Abstract

Ms. Adwoa Beidleman-Aggrey reflects on her life, training, and involvement as a member and President of the Washington Section, National Council of Negro Women. She shares candid conversations and her insights concerning issues affecting some of the needs faced by women and their families.

Abstract Bobby Hill talks about being born in Washington, D.C. when the city was predominantly Black. He went to school in Powell Elementary and was interested in basketball and athletics at large. While in St. Mary’s College studying business, he starts to DJ for the student station. After graduating college, Bobby returns to D.C. and starts to go to many jazz events at DC Space, Bohemian Caverns, and other D.C. venues. He soon lands a gig helping at the famous WPFW Jazz and Justice station and this...

Abstract Ms. Deborah Gilliam-Stevenson reflects on her life and involvement as a member of the Washington Section of the National Council of Negro Women. She shares candid conversation and insights concerning the impact of a few of the programs of the Washington Section of the National Council of Negro Women from the 1980s to the present time. Ms. Gilliam-Stevenson offers inspirations for life, personal development, and commitment to community service. She discussed some of the needs in the community...

Abstract

Ms. Curry describes growing up in Shaw and Eastgate, the influence of music in her early life, coming into her own gender and sexuality in her teens, joy and pain on the streets and in the clubs, traumatic experiences in Lorton prison, organizing against discrimination against transgender women, her continued advocacy, and the importance of helping and loving each other.

Scope and Contents

The collection contains correspondence, meeting minutes, committee reports, memoranda, legal papers, and general office files of Downtown Progress. Also included are photographs, sketches, maps, architectural drawings, street diagrams, and slides of buildings and streetscapes located in the downtown urban renewal area of Washington, D.C.

Abstract Ms. Thomas discusses growing up in North Brentwood, just outside D.C., her early sense of herself as different and coming into her gender and sexuality, other people treating her as a girl from a young age, the importance of support from her family, how D.C. was the center of things and where she found community with transgender women, sex work, the AIDS epidemic and working as a home health aide, her involvement with gay, transgender and HIV/AIDS organizations including Transgender Health...

Abstract

Ms. Inez Davis reflects on her life and involvement as a member and past president of the Washington Section of the National Council of Negro Women. She holds a wealth of knowledge concerning the organization and the section programs’ impact in the community. Ms. Inez Davis discusses some of the challenges and some changes needed to ensure the future of the organization and section.

Abstract A career federal employee who answered the call to ministry in the United Methodist Church later in life, Rev. Irene C. Pierce reflects on her 95 years. This includes her early childhood and a later visit to Pickens, South Carolina; her church life, extending beyond Asbury United Methodist Church in Washington, D.C., to the general church and then pastoring a small Black church in a mostly white town; dealing with racism while trying to climb the ladder at the Treasury and Commerce...

Abstract In this oral history interview, Mr. Joseph Benson, Sr. discusses his life and experiences moving from Ridgeway/Longwood, South Carolina, to Washington, D.C. Mr. Benson begins the interview with a discussion of his early life in South Carolina. He recalls the physical conditions of his upbringing, discusses his early educational experiences, and shares memories about his family life. He also talks about segregation and race relations in the South. Mr. Benson then discusses his move to...