WHEN THE SMOKE CLEARED | A Busboys and Poets Books Presentation
Date and Time
May 10, 2023 6:00 pm
Location
Anacostia
2004 Martin Luther King Jr Ave SE, Washington, District of Columbia, 20020
May 10, 2023 6:00 pm
Anacostia
“The continued power of Congress over the District’s affairs is rooted in this same fear of Black power and racist belief that a majority-non-White populace is incapable of independently governing itself.” —Kyla Sommers, writing in the Washington Post
In April 1968, following the murder of Martin Luther King Jr., a wave of uprisings swept across America. None was more visible—or resulted in more property damage, arrests, or federal troop involvement—than in Washington, DC, where thousands took to the streets in protest against racial inequality, looting and burning businesses in the process. The nation’s capital was shaken to its foundations.
When the Smoke Cleared tells the story of the Washingtonians who seized the moment to rebuild a more just society, one that would protect and foster Black political and economic power. A riveting account of activism, urban reimagination, and political transformation, Kyla Sommers’s revealing and deeply researched narrative is ultimately a tale of blowback, as the Nixon administration and its allies in Congress thwarted the ambitions of DC’s reformers, opposing civil rights reforms and self-governance. And nationwide, conservative politicians used the specter of crime in the capital to roll back the civil rights movement and create the modern carceral state.
Kyla Sommers ans conversation partner Tonyy Gittens are joining us on the Busboys stage to share an account of open wounds, paths not taken, and their unforeseen consequences. Copies of the book will be available for purchase during and after the event, and Sommers will be signing following the program.
This event is free and open to all. Our program begins at 6:00 pm, and will be followed by an audience Q&A. Copies of WHEN THE SMOKE CLEARED will be available for purchase before and after the event. Please note that this event is IN PERSON and will NOT be livestreamed.
We ask that guests RSVP in order to receive direct updates about the event from Busboys and Poets Books
Kyla Sommers earned her PhD in history from George Washington University. Her writing has appeared in the Washington Post, the Washington History journal, and the book Demand the Impossible: Essays in History as Activism. Sommers is the digital engagement editor at American Oversight and was previously the editor-in-chief of the History News Network. The author of When the Smoke Cleared (The New Press), she lives in Washington, DC.
Tony Gittens is Founder and Director of the Washington, DC International Film Festival. Now in its 37th year, Filmfest DC brings the best of world cinema to the District of Columbia in a spirit of celebration and cooperation.
Tony served as Executive Director of the D.C. Commission on the Arts and Humanities, the official cultural agency of the District of Columbia, from September 1996 to July 2008, serving 3 mayors. He was a member of the Mayor’s Cabinet and represented the city's cultural interests at numerous cultural settings.
In recognition of his contributions, Tony Gittens has been presented with numerous recognitions, including Knight in the Order of Arts and Letters, French Ministry of Culture and Communications; the Mayor's Award for Excellence in Service to the Arts; Professor Emeritus of the University of the District of Columbia; Member of the Washington, DC Hall of Fame, and Public Humanist of the Year by Washington DCHumanities. He was profiled in the PBS Eyes on the Prize television series for his contributions to the Civil Rights Movement. Tony is a board member of the National Cherry Blossom Festival, the Capital Fringe Festival, and the Kennedy Center Community Advisory Committee.
Email: tony@filmfestdc.org
