Neighbors,
As we celebrate Black history during the month of February, I want to share with you the phenomenal achievements of some of the best of Wards 5, both past and present. African American history and culture is a core component of the identity of not only the District of Columbia, but our nation as well. I am honored to share the story of a Ward 5 African American hero and a group of local African American teen authors.
Ten African American teen authors between the age of 11 and 13 co-authored the award-winning book “The Day Tajon Got Shot”. On February 4, I had the privilege of hosting these remarkable young women to present them with a ceremonial resolution from the DC Council. Their work on the book began in March of 2015, through a teen writing program developed by
Beacon House, an after-school education and youth development nonprofit in the Edgewood community of Ward 5. It came at a time when a national conversation on police interactions with the community was sweeping the nation. They launched their book in March 2017 and since then, they have received
local and national recognition. These brilliant young women have represented their families, Beacon House, Ward 5, and the District of Columbia well. During this Black History Month, I celebrate T'Asia Bates, J'yona Calloway, Reiyanna Davis, Jonae Haynesworth, Makiya Holmes, Rose McKoy, Najae Purvis, Serenity Summers, Jeanet Teneyck, and Temil Whipple on their well-deserved recognition.
Charles Hamilton Houston, a native Washingtonian and a graduate of Dunbar High School in Ward 5, was a groundbreaking legal scholar who served as the first special counsel to the NAACP, mentor to Thurgood Marshall and Dean of the Howard University Law School. Charles Hamilton Houston also helped dismantle housing discrimination. The landmark Supreme Court case that found racially restrictive housing covenants unconstitutional,
Shelley v. Kraemer, included in a companion case, named
Hurd v. Hodge.
That case was based on a house on the 100 block of Bryant Street NW in the Bloomingdale community. The Hurd family was represented by Charles Hamilton Houston. You may recall that last year, I introduced a bill to build a statue to honor the life and amazing legacy of Charles Hamilton Houston, along with 7 other Native Washingtonians who are women or people of color. I was able to secure funding to build a statue honoring Charles Hamilton Houston. The commission that will determine where and how Mr. Houston’s contributions will be memorialized met for the first time in early February. I am very proud to be championing the effort to ensure Mr. Houston's legacy continues to be honored by future Washingtonians.
Throughout the month of February, I have shared past and present stories of African Americans connected to Ward 5. To follow my Black History month tributes follow me on
Twitter,
Instagram, or
Facebook.
In service,
Kenyan