1000 word Essay
The 1968 Washington D.C. Riots Affect on Local Neighborhoods
Introduction
Following Martin Luther King’s assassination on April 4, 1968, a number of cities erupted into violent riots. But no area was more damaged economically and physically than the neighborhoods in Washington D.C. This essay will examine why and how the local neighborhoods were devastated by the 1968 riots. Looking into the history of the region and the specific economic and racial situations of neighborhoods like U Street, H Street, and Columbia Heights will show the true causes of the downfall that occurred after the riots. A downfall that was inevitable due to the time period, location, and extreme circumstances.
Neighborhood Growth
Despite the racial problems at the time, a few neighborhoods managed to become moderately successful environments. For example, U Street had been one of leading areas in D.C. for African-American art and culture. It hosted Lincoln and Howard Theaters; two centers that led directly to the growth of music in the District. Another nearby neighborhood, H Street, was the economic center for the black community. It was the location of the first Woolworth in D.C.; the store employed thousands and was the favored shopping center for blacks in the area due to the negative treatment at white owned shops. These neighborhoods hosted both middle class and lower income residents.
Early Tensions
In the years leading up to riots, there was already a great deal of tension between the white and black communities in the city. Despite Washington being labeled a more black-friendly city than most locations, the reality was that D.C. was a hotspot for racial violence; incidents involving white police officers and black citizens were far from uncommon. “In July 1966 Carl Moultrie, president of the local NAACP reported in the press that he had received on average fifteen complaints a week from black Washingtonians who claimed they had been verbally or physically abused by police officers” (Haskins 5). There was very little interaction between the two communities even in the neighborhoods populated by both races. The interactions that did occur were often conflict inducing and discriminatory. “Frequently, businesses in lower income neighborhoods that were often ravaged by crime charged higher prices to local African-American customers in order to compensate for elevated insurance rates” (Schaffer 7). Encounters like these simply added more tension to a quickly growing race problem that would soon boil over.
Economic Discrepancies
The main source of conflict during this time was the unfair housing and financial situation for African-Americans in the city. By 1961 African-Americans were fifty-five percent of D.C. population, however they were “forced into” forty-four percent of the housing in the district. Their housing was also considered of low quality and residents often had to face a number of issues including “overcrowding and unsanitary” conditions (Schaffer7-8). Issues like this plagued the community and led to more animosity towards the white population who were now attempting to distance themselves even farther away from the black population.
The Riots
The riots began on April 4, 1968. After King’s death a young activist named Stokely Carmichael led a group of protesters to urge shop owners to close out of respect. Carmichael soon lost control of the group who began smashing windows, setting fires, and looting (Haskins 57). The riots lasted six days in all and cost the lives of twelve people and millions of dollars of damage to the city.
Aftermath
When the riots had finally ended, the neighborhoods of H Street, U Street, Shaw, and Columbia Heights were severely damaged. The entire industry of the area was gone. Scores of homes and businesses were destroyed by the flames; employment opportunities were lost as most of stores never reopened. Crime and poverty set in, causing more businesses to flee from the region. Most of the white owned shops moved to the suburbs leaving nothing but empty storefronts. Streets that were once filled with restaurants, small businesses, and theaters now consisted mostly of vacant lots and abandoned buildings. Neighborhoods that were considered to be middle class in the preceding years were now hot spots for illegal activity and representations of impoverishment in the region.
Recovery
There has been some economic recovery in the affected areas, mainly due to the addition of metro station near Columbia Heights. The position of station allowed for an increase in jobs and a moderate improvement in the poverty plaguing the area. According to Shaffer, Shaw has also seen some improvement in the following decades with significant assistance from non-profit organizations helping to “rejuvenate” the area (26). However, a full recovery is still far away for all of the neighborhoods directly affected by the riots.
Causes and Conclusion
There were many factors involved with the violence that raged through Washington D.C. Many pointed to the financial discrimination mentioned above. Haskins points to a columnist named Colin Rolark who considered the riots to be a “”consumer’s rebellion”” against the white shop owners who had purposefully preyed on lower income black families (64). The tension had been in the city for years; the constant abuse from the police, the poor conditions of the black housing, and the general discrimination all led to this incident. King’s death was simply a spark that allowed the release of all the anger and frustration on the city. It all began in the neighborhoods; while there was plenty of positive growth, there was also the overshadowing racial problems between the residents.
Works Cited
Haskins, Faye P. "Behind the Headlines." Washington History 19/20 (2007): 50-67. America: History & Life, EBSCOhost. Web. 26 March 2014.
Schaffer, Dana Lanier. “The 1968 Washington D.C. Riots in History and Memory.” Washington History 15.2 (2003/2004): 4-33. JSTOR. Web. 26 March 2014.