Chocolate City No More: Practicing Public History in a Changing City

Abstract

Although Washington, D.C. was the first major U.S. city to become home to a majority African American population, the nation’s capital can no longer tout its “Chocolate City” status. Experiencing a profound gentrification since the early 2000s, the city lost its African American majority in 2011. This roundtable features a discussion of the realities of practicing public history in a city that faces continuing and significant demographic change.

Chair and Commentator: Hilary Malson, UCLA

Panelist: Derek Gray, DC Public Library

Panelist: Izetta Autumn Mobley, University of Maryland-College Park

Panelist: Kimberly Springle, Charles Sumner School Museum & Archives