Introduction
until 1920, when New York’s Harlem over- took it, Washington, D.C. could claim the larg- est urban African American population in the United States. The U Street area provided the heartbeat. It inspired and nurtured the elegance and the musical genius of Duke Ellington. Leaders in science, law, education, and the arts — such as Thurgood Marshall, Dr. Charles Drew, Langston Hughes, and the opera star Madame Evanti — walked these streets and lifted the aspirations of its families. This neighborhood lies within the area laid out by Pierre L’Enfant for the federal city in 1791 . By the time of the Civil War 70 years later, howev- er, it was still open land dotted with a few frame buildings. Two Civil War camps and a hospital brought the first major activity to the area. In 1867, Howard University began to rise nearby, the first such southern institution to welcome African Americans.
Founders Hall, Howard University
Thurgood Marshall
Made with FlippingBook Annual report maker