On Sunday, June 30, BPAC led a community ride to sites associated with Alexandria’s extraordinary Black history. Twenty-seven people and one intrepid dog set forth on a steamy summer morning, although the heat and humidity led to us shortening the planned ride. One lucky participant also won a free copy of 111 Places in Black Culture in Washington DC That You Must Not Miss. David Wardrick, the photographer for the book, was kind enough to give a copy to BPAC.

During the tour, we honored the memory of Hannah Jackson, a remarkable woman who was one of the earliest Black residents and Black women in Alexandria to own land, and who was also able to purchase and emancipate members of her family. We discussed how Zion Baptist Church has helped build the community and the civil rights leaders who have worshipped there. We learned about the U.S. Colored Troops who helped maintain Battery Rodgers and who were assaulted during the Christmas riots of 1865. We paid our respects to Joseph McCoy and Benjamin Thomas, the lynching victims who were buried at Penny Hill Cemetery. And we learned why the Durant Center was named after Dr. Oswald Durant, and how that naming helped right a historical wrong.

Here are some photos from the ride, courtesy of Asa Orrin-Brown and Cameron Taylor:

If you would like to do a self-guided version of our 2024 Black history ride, a guide to the route and stops is available here. Note that this guide is for the original planned ride, not the shortened version.

Many thanks to the BPAC volunteers and community partners who helped publicize the ride and kept everyone safe!