Complicated lives, complicated statues

The current Black Lives Matter protests have caused a nationwide rethinking of what types of statues belong on public display as representatives of our history and culture. If we decide to replace some statues with new ones, then even more complex decisions have to be made on who to honor and how to portray them…. Continue reading

Dance as Protest, on Black Lives Matter Plaza

Native Washingtonians Airro, L, Loso and Xanyy have been at Black Lives Matter Plaza from the beginning of the protests. Immediately following the murder of George Floyd when the crowds were gathering day and night and tensions and anger were very high, the group decided that they wanted to be a voice too, but a voice through dance, a voice that would give people pause for a moment or longer, a voice to bring a bit of a balance to the anger.

Cedar Hill on July 4th

Fireworks and concerts on the mall and neighborhood fireworks displays are annual traditions in Washington, DC but there is another tradition that acknowledges that independence was not accorded to all citizens on the July 4, 1776. Each year before the current pandemic one at the Frederick Douglass’ Cedar Hill home in Anacostia, there is a program that includes the reading of Douglass’ speech “What to the Slave is the Fourth of July?”