title. Spotlight on Black History
date. July 2016
city. Washington DC
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
The backbone of Washington DC, in my opinion, is not the politics or the monuments, but rather the history.
Going to the different museums and monuments was a great way to fill our time and see some great sights but none of what we saw would have any meaning to me if it weren’t for the rich history behind each place. What is the point of seeing the Washington Monument if you have no idea who Washington was or why he is significant? Without this deeper meaning the monument looks like nothing more than a giant stick in the mud. To fully appreciate a place you have to be able to appreciate not just what you can see but what it all means. To help you out I have listed the top 5 sights in Washington and a bit of meaning/history behind them:
​
-
The Washington Monument: this Egyptian obelisk shaped monument was the tallest building in the world at the time of its completion in 1884. It was made to reflect the awe-inspiring greatness of the Founding Father. It was said that the monument, like the man, stand’s in no one’s shadow. (Fun fact: the monument was actually constructed in two phases, each with very different materials. As such you can actually see the line where the incomplete monument stood for more than two decades.)
-
Lincoln Memorial: the Memorial was made to commemorate the 16th American President after his assassination. Construction began right after his death and took more than 50 years to build. The architecture reflects a unique ancient Greek theme with columns in Doric style surrounding the 19 foot tall statue of Honest Abe. (Fun fact: the north memorial wall in the building features an inscription of Abraham Lincoln’s second inaugural address stating: “With high hope for the future, no prediction in regard to it is ventured” where FUTURE is written EUTURE. The bottom line of the E in this typo was puddied in after it’s unveiling.)
-
WWII Memorial: this memorial honours all the people that died, fought, and assisted in the Second World War. It is an astonishingly large memorial and the amazing wall of stars commemorates the soldiers in an amazing visual piece that contrasts with the usual grey, white, and brown stone of the rest of the sights. It is a great dedication to those who dedicated their lives to upholding piece amongst us all. One of the most interesting part of this memorial, in my opinion, is actually a piece of graffiti. This visual was created by in by American troops in Europe. They created a cartoon figure to commemorate all the places US troops had been during the war. His name was Kilroy. So when you are there keep your eyes open for him in a hidden place in the memorial.
​
For me the hidden gem of Washington DC is the steps of the Lincoln Memorial. Not the Lincoln Memorial itself, but rather its steps. Those steps have been home to some of the biggest political movements and rallies in the country. Those steps fostered revolutions and referendums that shaped American History. Most significant of them I would say was the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom on August 28, 1963 bed by Martin Luther King Jr. This was the sight of his big speech for freedom and equality:
​
"I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed: "We hold these truths to be self evident, that all men are created equal."
When climbing these steps it is worthwhile to take a moment and scan the ground for this stone (shown below) dedicated to Dr. King and his revolutionary words of inspiration and hope. (Insider tip: to get a good photo brush the stone with water to bring out the engraving.) This is a spot made for introspection, gratitude, and respect. It is a moment where we can all gather: man, woman; white, black; old; young; and we can reflect on how far we have come as a global community. Dr. King’s big dream, the dream we all commemorate and idealize, has not only come true but it has become a minimal standard of tolerance. If only he could have seen the strides that have been made and how his dream was more than just an idea. It was the future.
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
