Has D.C. Declared War on the Black Community?
Keep DC a Chocolate City poster
Saturday, lower Georgia Avenue south of Park Road was plastered with Keep DC a Chocolate City! posters (example at the right). While it lists many legitimate issues that the City and residents need to address — such as poverty, crime, the impact of development, HIV/AIDS, and displacement — it saddens me that these issues have all been presented as the Black community vs. the White community.
Washington is much more complex than that. D.C. has a rich culturally diverse population that continues to diversify. Ward 1 is home to significant Latino communities as well as persons of other ethnic backgrounds. In addition to historically Black neighborhoods changing demographically, there are also parts of the city that many would consider to be historically Black neighborhoods that were originally historically White neighborhoods . As one researches the City’s demography, the only thing that can be said for sure it that populations change over time and are continuing to change.
Vince Gray ran on a platform of “One City.” While a noble goal, is it achievable in a climate that is racially charged? Furthermore, can any of the serious issues facing our City be solved when our communities are pitted against each other?
The rally is scheduled for December 18th at 2928 Georgia Avenue.
Tags: gentrification, Park View, Pleasant Plains, race relations
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Park View, D.C. 
December 6, 2010 at 11:15 am
Racist don’t belong is this city! How sad that is has come full circle! Hate comes in all colors.
A community that destroyed itself now is trying to chase away it’s own recovery.
December 6, 2010 at 2:30 pm
“In law, hate speech is any speech, gesture or conduct, writing, or display which is forbidden because it may incite violence or prejudicial action against or by a protected individual or group, or because it disparages or intimidates a protected individual or group. The law may identify a protected individual or a protected group by race, gender, ethnicity, nationality, religion, sexual orientation, or other characteristic.”
at least this racist hate speech is punishable by law…
December 6, 2010 at 6:02 pm
I believe the religious group with which they are affiliated are one of those “hater” religions against gays, and the women are completely subservient to the men.
December 6, 2010 at 6:56 pm
Why is Everlasting Life hosting them? Are they also crazies?
December 7, 2010 at 8:44 am
Yes, they are the front for the religious group; the speakers are the political oganization that doesn’t espouse religious machinations.
December 8, 2010 at 10:20 am
Sadly, I’m sure Fox News will send a crew to cover this.
January 15, 2011 at 9:21 pm
I don’t know anything about the group organizing this event, but Everlasting Life is, in my experience, a nice place welcoming people of all races and genders. The food there is great, too!