Before Harlem, There Was U Street
For the first half of the twentieth century, the U Street neighborhood inspired and sustained the rich social, civic, and cultural life of D.C.’s African American community. Until 1920, when New York’s Harlem overtook it, Washington, D.C. could claim the largest urban Black population in the United States.
Explore the enclave that was shared by Black intellectuals, business leaders, and families of all economic levels. The businesses they owned and the houses they lived in are featured on this walk. You’ll see:
- The former Whitelaw Hotel building, where a Black clientele was welcomed during the height of Jim Crow segregation
- The first full-service YMCA for African Americans
- The first memorial dedicated to Black soldiers who fought in the U.S. Civil War
- Ben’s Chili Bowl and the Lincoln Theatre, iconic U Street establishments that continue to draw crowds
You’ll also stand on the corner where searing protests started on April 4, 1968, following the assassination of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. That event shook the city and the neighborhood, igniting a sometimes violent response that resulted in property damage. The years that ensued brought other challenges, yet U Street’s legacy of Black empowerment has remained intact.
If you like this Washington walking tour, you might also like: Columbia Heights and Logan Circle
