material to share the battle’s story with “new relevance”, ensuring that this foundational moment of struggle and survival continues to inform our shared present.

Connecting History to Current Events and the Age of Technology

Today, the spirit of unity forged by desperate circumstances, like Washington’s foggy retreat, is challenged by the current divisive state of American politics. We are witnessing conflicts over the fundamental meaning of the Constitution—the very framework the Revolution fought to enable.

And technology is rapidly reshaping the American landscape, influencing societal norms, culture, politics, and governing. While digital tools, such as the digital interactive mentioned in the exhibit, allow us to connect the sites of our Revolutionary past with our shared present, the same technology can amplify partisan division, making the “foggy retreat” of consensus harder to achieve. Innovations like AI, already transforming fields like transportation, healthcare and policing represent powerful forces that must be guided to strengthen, not fragment, the fragile structure of our democracy.

The America Yet to Be

The ultimate lesson of Brooklyn is that failure is only final if the fight ceases. In 1783, the British finally surrendered, and America embarked on its destiny. However, that destiny is not a finished state but a continuous, active effort.

There is substantial work that remains to finally achieve the dream so many fought and died for. We must return to the promise of an equitable nation that Langston Hughes so poignantly captured in his famous poem, “Let America Be America Again.” That poem awakened the conscience of a divided nation during Jim Crow and the Civil Rights era, and its call for a nation that lives up to its founding ideals echoes with urgency today. We must, like the determined Marylanders, continue the struggle to preserve and perfect the democratic promise signed in ink and blood, working tirelessly for the “America yet to be.”

The Battle of Brooklyn: Fought and Remembered exhibition runs from  to Center for Brooklyn History. 

This exhibition opens to the public on Thursday, February 5th, 2026 and will be on view until Monday, December 30th, 2026, at 128 Pierrepont Street Brooklyn, NY 11201 – Directions.  Free weekly public tours begin on Friday, February 13th, 2026. Please visit the Center for Brooklyn History’s website to register for a tour or to find out more about public programs about America’s 250th anniversary.

Click HERE for more details. 

Unite or Fail: Black History’s Enduring Lesson for America

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A Century of Truth: Why the 2026 Black History Month Theme is a Call to Unity

As February arrives, the annual observance of Black History Month is upon us, but 2026 marks an occasion of profound historical significance: the 100th anniversary of the first Negro History Week, established by the visionary Dr. Carter G. Woodson in 1926. This isn’t just another month on the calendar; it is a critical milestone that compels all Americans to fully integrate Black history as the essential, foundational component of American history that it is.

The Need to Know

For a nation built on the promise of liberty, the history of African Americans is the story of that promise being both deferred and fiercely pursued. From the brutal era of chattel slavery, where humanity was denied to Black people, to the broken promises of Reconstruction, the terror of Jim Crow, and the struggle of the Civil Rights Movement, the path has been one of immense suffering and indomitable resilience. The commemoration of this history is not about guilt, but about acknowledging the reality that Black Americans—who fought in every American war, only to return home to segregation and racial abuse—have continuously laid the moral, cultural, and physical groundwork for the “more perfect union” we aspire to be. We must understand, as the scholar Arthur A. Schomburg declared, that “The American Negro must remake his past in order to make his future.” This work remains vital as forces today continue to seek the erasure or exclusion of Black history from our schools and public discourse.

The 2026 Theme: A Century of Black History Commemorations

The official 2026 theme, set by the Association for the Study of African American Life and History (ASALH), is “A Century of Black History Commemorations.”

This theme honors the evolution from a week-long observance into a month-long, international, year-round movement dedicated to the study, preservation, and celebration of the history, culture, and achievements of people of African descent. It highlights:

  • 100th Anniversary Focus: Marking a full century of formal, national effort to embed Black history into the American consciousness.
  • Legacy of Dr. Woodson: Recognizing the enduring vision of Dr. Carter G. Woodson, who established the groundwork to combat the denial of Black history and, by extension, the denial of Black humanity.
  • Impact and Meaning: Exploring how these commemorations have actively worked to transform the status of Black people in the modern world.

Implications for American Culture

The commemoration of Black history is an imperative for all of American culture, not just a celebration for one community. By honoring the 100-year legacy of Black history observances, we confront the enduring truth of the ongoing struggle:

  • A More Accurate History: Black history exposes the complex, and often painful, truths of the American experiment. It compels us to tell an accurate, inclusive, and complete history that moves beyond sanitized narratives.
  • Building Cultural Competency: Engaging with this history builds empathy, understanding, and the cultural competence essential for a truly diverse world. It requires us to learn from systemic injustice and develop the skills necessary for inclusive leadership.
  • The Indivisible Fabric of America: The Black struggle is fundamentally an American struggle for democracy and equality. Black history’s value lies in its powerful resonance in the lives of Black people and its contribution to the nation’s core values, ensuring Black history is understood not as a sidebar, but as the enduring, irreplaceable heart of the American story.

The America Yet To Be

This 100th anniversary is a moment of reflection and a charge for the future. The fight for inclusion in the historical record—a fight waged by generations—reminds us that our nation’s strength is inextricably linked to its recognition of the full humanity of all its people.

The path to realizing the American dream, particularly for those who have built this nation under the harshest brutality and fought for its principles despite deep-seated prejudice, lies in unity. It is the only way forward. By fully embracing the history and ongoing story of Black Americans, we commit to dismantling the remaining barriers and cultivating a society where dignity, respect, and equality are not just ideals, but lived realities.

Black history is American history, and remembering it strengthens us all. The work of the last century has paved the way for the work we do today, forging the America yet to be—a truly E Pluribus Unum nation.

Dr. Gladys West: Mapping the World, Paving the Way

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The modern world is navigated by the invisible architecture of GPS, a technology that connects continents, powers global commerce, and guides billions daily. Yet, the brilliance at the heart of this system—the accurate mathematical modeling of Earth’s shape—was painstakingly calculated by a Black woman who overcame the relentless barriers of the Jim Crow South: Dr. Gladys West. Her recent passing at 95 marks the end of an extraordinary life, but her legacy endures, a powerful reminder that the true foundation of American innovation is built upon the genius of individuals who dared to dream beyond the limitations imposed upon them.

Need to Knows

  • Mathematician and Pioneer: Dr. Gladys West (née Gladys Mae Brown, 1930–2026) was an American mathematician who worked for 42 years at the U.S. Naval Proving Ground (later the Naval Surface Warfare Center Dahlgren Division) in Dahlgren, Virginia.
  • The Foundation of GPS: She is credited with astounding accomplishments in mathematics, including programming the IBM 7030 computer (known as Stretch) to deliver increasingly refined calculations. Her complex algorithms accounted for variations in gravitational and tidal forces to create an extremely accurate model of the Earth’s shape, known as the geoid. This model and her work on satellite orbit trajectories laid the crucial mathematical groundwork for the Global Positioning System (GPS).
  • Overcoming Segregation: Born on a small farm in Dinwiddie County, Virginia, during the Great Depression, she grew up in the Jim Crow Era. Realizing education was her path out of farm work and the tobacco factory, she excelled, becoming valedictorian of her segregated high school and earning a full scholarship to Virginia State College (now Virginia State University), a Historically Black College and University (HBCU).
  • A “Hidden Figure” No More: Like other Black women doing pivotal work in science and math during the Cold War, her contributions were largely overlooked until the 2010s. She has since been recognized as a “hidden figure” of GPS, inducted into the Air Force Space and Missile Pioneers Hall of Fame (2018), and received a Ph.D. in public administration and policy affairs at the age of 70.

Take-Aways

  • Personal Commitment to Excellence: Dr. West embodied a lifelong commitment to being “the best I could be,” viewing her excellence as a positive example to undermine discrimination. Her story is a testament to the power of self-respect and relentless dedication in the face of systemic adversity.
  • The Power of Education: Education was not just a career path for Gladys West; it was a means of escape and a tool for charting her own destiny. Her pursuit of multiple degrees, including a Ph.D. late in life, underscores the continuous need for learning and self-improvement.
  • Innovation vs. Practicality: Despite her groundbreaking work that made GPS possible, Dr. West herself preferred to use maps, offering a humorous and humble perspective on the very technology she helped create.

A Lineage of Genius: Seven Pioneers in Black Science

Dr. Gladys West stands as a towering figure, but she is part of a magnificent and often-uncredited lineage of Black scientists whose genius fundamentally shaped the modern world. Here are seven other groundbreaking innovators:

  • Dr. Percy Lavon Julian (1899–1975): A chemist who pioneered innovative, cost-effective methods for synthesizing medicinal compounds from plants, making steroids like cortisone and ingredients for birth control pills significantly more affordable and accessible for mass production.
  • Charles Henry Turner (1867–1923): A pioneering biologist, neurologist, and psychologist whose meticulous research demonstrated that insects have complex cognition, proving they can hear and learn by trial and error, despite being denied academic research positions due to racial barriers.
  • Alice Ball (1892–1916): A chemist who developed the “Ball method,” the first effective injectable treatment for leprosy, which revolutionized the lives of thousands of patients globally and was used for decades. She was the first Black person and first woman to earn a master’s degree in chemistry from the College of Hawaii.
  • Elijah McCoy (1844–1929): A prolific inventor who revolutionized the railroad industry with his 57 patents, most notably for an automatic lubrication system for steam engines, a device so superior it is said to be the origin of the phrase “The Real McCoy.”
  • Dr. Sophia B. Jones (1857–1932): The first Black woman to graduate from the University of Michigan’s Medical School and the first Black faculty member at Spelman College, where she established the American South’s first nurse training program, dedicating her career to fighting for public health equity.
  • Dr. Charles Lightfoot Roman (1889–1961): A pioneer in the field of industrial medicine, he was one of the first Black Canadians to graduate from McGill University’s Faculty of Medicine. His published works influenced health and safety protocols, helping to make workplaces safer for cotton mill workers and beyond.
  • Katherine Johnson (1918–2020): An essential NASA mathematician and one of the “Hidden Figures” of the Cold War space race. Her complex trajectory calculations were vital to the success of the first U.S. manned spaceflights, including those of Alan Shepard and John Glenn.

Implications for American Culture, Science, and Technology

Dr. West’s career holds profound implications that stretch beyond the field of mathematics:

  • Science and Technology: Her work is a core component of one of the most critical technologies of the modern era. GPS is vital for global infrastructure, from emergency services and air traffic control to financial markets and agriculture. Dr. West’s ability to “teach a computer” to precisely calculate the Earth’s shape underpins this entire global utility, permanently securing her place as one of the most consequential mathematicians in U.S. history.
  • African American Contributions to Technology: Her life validates the undeniable truth that Black Americans have always been central, yet often uncredited, architects of American technological advancement. Her story, alongside those of other “Hidden Figures,” corrects a decades-long omission in the historical narrative, inspiring new generations of Black students, particularly girls, to pursue STEM careers with the knowledge that pioneers like Dr. West have already mapped the territory for them.
  • American Culture and Progress: Dr. West’s achievements demonstrate that progress in America is intrinsically tied to the nation’s willingness to overcome its own internal contradictions. Her brilliance flourished despite segregation and systemic racism, not because of it. Her recognition today is a cultural shift, affirming that true American greatness is found when we acknowledge, celebrate, and create space for genius from every corner of society.

The Lineage of Black Lives: From Struggle to the Stars

Dr. Gladys West’s journey is not merely a personal success story; it is a direct continuation of the resilient, centuries-long lineage of Black lives in America.

Her childhood, born in 1930 on a Dinwiddie County farm, was shaped by the legacy of slavery and the oppressive systems of Reconstruction and Jim Crow. The one-room schoolhouse and the limited options of farming or working in a tobacco plant were deliberate constraints designed to contain the aspirations of Black Americans. Yet, from this restricted landscape, Dr. West’s ambition took flight.

She leveraged the opportunities carved out by generations before her—attending an HBCU that stood as a bastion of Black excellence against a hostile white academic world. Her career at the Naval Proving Ground was built upon the hard-won gains of the Civil Rights Movement, which began to dismantle the racial discrimination in federal hiring that had previously barred her. Her determination to “give her best” despite racism was a quiet, powerful form of resistance—a method used by Black professionals throughout history to undermine prejudice by proving their undeniable worth.

Dr. West’s GPS work literally helped America chart the world, but her life has charted an even more important course for the nation’s moral and cultural direction. Her legacy, moving from a segregated farm in Virginia to mapping orbital trajectories for satellites, proves that the contributions of Black Americans—wrested through struggle, sacrifice, and genius—are not ancillary; they are fundamental building blocks of the modern American experience.

A Shadow Falls Over America: Minneapolis and the Crisis of Federal Overreach

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In Minneapolis, a dangerous shadow has fallen across the American landscape. The back-to-back fatal shootings of Alex Pretti, Renee Good and Keith Porter, Jr. by federal agents—a Border Patrol agent and an ICE officer, respectively—are not isolated tragedies; they are a stark reflection of a government-sanctioned overreach that is fundamentally at odds with the ideals upon which this nation was founded. When masked, unidentified federal personnel operate with impunity in our streets, targeting U.S. citizens, we must ask: where does the authority of the state end, and where does the sovereignty of the citizen begin? The events of this month demand an immediate, transparent accounting, and a systemic course correction.

Need-to-Knows: The Facts on the Ground

  • Three Fatal Shootings: U.S. citizens Alex Pretti (37, an intensive care nurse) and Renee Good were fatally shot in Minneapolis by federal immigration enforcement agents (Customs and Border Protection and ICE) this month. And Keith Porter Jr, a 43-year-old father of two, was fatally shot by an ICE officer on New Year’s Eve outside his apartment complex, according to LA and federal officials.
  • Contradictory Official Accounts: Federal officials, including Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, initially described Pretti as a “domestic terrorist” and “would-be assassin,” claims which are not supported by video evidence showing he was likely holding his smartphone, not his legally-carried firearm, at the time he was shot multiple times.
  • Federal Investigations Underway: Three federal probes—a DHS, an FBI, and an internal Customs and Border Protection review—have been launched into the shooting of Alex Pretti.
  • Political Fallout and White House Retreat: The initial defiant response from the Trump administration provoked a bipartisan backlash. In a rare rhetorical retreat, the White House softened its tone, with President Trump sending border czar Tom Homan to the state and announcing a potential withdrawal of some Border Patrol agents from Minneapolis.
  • Judicial Setback for Protesters: A federal appeals court declined to reimpose a U.S. District Judge’s order that would have restricted federal agents from retaliating against peaceful demonstrators and using certain nonlethal munitions in Minnesota protests.

Take-Aways: A Bipartisan Alarm Bell

  • Political Accountability is Rising: The crisis has generated criticism from ideologically disparate voices, including conservative media outlets and staunch Trump allies in the Senate, signaling a moral and political consensus that ICE’s operations in Minneapolis are a “debacle.”
  • Gun Rights Clash: The shootings and subsequent comments from a top administration prosecutor—warning that law enforcement would be “legally justified” in shooting armed gun owners—sparked sharp condemnation from major gun rights groups, highlighting a rift between the administration and key conservative constituencies over Second Amendment rights.
  • The Cost of ICE: The cost and scope of federal immigration enforcement have ballooned, with a recent proposal authorizing $64 billion more for ICE, an agency whose budget is already larger than every other federal law enforcement agency, including the FBI, combined. This is occurring even as detentions lead to “dozens” of deaths, including a recent homicide ruling for a Cuban immigrant in ICE custody.

Implications for American Culture and Politics

The events in Minneapolis are a profound test of American democracy and our commitment to fundamental civil liberties. They expose a dangerous reality where the machinery of the federal government is perceived, even by its own political allies, to be a source of lawless oppression rather than justice.

The use of deadly force against citizens, coupled with the immediate vilification of the victims by high-ranking officials, fractures the bedrock of public trust. It suggests a government that sees itself as above the law, where the exercise of a constitutional right—such as the legal right to carry a firearm or the right to assemble and protest—can make a citizen “liable to summary execution and post-mortem slander.” This is a terrifying vision of an unconstrained state, one that fundamentally subverts the principle that government derives its just powers from the consent of the governed.

The bipartisan nature of the outrage, from conservative editorials to demands for impartial investigations by Republican senators, is a powerful sign. It demonstrates that the defense of civil liberties and the demand for government accountability is not a partisan issue, but an American one. The spirit of the Constitution is being invoked across the political spectrum to check an executive branch whose actions have strayed far from its mandate to “secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity.”

A Call to Action for We, the People

We, the People, must not allow ourselves to be divided by the government that is supposed to serve us. The unchecked power of agencies like ICE and CBP in American cities is a harbinger of a tyrannical government that has forgotten its place. The time for silent unease is over.

We call upon every American to take a stand:

  1. Demand Accountability: Contact your Senators and Representatives. Demand they reject the $64 billion funding package for ICE until a transparent, impartial investigation into the deaths of Alex Pretti, Renee Good, and Keith Porter, Jr. is completed.
  2. Restore the Rule of Law: Insist that all federal law enforcement agents operating within American cities be required to obtain judicial warrants for all arrests and operations, and that Customs and Border Protection agents be returned to the actual border.
  3. Unite in Principle: Regardless of your political affiliation, recognize that the right to peacefully assemble, the right to due process, and the protection from excessive government force are rights shared by all Americans. When the government infringes on one, it infringes on us all.

Let us not forget that E Pluribus Unum means “Out of Many, One.” We are united by a common commitment to the spirit of the American dream and the work toward the America yet to be. Though we must confront a federal government wreaking havoc on our communities, our power lies in our unity. By standing together for justice, transparency, and the rule of law, we reaffirm our common humanity and empower ourselves to build a nation where liberty is not a promise, but a protected reality.

“Another Tuskegee”: A Shadow Over the American Conscience

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The news that the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) was funding a controversial hepatitis B vaccine trial on newborns in Guinea-Bissau, West Africa—an experiment that senior officials themselves compared to the infamous Tuskegee Syphilis Study—should send a collective shiver down the spine of every American. This is not a historical footnote; it is a current crisis that forces us to reckon with the dangerous intersection of ideological health policy and the exploitation of a vulnerable global population.

The Need to Know & Key Take-Aways

The core facts of the now-contested $1.6 million CDC grant in Guinea-Bissau reveal a profound ethical failure: The Heart of the Controversy

  • Withholding a Proven Vaccine: The trial planned to randomly assign approximately 7,000 of 14,000 newborns to not receive the Hepatitis B birth dose, despite the fact that the World Health Organization (WHO) has recommended this vaccine at birth since 2009. Guinea-Bissau has one of the world’s highest burdens of the virus, where about 90% of exposed babies develop chronic infection.
  • “Non-Specific Effects”: The Danish researchers leading the study, from the Bandim Health Project, stated they intended to study the “non-specific effects” of the vaccine. Critics argue this language is straight from the “echo chamber” of vaccine skepticism, attempting to use taxpayer funds to find a problem where one is not known to exist.
  • Flawed Design: Experts like Dr. Jeremy Faust criticized the study as “heavily biased” and “doomed to fail,” noting that serious long-term effects of Hepatitis B, such as liver cancer, take decades to develop, making the trial’s short-term focus on early mortality or neurodevelopmental issues (such as autism by age 5) scientifically unsound and ethically negligent.

The Political & Ethical Take-Aways

  • RFK Jr.’s Influence: The funding and design occurred under the purview of Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., a known vaccine skeptic. This study is seen by critics like Dr. Paul Offit as the manifestation of an anti-vaccine ideology, leading to a shift in U.S. policy that now only recommends the Hep B birth dose for babies whose mothers test positive or whose status is unknown.
  • Colonialism and Exploitation: The study has been condemned as “deeply unethical” and reflective of “colonialist attitudes.” Conducting an experiment in Africa that would “never be approved in the United States” exploits the scarcity of a life-saving vaccine, using poverty as a “window of opportunity” for research.
  • Conflicting Status: While a senior official at the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) announced the study’s cancellation, citing “critical questions on the ethics of the trial,” an HHS official insisted that “we are proceeding as planned.” This leaves the ethical fate of 14,000 infants hanging in the balance, a disturbing reflection of global power dynamics in health research.

Implications for American Culture

This saga has profound implications for American culture and our role on the global stage. It suggests that a dangerous current of anti-science ideology has successfully leveraged U.S. government power and funding to execute “eugenics-style experiments” abroad in an attempt to legitimize unfounded beliefs.

When $1.6 million is directed toward an ethically compromised trial, rather than being used to simply vaccinate the children of Guinea-Bissau against a deadly disease for a decade, it forces us to ask: What is the true cost of our tax dollars? The funding of this research suggests a moral bankruptcy where political ideology trumps public health and the fundamental value of human life. This project exports an unethical model of research that damages our diplomatic standing and undermines the global health initiatives the U.S. claims to support.

A Critical Eye on Our Human Conscience

When we hear the term “Another Tuskegee,” it must serve as an alarm bell for our collective humanity. The original Tuskegee Syphilis Study, where the U.S. government knowingly withheld life-saving treatment from hundreds of African American men in Alabama from 1932 to 1972 to study the progression of the disease, is a defining atrocity in American medical history.

The Guinea-Bissau study, by knowingly depriving 7,000 newborns of a vaccine that “could save their lives” due to the flip of a coin, stands in a terrible succession of medical experiments that have disproportionately targeted:

  • African Americans and other marginalized communities in the United States.
  • Impoverished and vulnerable global populations.

These unethical practices—whether on American soil or in West Africa—do more than just harm the individuals involved. They erode trust in science, public health, and government institutions, creating lasting trauma and providing fuel for legitimate skepticism.

To uphold our human conscience, we must champion the voices of experts and advocates who fought for the trial’s cancellation. We must demand that the $1.6 million be immediately repurposed to vaccinate the children of Guinea-Bissau. The willingness of a superpower to exploit the scarcity of a proven intervention to advance a fringe ideological agenda is the true danger to our collective humanity. The fact that this moral battle even had to be fought is the most damning indictment of all.

A Life of Service: Remembering Pierpont Mobley, Author of ‘The Black Side of the White House’

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It is with heavy hearts that we share the news of the passing of our dear friend and former ePluribusAmerica guest, Pierpont Mobley. The conversation with ePa Live streamed on Dec 21, 2024, was a timely and historic one, and while we are saddened to hear of his passing, we will continue to honor his incredible life and work, which will undoubtedly continue to galvanize and inspire generations to come. Mobley was a true D.C. Royal, a dedicated civil servant, and a human rights activist whose work profoundly shaped American culture and politics.

Need to Know

Pierpont Mobley dedicated his life to the fight for equity, leaving an indelible mark on the federal government and the District of Columbia.

  • White House Service: He was the first Black American appointed to the White House Personnel Office, serving under four presidential administrations.
  • Civil Rights Pioneer: He wrote the first affirmative action plan for the White House and 11 executive offices, specializing in personnel and equal employment opportunity throughout his 25+ years of public service.
  • Military and Civic Duty: Mobley served 20 years in the D.C. National Guard and volunteered for D.C. Del. Eleanor Holmes Norton’s Service Academy Board.
  • The JPM Group: After retiring as a federal appointee, he co-founded the successful consulting firm, the JPM Group, with his wife, Jeannette, specializing in management and human resources for clients like Verizon and D.C. Public Schools.
  • His Memoir: He is the author of The Black Side of the White House: A Memoir for Generations to Come, a book he was inspired to release during the first Trump administration to offer a reflection on his decades in government and the differing political climates.

Take-aways and Implications to American Culture

Mobley’s career and life story offer powerful lessons for the nation on the importance of civil service and the enduring struggle for equality.

  • The Power of Policy: His work, particularly in crafting the White House affirmative action plan, established vital policy foundations for equal employment opportunity that continue to shape the federal workforce today. His life proves the impact one dedicated individual can have on making government more equitable.
  • Activism Inspired by Change: His decision to publish his memoir in 2024, prompted by the tensions he saw in the modern political environment, serves as a powerful reminder that the fight for human rights is continuous. He used his personal history to offer context and inspiration during a period of national dispute.
  • A Family Man and “Power Couple”: Pierpont and his wife, Jeannette, who were married for nearly 60 years and raised two children, were known as a District power couple. Their induction into the Hall of Fame in Washington, D.C., speaks to a legacy that balanced tireless public work with a spiritually grounded, enduring love—a testament to sustaining personal values amidst political life.

An Incredible Legacy and Contribution

Pierpont Mobley was a towering figure who truly loved the people of the District of Columbia and dedicated his career to ensuring dignity and equal opportunity for all. Reflecting on his life, he spoke of his honor in looking back on 35 to 40 years in the field of human rights and civil rights within the federal and D.C. governments.

His personal journey, which began with asking his longtime wife, Jeannette, to dance (and being told “no,” initially!), grounded his professional advocacy. As Jeannette Mobley once reflected, “You have to like people… I know he is my best friend.” It was this deep respect for people—from his wife’s etiquette (“I liked that she didn’t use profanity… it startled and delighted me when she used the word ‘gosh’”) to his unwavering support for human rights and equal employment—that defined his character and his contribution.

As an activist and faith leader, Mobley’s legacy will surely continue to inspire. He helped shape the nation for the better, serving as a staunch advocate who reminds us that respect, regardless of age, race, or sex, is the foundation of a better America. We send our deepest condolences to his wife, Jeannette, and the entire Mobley family.