Black Broadway On U

Reviewer: Art Kopischke

Digital Project:

• Black Broadway on U Website: https://blackbroadwayonu.com/
• @BlkBroadwayonU

Data and Sources

• Archival Footage & Photos
• Oral Histories

Processes

• making short films from archival footage, archival photos, and actor lead reenactments
• transcribing oral histories and stories
• mapping
• traveling

Presentation

• a 3-part documentary film series
• an interactive website that houses a “living, digital history book and virtual museum”

featuring immersive user experiences, historic and interactive maps, educational resources, oral histories and documentary shorts

• mobile app
• social media presence
• “pop-up” performances
• community outreach events and symposiums

Digital Tools

• Hashtags #ForTheCulture #ThroughOurLens
• Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Pinterest, Vimeo, Google Plus, Instagram
• Fractured Atlas
• Eventbrite
• Web Blogs
• Mapbox

Languages

• English

Review

The Black Broadway on U is a self described Transmedia Project launched in February of 2014 to “shape the narrative on the under-told cultural legacy of the historic Black greater U community” by executive producer/creator Shellee M Haynesworth with the help of strategic marketing and communications consultant Ritza Yana. They present their mission as:

to use cross-platform and “cultural storytelling” techniques and user experiences to amplify these black community voices and their “first hand” memories to preserve a truer, “authentic” narrative of this historic American moment in time and humanities experience to foster knowledge and civic engagement around the important role of social justice, arts, history and culture — thus allowing communities of color to “learn from their past to REIMAGINE and REDEFINE, from the ground up, the 21st century African American experience” amid today’s rapidly changing demographic and cultural landscape in urban America, specifically in Washington, D.C.

On their website, they go on to highlight their mission to:

• EDUCATE and ENTERTAIN today’s and future generations about the broad civic, economic and social contributions and important role this historic greater black U Street community played in shaping American history, arts and culture, as well as our society at large through civic and community engagement, public dialogue, multimedia, creative placement, social media and educational resources that allow deeper exploration in new and exciting ways.
• ENGAGE and ENLIGHTEN the African American community and greater audiences through the “first hand” oral histories and “authentic” stories told through an “unfiltered” lens, memories and voices of the black community as opposed to just “historians” about the significant influence of D.C.’s greater Black U Street community to provide them an opportunity to define their own cultural identity and legacy as well as instill civic pride.
• EMPOWER the African American community and address the prevalent and growing need to inspire generation now through the teaching, learning and sharing of their black cultural legacy to ensure they garner a deeper, more meaningful cultural identity, civic pride and appreciation of their rich heritage, history and humanities amid today’s civic and cultural discourse within urban America.
• PRESERVE and CURATE this African American community’s “unsung and hidden” civic and cultural contributions that lie beneath the surface in one of the most powerful cities on the planet, Washington, D.C., which has been traditionally under-represented in the classroom and mainstream media.
• CELEBRATE and REVIVE this Black Cultural Renaissance within D.C.’s U Street/Shaw corridor thus amplifying the importance of awakening civil engagement and cultural innovation within the community and our society at large for generation NOW and NEXT as well as for visitors to the city.
• RELEVANCE: We believe this history is important to building community and cultural understanding of D.C.’s historic greater U Street/Shaw corridor of today.

The Black Broadway on U interactive website offers immersive user experiences such as an interactive historical map and oral histories, both written and turned into documentary shorts through the use of archival footage and reenactments by actors. They describe this resource as “living, digital history book and virtual museum.” The website also links to their various social media platforms, including Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Pinterest, Vimeo, Google Plus, Instagram, and Eventbrite, where they share educational resources, pop up performances, community outreach events and symposiums. They hope this project “will connect today’s and future audiences to the “hidden” contributions of D.C.’s Black Renaissance and shed light on the “unsung” social, economical, historical and cultural influence and civic impact of this Black U Street community on Black America and America at large when it was known as “Black Broadway.” There is also a mobile-app and a 3-part documentary film series connected to this project, but these are not easily accessible via the website.