Visit These Historic Black Sites

The National Museum of African-American History and Culture 

The Smithsonian Museums are nothing short of a national treasure and a must visit if you go to Washington DC. The African-American History Museum is spectacular and houses so many incredible exhibits and items that are part of the Black story in the US. 

Mary McCleod Bethune House

The amazing life of Mary McCleod Bethune (1875-1955), educator, activist, and political advisor, is on display at her former home and what was the first home of the National Council of Negro Women, an organization she founded for the advancement of African-American women. 

Her journey is documented from her early childhood education, through becoming an educator, to her influence with President Franklin D. Roosevelt. Her life story is a lesson in civil activism during a time when being Black and a woman was dramatically dangerous and restrictive.  

Located in Logan Circle in the Shaw Community on Fridays and Saturdays you can participate in a walking tour led by the National Park Service that discusses the history of the area, how it was developed by Blacks during segregation. This tour is available until September 17, 2022. 1318 Vermont Ave. NW, Washington, DC 20005. 202-673-2402

Rev. Doctor Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial

The very first thing that struck me when I visited the memorial statue of Martin Luther King, Jr. was his deliberate and intent gaze directed towards the Jefferson Memorial. As the sun set and the Lincoln Memorial become lit, the line forming a triangle invisibly drawn between the three become clear. 

Metaphysically, the number three stands for completion. It is represented in mind, body and soul; the father, the son and the holy ghost; man, woman and child, etc. Energetically they direct power in the direction in which they are pointed. In this case, Lincoln sits at the tip of the triangle. I was not surprised to later learn that this was very deliberate, like all architectural design in DC.

King stood on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial and delivered the famous “I Have a Dream Speech,” in which he referenced the Declaration of Independence written by Jefferson. I am certain that there is a rabbit hole near by that one could fall in looking into all the symbolism. To save time, you will find some of it spelled out for you on the website. 1964 Independence Ave. SW, Washington, DC

Benjamin Banneker Memorial Park

Benjamin Banneker (1731-1806) was a mathematician, farmer, and astronomer amongst other professions. He was known for his clock invention, made completely out of wood, and being the author of a very popular almanac. In 1791 Banneker was hired to help survey the land to map out the nation’s capital and lay stone markers.

Banneker led the life of a free Black person and was an adamant abolitionist. He is famously known for writing a letter to Thomas Jefferson that called him out on his hypocrisy of owning slaves while supporting independence for the nation that kept others in servitude. 

The memorial park is designed with a fountain and surrounding plaza with seating. It is located at the end of L’Enfant Plaza overlooking the Wharf in Southwest DC. It recently underwent a 1.1-million-dollar renovation. 429 L’Enfant Plaza SW, Washington, DC

Duke Ellington Statue

DC native Duke Ellington has several landmarks dedicated to his honor in the capital city. In the Shaw neighborhood, near where he spent his childhood and early career, there is a statue erected in his honor. The statue was created by DC native Zachary Oxman. The piece is in front of the historic Howard Theater on Florida Ave. 

There is a school named in his honor, The Duke Ellington School of the Arts, a bridge, formerly known as the Calvert Street Bridge; his former residence at 2728 Sherman Avenue NW is marked by a bronze plaque, and across the street from his place of birth, the park at the intersection of New Hampshire and M Streets NW is named the Duke Ellington Park.

Chuck Brown Memorial Park

DC is synonymous with Go-Go music and Chuck Brown is known as the father of the genre. Chuck Brown Memorial Park is an homage to Brown, the Godfather of Go-Go. At the entrance of the park is an inscribed memorial wall with details of his life and contributions. 

There is an annual festival that celebrates his legacy with performances by his band and other bands who rep DC’s Go-Go flow. The event takes place annually in the month of August, but you can find good Go-Go 24/7 in DC. 

Langston Hughes Residence

Poet Langston Hughes lived at 1749 S Street among a few other addresses during his life living in DC. Records show that he resided at this residence with his family during his childhood from 1924 to 1926. The family rented two unheated rooms in this residence.