Washington in the ’60s | WETA

Washington in the ’60s | WETA – Finally, our own version of “Berkeley in the 60’s” – a great and moving show narrated by Connie Chung, about one of the most diverse cities in America.

As I’ve written here a few times, Washington, DC brings together my interests in empowerment, diversity, and innovation so well – it is still a city where people believe the possibilities are unlimited, because they are.

This is especially true on the eve of the end of marriage discrimination in the District of Columbia. I don’t think the DC local cable channel has ever been as popular among people living in my community, as the hearings for the bill, which is set to pass, occur. I thought it was worth juxtaposing two photographs, one from 1963 (credit: Library of Congress), and one from 2008 (credit: MV Jantzen)

I also want to point out Washington in the ’60s: Share Your Memories | WETA which in a way is Web 2.0 at its best – it is the voices of people who lived during that time, showing the power of sharing, and the use of this medium by the baby boomer generation, who by definition would be the population commenting here:

Living in the 60’s When JFK was President, I was at the State Dept. He’d hold his news conferences there. I would run down to the basement where he got out of the car into the elevator. The only time he shaked hands was when there were the nuns waiting for him, too. I protested in the Vietnam marches; brought people into my apt. (Glover Park) to shower and change during the Poor People’s Campaign….

Knew Washington was changing as I could see inter-racial couples walking down the street together without fear of being shot.

From the narrative above, and the photographs below (click to see full size), we have come a long way, and we have a ways more to go. If it was easy, this would already be fixed, but we are here because it’s not easy.

Enjoy the show.

2 Comments

Ted Eytan, MD