This is How We Live
Garin Baker
LeDroit Park is a little neighborhood in northwest Washington, D.C. with unique historical significance to the African American community. LeDetroit Park was created and advertised as a “’romantic’” neighborhood with beautiful gardens and trees lining narrow streets, in attempts to attract well-off, prominent professionals. The community was gated and guarded as a whites-only neighborhood. Efforts and protests run by Howard University students led to the area becoming integrated. In 1888, students tore the fences surrounding the community down in protest. The community became a center of African American intellectual and cultural life in the first half of the 20th century. Today, a range of ethnic groups live in LeDetroit Park. (Art Around)
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Many murals are painted on walls throughout the neighborhood, including artist Garin Baker’s “This is How We Live,” in the park at LeDroit. The mural shows history of the changing community and landscape, along with historical architectural scenes from the present and past. At the dedication of the mural in 2008, Mayor Adrian Fenty stated: “This initiative will visually engage residents through a beautiful neighborhood mural that depicts the unique landscapes, people and images of the historic LeDroit Park community. The mural will become a prominent landmark in the neighborhood for years to come.” The mural is a constant reminder to the community of both the historical significance of the area they live in, and of the those who fought for their rights and are the reason for the diverse community that exists in LeDroit today. (DC biker blog)
Sources
"This Is How We Live." ArtAround. N.p., n.d. Web. 14 May 2015.
G, Kai. "LeDroit Park, This Is How We Live, Washington D.C. - by KaiG." Trover. N.p., n.d. Web. 14 May 2015.
""This Is How We Live"" The DC Bike Blogger. WordPress, 26 Jan. 2015. Web. 14 May 2015.
"This Is How We Live." ArtAround. N.p., n.d. Web. 14 May 2015.
G, Kai. "LeDroit Park, This Is How We Live, Washington D.C. - by KaiG." Trover. N.p., n.d. Web. 14 May 2015.
""This Is How We Live"" The DC Bike Blogger. WordPress, 26 Jan. 2015. Web. 14 May 2015.