The City of Alexandria announced on Apr. 8 that it will hold a special event titled “Built Here: The History of Black Property Ownership and the Pursuit of Fair Housing in Alexandria” to commemorate Fair Housing Month. The event is scheduled for Thursday, April 30 at The Lyceum, located at 201 S. Washington St., beginning at 7 p.m.
The presentation aims to shed light on the history of Black property ownership in Alexandria and examine how residents navigated segregationist practices during the nineteenth and twentieth centuries. This topic remains significant as it addresses longstanding issues of racial equity and fair access to housing within the community.
Dr. Moon, a professor of History and American Studies at the University of Mary Washington, will deliver a guest presentation followed by a question-and-answer session. Attendees will have an opportunity to purchase Dr. Moon’s book, “Proximity to Power,” which explores the evolution of Alexandria’s African American community from the mid-nineteenth through twenty-first century and its relationship with federal authorities before, during, and after the Civil War era. Dr. Moon foregrounds “the enduring advocacy and agency of Alexandria’s Black residents, deepening our understanding of how race and place intersect.” Light refreshments will be provided.
Alexandria supports such events through its museums and historic sites that interpret local social and cultural history according to the official website. The city also maintains institutions like the Alexandria Black History Museum that document African American heritage as noted on its official website.
Efforts toward fairness are further reflected in city policies; Alexandria incorporates racial and social equity into decisions to foster equitable outcomes per information from its official site. As an independent city with defined boundaries providing services for residents, businesses, and visitors according to its official website, Alexandria operates under a council-manager government structure where operational leadership is selected by City Council members as described online.
Preservation efforts continue as well; partnerships between agencies like the Alexandria Archaeological Commission support archaeological research throughout the area according to city sources. Community members interested in attending can register online.
