Posts tagged with "BlackHistory"

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.

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.

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.

The Audacity of Claudette Colvin and the Story of Civil Rights in America

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The passing of civil rights pioneer Claudette Colvin this week at the age of 86 calls us to a moment of reflection—not just on a life well-lived, but on the full, complex, and often-overlooked tapestry of American history. 

Colvin’s defiant courage, born of a fierce belief in her own dignity, is a powerful and necessary part of the American narrative that we must bring out of the shadows. Her life reminds us that the struggle for a more perfect union is waged by countless individuals, many of whom remain unsung.

Need-to-Knows: The Facts Behind the Courage

  • The First Refusal: On March 2, 1955, nine months before Rosa Parks’ celebrated act, 15-year-old Claudette Colvin refused to give up her seat to a white passenger on a segregated Montgomery bus. She was arrested and charged, famously recalling that “history had me glued to my seat.”
  • The Legal Victory: Despite her arrest not sparking the Montgomery Bus Boycott, Colvin became a critical figure in the legal fight to end bus segregation. She was one of four plaintiffs in the 1956 landmark Supreme Court case, Browder v. Gayle, which successfully declared segregation on public transportation unconstitutional.
  • The Oversight: Colvin’s actions were initially overshadowed. Civil rights leaders were reportedly seeking a figure who would be “more acceptable to the white community,” and her background as a dark-complexioned teenager who became pregnant shortly after her arrest was deemed problematic for the public face of the movement.
  • A Final Act of Justice: Even in her 80s, Colvin fought to clear her record, successfully having the decades-old assault charge expunged in 2021. She did this to ensure her grandchildren and great-grandchildren would know that their grandmother “stood up for something” and to affirm the ongoing struggle for equal rights.

Take-Aways: Implications for American Culture

Claudette Colvin’s life is a profound testament to the nature of American progress. Her story holds three critical implications for our culture today:

  1. The Full Truth of History: As Montgomery Mayor Steven Reed noted, Colvin’s bravery was “too often overlooked.” Her legacy challenges us to honor every voice that helped bend the arc toward justice, recognizing that movements are built not only by those whose names are most familiar but also by those whose courage comes early, quietly, and at great personal cost.
  2. The Persistence of the Struggle: Her decision to seek expungement in 2021 was a personal fight, but also a generational message. It underscores that the fight for dignity, equality, and a clear record continues across decades, demonstrating the sheer resilience required of those who challenge unequal laws.
  3. The Heart of American Ideals: Colvin’s actions—the spontaneous refusal to move—were a raw, uncompromising expression of human dignity, demanding that the nation live up to its founding principles. She embodies the profound truth that the push for American ideals often starts not in a boardroom, but in a quiet, individual act of resistance.

Claudette Colvin’s defiance, rooted in a moment on a crowded bus, helped lay the moral and legal foundation for a movement that reshaped our country. The struggle she participated in—the quest for civil rights—is a constant, demanding chapter in the story of the American Dream. It is a dream that has always been contested, a promise for many that was long denied.

Yet, it is a dream that endures, driven by the unwavering belief in justice and human dignity. Her courage, and the courage of all the pioneers who were overlooked, inspires us to work steadfastly toward the “America yet to be,” as Langston Hughes wrote—an America where liberty and opportunity truly ring true for every citizen, and where the full truth of our past lights the path to a more just and equitable future. May her legacy continue to inspire us all to stand for what is right, even when the world is not yet ready to listen.

A Veteran’s Betrayal: The Quiet Erasing of Black Heroes from American History

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On this Veterans Day, we must confront a deliberate and disgusting act of historical white-washing that dishonors the very people who fought to preserve freedom. Black people fighting against Nazis should be seen as heroes. However, those in power are desperate to hide this history.

On a day meant for solemn remembrance and honor, a deeply disturbing truth mars the sanctity of Veterans Day 2025: a calculated effort is underway to systematically erase the documented history of Black and female military service from official U.S. records and memorials. This is not a mistake or an oversight—it is an act of pure ideological racism, deliberately targeting the legacies of those who put their lives on the line for a country that has historically refused to fully recognize their citizenship.

The quiet removal of plaques and the scrubbing of websites are not just bureaucratic adjustments; they are a profound betrayal of the very principles for which these heroes fought. For ePluribusAmerica, this is an issue that demands our immediate outrage and action.

The Facts of Erasure

The following actions, undertaken by officials under the current administration, represent a direct attack on historical integrity:

  • The Limburg Memorial Removal: Two panels commemorating Black American soldiers’ contributions to the liberation of the Netherlands in World War II were quietly removed from the U.S. military cemetery in Limburg. This action followed a complaint by the right-wing Heritage Foundation to the American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC).
  • The Arlington Purge: Arlington National Cemetery (ANC) has stripped information and educational materials about Black and female service members from its website. This removed content included links to the “Notable Graves” of dozens of Black, Hispanic, and female veterans, including:
    • Gen Colin L. Powell, the first Black Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.
    • The storied life stories of the Tuskegee Airmen, the country’s first Black military airmen.
    • War hero Hector Santa Anna, a World War II bomber pilot.
  • The Political Mandate: This content removal is directly tied to President Donald Trump’s effort to eliminate Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) practices throughout the federal government and military. An ANC spokesperson admitted they are working to restore links but must ensure content aligns with Trump’s orders and instructions from Secretary of War Pete Hegseth—who has publicly pledged to “root out all diversity initiatives.”
  • The International Condemnation: In a heartening but damning sign, parliament members in the Dutch province of Limburg have called the removal of the WWII panels “indecent” and “unacceptable,” and are looking into creating a new, temporary memorial outside the cemetery grounds.

Black Veterans, WWII.

The Core Message

  1. This Is Historical White-Washing: The removal is not accidental. It is a targeted, institutional effort to diminish and erase the contributions of non-white service members, suggesting that their service is not “notable” or worthy of standalone recognition.
  2. DEI as a Pretext for Erasure: The attack on “DEI” is being cynically used as a political shield to justify stripping away the history of minority service members. When the elimination of “woke” culture results in deleting the history of Medal of Honor recipients and WWII liberators, the agenda is clear: silence and invisibility.
  3. The Fight is Now: With nearly 50% of the active-duty military identifying as a minority or woman, the attempt to sideline their history is a profound act of disrespect to all those currently serving. The fact that the Defense Department previously had to reinstate Tuskegee Airmen materials shows that public outcry can, and must, force a reversal.

African American soldiers in the Netherlands.

Implications for American Culture

The campaign to erase Black military history is a chilling indicator of a country “still deeply intolerant,” even in 2025. The implications stretch far beyond the military cemeteries:

  • A Betrayal of Service: The soldiers being scrubbed from the internet and cemeteries are the same individuals who fought against the Nazi ideology of racial supremacy. By minimizing their stories, the U.S. government is effectively giving a historical seal of approval to the idea that their sacrifice matters less. It’s a complete inversion of the values they fought for.
  • The Weaponization of History: When history is not preserved, it is rewritten. This sets a dangerous precedent where future administrations can decide which groups’ contributions are “appropriate” to remember, leading to a sanitized, false narrative of American exceptionalism that excludes those who suffered the most under its domestic systems.
  • A Call for Vigilance and Recommitment: This Veterans Day, we must honor Black soldiers not just by saying thank you, but by actively defending their legacy. The battle to preserve these plaques and website pages is part of the larger, continuous struggle for Civil Rights and Social Justice—a fight to ensure that the promise of E pluribus unum (“Out of many, one”) is truly reflected in our national narrative.

Marines, 1958, Camp Lejeune.

Restore and Remember

We must demand immediate action. The Arlington National Cemetery spokesperson mentioned they are working to restore links—we must hold them to it and ensure the content is reinstated without any ideological gatekeeping.

This Veterans Day, ePluribusAmerica is calling on our readers, activists, and freedom fighters everywhere to:

  • Contact the American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) and your representatives to demand the immediate return of the Limburg panels.
  • Monitor the Arlington National Cemetery website to ensure all erased content on Black and female veterans is fully restored.
  • Share the stories of the Tuskegee Airmen and the Black liberators of Europe.

We cannot let their sacrifice be forgotten. Not now. Not ever.

Dorothy Porter Wesley: A Visionary Who Shaped Black History and American Culture

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On October 24, 1994, President Bill Clinton honored Dorothy Porter Wesley with the National Endowment for the Humanities’ Charles Frankel Award, recognizing her monumental contributions as a Black librarian, bibliographer, researcher, and curator. A true pioneer, Wesley’s work at Howard University’s Library of Negro Life and History (now the Moorland-Spingarn Research Center) transformed a modest collection into a world-class research hub, profoundly impacting Black studies and the broader American intellectual landscape.

Need to Know: The Unsung Architect of Black Scholarship

Dorothy Porter Wesley, born May 25, 1905, in Warrenton, Virginia, was the first Black woman to earn a library science degree from Columbia University. Joining Howard University in 1928, she faced significant challenges, including limited budget and staff. Yet, her unwavering dedication and innovative spirit led her to build a collection of over 180,000 books, pamphlets, manuscripts, and other materials. She famously “begged” for donations from publishers, authors, and families, ensuring the preservation of invaluable Black historical and cultural artifacts.

One of her most significant achievements was developing a new classification system for the collection. Recognizing the limitations of the Dewey Decimal System, which offered only two categories for African Americans (slavery and colonization), Porter Wesley created a system that organized books by genre and author, offering a more nuanced and respectful approach to Black literature and scholarship.

Take-Aways: Lessons from a Life Dedicated to Preservation and Access

  • Visionary Leadership: Porter Wesley’s foresight in recognizing the critical need for a dedicated Black research center laid the groundwork for the formal discipline of Black Studies.
  • Overcoming Adversity: Despite systemic sexism and racial barriers, she built an unparalleled resource through sheer determination, resourcefulness, and a global network of contacts.
  • Innovation in Information Science: Her creation of a new classification system demonstrated a profound understanding of the unique needs of Black scholarship and challenged existing discriminatory practices in library science.
  • The Power of Archiving: Her work underscores the vital role of archives in preserving marginalized narratives and providing the foundational evidence for new historical understandings.

Dorothy Porter Wesley’s legacy resonates deeply across several facets of American society:

  • American Culture: By making Black history and culture accessible, she enriched the national narrative, ensuring that the contributions and experiences of African Americans are recognized as integral to the American story. Her work challenged the prevailing historical omissions and biases, fostering a more inclusive understanding of American identity.
  • Black History: Wesley’s tireless efforts directly fueled the emergence and growth of Black Studies as a robust academic discipline. The Moorland-Spingarn Research Center became an indispensable resource for scholars worldwide, providing the primary documentation necessary to research, write, and teach Black history with depth and accuracy. Historian Benjamin Quarles noted, “Without exaggeration, there hasn’t been a major black history book in the last 30 years in which the author hasn’t acknowledged Mrs. Porter’s help.”
  • Black Women’s Role in American Society: As a Black woman leading a major academic institution during a time of significant racial and gender discrimination, Porter Wesley served as a powerful role model. Her achievements demonstrated the intellectual prowess, leadership, and resilience of Black women in shaping academic fields and cultural institutions. She broke barriers and created opportunities for future generations of Black women in academia and beyond.
  • Arts and Humanities in the Shaping of the Nation: Porter Wesley’s work is a testament to the transformative power of the arts and humanities. By preserving literature, manuscripts, and other cultural artifacts, she ensured that the artistic and intellectual expressions of Black people were not lost but instead became a source of knowledge, inspiration, and resistance. Her center became a radical site for the creation of new narratives, allowing the legacy of Black people to become public and part of the public imagination, influencing everything from historical research to documentary filmmaking, as exemplified by figures like Raoul Peck.

Dorothy Porter Wesley was more than a librarian; she was a cultural architect, a guardian of history, and a champion of intellectual liberation. Her enduring work continues to empower scholars, inspire new generations, and ensure that the rich tapestry of Black experience remains a vibrant and accessible part of our shared human story.

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The Berry Brothers: Acrobatic Tap, Enduring Legacy, and the Shaping of American Culture

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Tap dance, a vibrant and uniquely American art form, owes much of its evolution and dynamism to the ingenuity and resilience of Black artists. Yet, this rich history is often overshadowed, with figures like Fred Astaire frequently credited for its advancement, despite his inability to match the powerful styles of Black dancers.

Among the true pioneers who shaped tap dancing and left an indelible mark on American history and culture were the Berry Brothers: Nyas, James, and Warren.

Need to Know: Who Were the Berry Brothers?

The Berry Brothers were an influential African-American “flash” tap dance trio, active for over three decades, from the late 1920s to the early 1950s. They were renowned for their high-energy, acrobatic style, seamlessly blending rhythmic precision with daring, athletic moves like synchronized cane twirling, mid-air splits, and spectacular somersaults. Born in New Orleans (Nyas and James) and Denver (Warren), they honed their craft on the grueling “Chitlin’ Circuit” before breaking into mainstream venues.

A Legacy in Tap Dancing History

The Berry Brothers’ contribution to tap dance was revolutionary. They were pioneers of the “flash act,” pushing the boundaries of the art form with their innovative combination of traditional soft-shoe and acrobatic routines. Their masterful precision, clarity, concentration, and astounding musicality were on full display in every performance.

One of their most legendary moments was the 1938 dance-off at the Cotton Club with their principal rivals, the equally acrobatic Nicholas Brothers. While some considered the Nicholas Brothers better all-around performers, many acknowledged the Berry Brothers’ unparalleled athleticism and daring moves, with some accounts suggesting they “won the day” with their synchronized flying and tumbling split-legged catapult over the band. Their work left a lasting legacy, influencing generations of dancers and solidifying their place as trailblazers of rhythm and style.

Shaping American History and Culture: The Harlem Renaissance

The Berry Brothers rose to prominence during the Harlem Renaissance, a period of immense cultural expression and a “spiritual coming of age” for African Americans. They were fixtures of the New York jazz scene, performing for five years at the famous Cotton Club with jazz greats like Duke Ellington. Their performances, alongside those of other Black artists, were central to defining culture and “cool” for both Black and white audiences in America and around the world.

Their career highlights include performing at the Cotton Club, becoming one of the first Black acts at the Copacabana in 1929, and appearing in films like Lady Be Good (1941) and Panama Hattie (1942). Through their art, they contributed to a new African American identity, transforming “social disillusionment to race pride” and challenging reductive, racist stereotypes.

Comparing Contributions and Their Place in History

While both the Berry Brothers and the Nicholas Brothers were phenomenal “flash” tap dancers, the Berry Brothers were particularly celebrated for their sheer athleticism and daring acrobatics. They were the only successful tap dance group to truly rival the Nicholas Brothers in talent, flash, and success. Their unique blend of older Black vernacular dance traditions like the soft shoe and Cakewalk with acrobatics created a uniquely flashy performance style. Their place in history is secured as innovators who pushed the physical and artistic boundaries of tap dance, contributing significantly to its evolution.

Berry Me Not with The Berry Brothers | Panama Hattie | Warner Archive

How Racism Impacted Their Legacy and Art

Despite their undeniable talent and acclaim, the Berry Brothers’ careers were significantly hampered by the systemic racism of the 20th century. This was evident in several ways:

  • The “Chitlin’ Circuit”: They honed their craft on the T.O.B.A. circuit, a segregated network of vaudeville theaters that booked exclusively Black talent, often with low pay.
  • The Cotton Club Paradox: While headliners at the Cotton Club, they performed for exclusively white audiences. The club’s “plantation” decor, colorist policies (requiring lighter-skinned female performers), and discriminatory practices exploited Black creativity for white consumption.
  • Breaking Barriers with Hypocrisy: Their groundbreaking performances at venues like the Copacabana were undercut by the clubs’ segregationist policies, where Black performers entertained white patrons but were denied entry as customers.
  • Segregation in Hollywood: Their Hollywood appearances were often limited to specialty dance numbers that could be easily edited out for Southern audiences, and they were denied leading roles, a common experience for Black performers of the era.

This systemic racism prevented them from achieving even greater recognition and financial success, ultimately impacting the full scope of their legacy.

Historical Takeaways

The story of the Berry Brothers offers several crucial historical takeaways:

  • Resilience and Innovation: Black artists, despite facing immense discrimination, consistently innovated and elevated art forms, turning percussive dance born from African roots into high-art spectacles.
  • The Power of Art in Social Change: Their performances, and the broader Harlem Renaissance, demonstrated how art could be a vehicle for expressing a new Black identity, challenging stereotypes, and fostering race pride, laying a foundation for future civil rights movements.
  • The Dual Nature of Progress: While breaking color barriers in some prestigious venues, the underlying racism and segregationist practices of the era continued to exploit and limit Black talent.
  • The Importance of Remembering: It is crucial to acknowledge and celebrate the contributions of Black pioneers like the Berry Brothers to ensure their rightful place in American cultural memory, and to understand the complex interplay of art, race, and societal structures.

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