The election of 1982 represented an important milestone in the political journey of iconic DC Mayor Marion Barry and an important chapter in DC political history. As his first term drew to a close, voters had the opportunity to assess his performance since his election in 1978. Initially elected with the support of white residents, Barry recognized the political need to shift his base to the Black community in order to continue governing as Washington, DC, mayor. Through initiatives like minority contracting programs and promoting African-Americans in government positions, he successfully transitioned his political allegiance. The impact of of Barry's administration was transformative, as he encouraged the growth of African-American-owned businesses and fostered partnerships between white and black entrepreneurs. This economic growth enabled him to invest in programs benefiting underprivileged youth, like the Summer Job Program, which impacted the lives of over 100,000 young individuals. Additionally, Mayor Barry prioritized services for the elderly and even organized transportation for them to exercise their voting rights.
This video is part of WETA's WASHINGTON IN THE 80s documentary, which captures the history of Washington, DC during the 1980s. Featuring interviews with notable Washingtonians including Marion Barry, Carol Schwartz, Maureen Bunyan, Kojo Nnamdi, and others, this historical documentary highlights important political and cultural moments from DC history.
Stream more clips and watch the full documentary: weta.org/decades
Explore more DC history with more clips from WASHINGTON IN THE DECADES: • Washington in the Decades
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30 сен 2024
