Celebrating the District of Columbia The Struggle for Freedom, Justice, Liberty, and Equality
The District of Columbia Compensated Emancipation Act (Act), entitled: For the release of certain persons held to service or labor in the District of Columbia, was passed by Congress and signed into law by President Abraham Lincoln on April 16, 1862. The Act freed over 3,100 enslaved persons in the District of Columbia. It was the first Act of Congress that freed enslaved persons in the United States; and, enslaved persons in the District of Columbia hold the historical distinction of being the first freed. After the Act was passed by Congress and signed by President Lincoln, the African-American community hosted annual Emancipation Day celebrations that lasted from 1866 to 1901. The earliest celebration of Emancipation Day was sketched in a wood engraving by F. Dielman which was published in Harper’s Weekly on May 12, 1866. After a long hiatus in Emancipation Day celebrations, Mrs. Loretta Carter Hanes worked tirelessly over many years to bring the celebration back; and, on January 4, 2005, the Emancipation Amendment Act of 2004 was signed into law, designating April 16 a public legal holiday in the District of Columbia.
Listed below are activities being planned in partnership with institutions and organizations throughout the community to commemorate the District of Columbia Emancipation Day Sesquicentennial Celebration which include signature conferences, lectures series, programs, projects, poetry and prose, re-enactment, tours, projects, and parade.
Signature Conference I
Slavery, Abolition, and Emancipation in the District of Columbia
A panel of distinguished scholars, historians, researchers, experts, academicians, and others will examine the forces, politics, and the resistance to slavery, abolition, and emancipation
April 13-14, 2012
6:00 pm
Place TBA
Signature Conference II
Civil War to Civil Rights: The Struggle for Freedom, Justice, Liberty, and Equality
A roundtable discussion of distinguished scholars, historians, researchers, civil right leaders, community activists, religious leaders, and others will address the struggles in the quest for freedom that cover slavery, reconstruction, Tilden-Haynes Compromise, the Kue Klux Klan and terrorism, separate but equal,
Jim Crow and segregation, civil rights movement 1 and 2, conservatism and race, and the continuum in the struggle for justice for all.
October 26-27, 2012
6 pm
Place TBA
Lecture Series
C.R. Gibbs Lectures
C.R. Gibbs, historian, researcher, scholar, and lecturer, Beyond Good Hair: The African Roots of Fashion & Style
Feb. 1, 2012 - Woodridge Library, 18th & Hamlin Streets, NE (at Rhode Island Avenue) (202) 541-6226
C.R. Gibbs, historian, researcher, scholar, and lecturer, The Scramble for Africa in the 21st Century"
Feb. 8, 2012 - Woodridge Library, 18th & Hamlin Streets, NE (at Rhode Island Avenue) (202) 541-6226
C.R. Gibbs, historian, researcher, scholar, and lecturer, On the Cutting Room Floor: The Image of the Black Woman in American Film"
Feb. 15, 2012 - Woodridge Library, 18th & Hamlin Streets, NE (at Rhode Island Avenue) (202) 541-6226
C.R. Gibbs, historian, researcher, scholar, and lecturer, The Long Hard Fight: Blacks & the War of 1812, A Bicentennial Perspective
Feb. 22, 2012 - Woodridge Library, 18th & Hamlin Streets, NE (at Rhode Island Avenue) (202) 541-6226
C.R. Gibbs, historian, researcher, scholar, and lecturer, Freedom Rising: Smashing Slavery in the Caribbean, Canada, Central & South America
Feb. 29, 2012 - Woodridge Public Library,18th & Hamlin Sts., NE (at Rhode Island Ave.),202-54-6226
The United States Capitol Historical Society
African American History Lecture
Dr. Phillip W. Magness, Professor George Mason University
Emancipation, Emigration, and Revolt: John Willis Menard, the American Civil Wa, and the Jamacian Uprising of 1865
February 15, 2012
12 pm
Room 121, Cannon House Office Building (Independence Ave. & 1st St.)
White House Historical Association
African-American Life and Labor in the White House Neighborhood
February 27, 2012
10 am – 4 pm
St. John’s Church
1525 H Street, NW
African American Civil War Memorial Museum
First Saturday Descendants Day Presentation
The United States Colored Troops through the eyes of their descendants.
March 3, 2012
1925 Vermont Avenue, NW (202) 667-2667, WWW.AFROAMCIVIL.ORG
Hari Jones, Curator of the African American Civil War Lecturer Series: African American Women in the Civil War
March 21, 2012
1925 Vermont Avenue, NW (202) 667-2667, WWW.AFROAMCIVIL.ORG
Hari Jones, Curator of the African American Civil War Lecturer Series: For Light and Liberty: African Descent Spies of the Rebellion
April 14, 2012
12 pm
1925 Vermont Avenue, NW (202) 667-2667, WWW.AFROAMCIVIL.ORG
Georgetown University
The university is planning a forum around Civil War era history that incorporates issues related to the struggle for freedom, justice, liberty, and equality
Date, Time, Place: TBA
Howard University
The university is planning a forum around Civil War era history that incorporates issues related to the struggle for freedom, justice, liberty, and equality
Date, Time, and Place: TBA
Gallaudet University
The university is planning a forum around Civil War era history that incorporates issues related to the struggle for freedom, justice, liberty, and equality
Date, Time, and Place: TBA
Catholic University
The university is planning a forum around Civil War era history that incorporates issues related to the struggle for freedom, justice, liberty, and equality
Date, Time, and Place: TBA
George Washington University
George Washington University Emancipation Lecturer Series:
Alabama in African: Booker T. Washington and Germany Colonial Imperial Empire
Example for all the Land in the Emancipation of DC
The lecture series will include treatises on the struggle for freedom after emancipation; slavery and the nexus to imperialism in Africa; the struggle against Jim Crow and colonial imperialism; analysis of the slave trade in America and Africa; and W.E.B. Dubois vs. Booker T. Washington on imperialism in Africa
April 12, 2012
6 pm to 8 pm
National Archives
A panel of distinguished scholars and historians will discuss the District of Columbia Compensated Emancipation Act, slave masters petition for compensation, establishment and report of the District of Columbia Compensated Emancipation Commission, and emancipation celebrations.
Dr. Phillip W. Magness, Professor George Mason University
Colonization After Emancipation: Lincoln and the Movement for Black Resettlement
April 18, 2012
6 pm
700 Pennsylvania Ave. NW
District of Columbia Archives
The District of Columbia Archives will host forums throughout the year on slavery, abolition, emancipation, and other Civil War ear history such as the Snow Riot of 1832, the Pearl Affair and Riot of 1848, the Compromise of 1850, and other lectures on the civil rights struggle and segregation in the District of Columbia, the riot of 1919 and 1968, and struggle for home rule.
April 5, 19, and 25, 2012
1 pm – 2:20 pm
1300 Naylor Court NW (Between 9th and 10th Streets, NW and N and O Streets, NW and 1 Block North of the Walter Washington Convention)
Menare Lectures
A lecture on preserving the Underground Railroad with historian Anthony Cohen as he recounts his 1996 “Walk to Canada” retracing the route of the Underground Railroad from Maryland to Canada.
Date and Time: TBA
University of the District of Columbia, Department of Biology
A Historical Perspective of the Struggle for Equality in African-American Health Care from the Civil War to 2012
May 31, 2012
4200 Connecticut Avenue, NW
Distinguished oncologist, Dr. John McKnight will trace the health disparities of African-Americans from the Civil War to presence with a special focus on health care issues related to the African-American community in the District of Columbia. Dr. McKnight will examine the data on medical care issues from diagnosis to treatment, and access to hospital; experimental studies on African-Americans without their knowledge from the Tuskegee Study to the Henrietta Lacks (HeLa) Story, and many others; and he will discuss a plethora of issues on cancer and the African-American community.
6 pm to 7:30 pm
Lincoln Cottage
Cottage Conversation
January – April Dates TBA
A dialogue about President Lincoln and emancipation
140 Rock Creek Church Road, NW, (202) 829-0436
Programs
Congressional Cemetery
Historical Figures at Congressional
Program covers the notable figures buried at Congressional including David Hall of the Pearl Affair and Riot, Anna Marie Thornton of the Snow Riot, and William Boyd – conductor of the Underground rail Road
1801 E Street S.E., (202) 543-0539
Ford’s Theatre
Necessary Sacrifices Casting and Performance Schedule Changes
January 26 – February 18, 2012
Craig Wallace will take on the role of Frederick Douglass in the world premiere of Necessary Sacrifices. Wallace replaces David Emerson Toney, who withdrew from the production because of a private health matter. In order to allow sufficient rehearsal time for Wallace, Ford’s Theatre has canceled four preview performances between January 20 and January 24 and added the following performances to the schedule:
• Tuesday, February 14 at 7:30 pm
• Wednesday, February 15, at 7:30 pm
• Thursday, February 16, at 7:30 pm
• Friday, February 17, at 7:30 pm
• Saturday, February 18 at 7:30 pm
DC Rebels
Kids examine artifacts and documents from the Civil War and write the texts for them
Date & Time: TBA
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Oratory Program
Date & Time: TBA
President Lincoln Memorial Program
April 14, 2012
Time: TBA
Slavery by Another Name
Documentary based on Pulitzer winning book
Monday, January 30 - 7pm
One Destiny
One act play about Lincoln’s Assassination
March 21 – May 19
Dates
- Tuesday, March 20, 2012 - 10:30am
- Tuesday, March 20, 2012 - 11:30am
- Wednesday, March 21, 2012 - 10:30am
- Wednesday, March 21, 2012 - 11:30am
- Thursday, March 22, 2012 - 10:30am
- Thursday, March 22, 2012 - 11:30am
- Friday, March 23, 2012 - 10:30am
- Saturday, March 24, 2012 - 10:30am
- Monday, March 26, 2012 - 10:30am
- Monday, March 26, 2012 - 11:30am
- Tuesday, March 27, 2012 - 10:30am
- Tuesday, March 27, 2012 - 11:30am
- Wednesday, March 28, 2012 - 10:30am
- Wednesday, March 28, 2012 - 11:30am
- Thursday, March 29, 2012 - 10:30am
- Thursday, March 29, 2012 - 11:30am
- Friday, March 30, 2012 - 11:30am
- Saturday, March 31, 2012 - 10:30am
- Monday, April 2, 2012 - 10:30am
- Monday, April 2, 2012 - 11:30am
- Tuesday, April 3, 2012 - 10:30am
- Tuesday, April 3, 2012 - 11:30am
- Wednesday, April 4, 2012 - 10:30am
- Wednesday, April 4, 2012 - 11:30am
- Thursday, April 5, 2012 - 10:30am
- Thursday, April 5, 2012 - 11:30am
- Friday, April 6, 2012 - 10:30am
- Saturday, April 7, 2012 - 10:30am
- Monday, April 9, 2012 - 10:30am
- Monday, April 9, 2012 - 11:30am
- Tuesday, April 10, 2012 - 10:30am
- Tuesday, April 10, 2012 - 11:30am
- Wednesday, April 11, 2012 - 10:30am
- Thursday, April 12, 2012 - 10:30am
- Thursday, April 12, 2012 - 11:30am
- Friday, April 13, 2012 - 10:30am
- Saturday, April 14, 2012 - 10:30am
- Monday, April 16, 2012 - 10:00am
- Monday, April 16, 2012 - 10:30am
- Monday, April 16, 2012 - 11:00am
- Monday, April 16, 2012 - 11:30am
- Tuesday, April 17, 2012 - 10:30am
- Tuesday, April 17, 2012 - 11:30am
- Wednesday, April 18, 2012 - 10:30am
- Wednesday, April 18, 2012 - 11:30am
- Thursday, April 19, 2012 - 10:30am
- Thursday, April 19, 2012 - 11:30am
- Friday, April 20, 2012 - 10:30am
- Saturday, April 21, 2012 - 10:30am
- Monday, April 23, 2012 - 10:30am
- Monday, April 23, 2012 - 11:30am
- Tuesday, April 24, 2012 - 10:30am
- Tuesday, April 24, 2012 - 11:30am
- Wednesday, April 25, 2012 - 10:30am
- Thursday, April 26, 2012 - 10:30am
- Thursday, April 26, 2012 - 11:30am
- Friday, April 27, 2012 - 10:30am
- Saturday, April 28, 2012 - 10:30am
- Monday, April 30, 2012 - 10:30am
- Monday, April 30, 2012 - 11:30am
- Tuesday, May 1, 2012 - 10:30am
- Tuesday, May 1, 2012 - 11:30am
- Wednesday, May 2, 2012 - 10:30am
- Wednesday, May 2, 2012 - 11:30am
- Thursday, May 3, 2012 - 10:30am
- Thursday, May 3, 2012 - 11:30am
- Saturday, May 5, 2012 - 10:30am
- Monday, May 7, 2012 - 10:30am
- Monday, May 7, 2012 - 11:30am
- Tuesday, May 8, 2012 - 10:30am
- Tuesday, May 8, 2012 - 11:30am
- Wednesday, May 9, 2012 - 10:30am
- Wednesday, May 9, 2012 - 11:30am
- Thursday, May 10, 2012 - 10:30am
- Thursday, May 10, 2012 - 11:30am
- Friday, May 11, 2012 - 10:30am
- Saturday, May 12, 2012 - 10:30am
- Monday, May 14, 2012 - 10:30am
- Monday, May 14, 2012 - 11:30am
- Tuesday, May 15, 2012 - 10:30am
- Tuesday, May 15, 2012 - 11:30am
- Wednesday, May 16, 2012 - 10:30am
- Wednesday, May 16, 2012 - 11:30am
- Thursday, May 17, 2012 - 10:30am
- Thursday, May 17, 2012 - 11:30am
- Friday, May 18, 2012 - 10:30am
- Saturday, May 19, 2012 - 10:30am
Center for Education and Leadership
Explore the lasting effect Abraham Lincoln’s presidency – and it’s untimely end – have had on our country
Grand Opening February 12, 2012
514 10th Street NW, (202) 426-6924, www.fords.org
Jewish Historical Society of Greater Washington
Isachar Zacharie: Lincoln's Chiropodist -- and Peace Envoy
February 15, 2012, Noon - 1 pm
Celebrate Presidents’ Day with our noontime program about Isachar Zacharie, a chiropodist whom President Abraham Lincoln trusted not only with his feet but with a peace mission to the Confederacy. Includes new revelations on Zacharie’s meeting with the Jewish Confederate Secretary of State, Judah Benjamin.
Lillian & Albert Small Jewish Museum
701 Third Street, NW (at G Street) Directions
(202) 789-0900
The Civil Rights Movement: A dialogue with Congressman John Lewis
April 5, 2012, 6 pm
Place: TBA
District of Columbia Historical Studies Conference
39th Annual Conference
The District of Columbia Compensated Emancipation Act, April 16, 1862
Date and Time TBA
The Anacostia Museum Community Museum
Documentary: Enslavement to Emancipation
Participants in the documentary will discuss the forces and issues related to slavery, abolition, and emancipation in the District of Columbia
April 12, 2012, 6 pm
1901 Fort Place, SE
Lincoln’s Cottage
Lincoln’s Commute
Annual re-enactment of President Lincoln’s commute from the White House to the cottage at the Old Soldier’s Home – stopping by the contraband camps, etc.
Date & Time: TBA
Commemoration of the 150th Anniversary of the District of Columbia Compensated Emancipation Act
April 15, 2012
2:30 pm – 4:30 pm
Soldiers’ Home, 3700 North Capitol Street, NW, (202) 829-0436
Busboys and Poets
A celebration of emancipation day activities through prose and poetry
April 15, 2012, 6 pm
14th & V Streets, NW
Charles Sumner School
Latino Presence in the District of Columbia Public Schools
April 25, 2012
6 pm
17 & M Streets, NW
The Immigrant Population in the District of Columbia Schools
Date and Time: TBA
Thursday Night Think Tank: The Evolution and Management of Public Education
Date and Time: TBA
Thursday Night Think Tank: Higher Education and the Survival of HBCU
Date and Time: TBA
Thursday Night Think Tank: Health Issues Disparities in the African American Community
Date and Time: TBA
Prince Hall Masonic Order
The History of Prince Hall and African-Americans Masons
February 26, 2012, 3 pm
Prince Hall Masonic Temple, 10th and U Streets, NW, 5th Floor
Emancipation Day Jazz Celebration
April 7, 2012
7 pm
Prince Hall Masonic Temple, 10th and U Streets, NW, 5th Floor
C.R. Gibb: Emancipation and the Struggle for Freedom
April 22, 2012
3 pm
Prince Hall Masonic Temple, 10th and U Streets, NW, 5th Floor
Tours
Congressional Cemetery
Date and Time: TBA
The District of Columbia Civil War Forts
Date and Time: TBA
The James Wormley White House Complex Tour
Date and Time: TBA
The Tudor Place Historic House and Garden
Civil War at Tudor Place
Monthly
Date & Time: TBA
1644 31st Street, NW, (202) 965-0400
Congressional Cemetery
Civil War Tour Led by Civil War Expert Steve Hammond
May Thru October, Every Third Saturday @ 1pm
The Frederick Douglass National Historic Site – Cedar Hill
Ranger Led Guided Tours
November – March: 9, 12:15, 1:15, 3:00, 3:30
April 1 – October31: 9, 12:15, 1:15, 3:00, 3:30
1411 W Street, SE, (202) 426-5961
Exhibits
Lincoln’s Cottage
Can You Walk Away?
Exhibit examines the conditions of slavery and slave trafficking
Soldiers’ Home, 3700 North Capitol Street, NW, (202) 829-0436
Ford’s Theater
The Assassination of President Lincoln
514 10th Street, NW
Library of Congress
Will display an exhibit or District of Columbia, Civil War Emancipation related documents, books, etc.
101 Independence Avenue, SE
Date & Time: TBA
Maryland State Archives
Will display an exhibit of artifacts and documents related to slavery in the state of Maryland and its relationship with the District with regards to emancipation and the Civil War
350 Rowe Blvd., Annapolis, MD (410) 260-6400
Emancipation Day of Service Project
Woodlawn Cemetery Work Project
April 12, 2012
8 am to 4 pm
Contact: Tyrone General, (301) 613-6002
Parade
Emancipation Day Parade, Concert and Fireworks
April 16, 2012
10 am to 6 pm
From 4th and Pennsylvania, NW to 14th Street, NW (including Freedom Plaza Concert)