XII. Breaking Down Barriers in Fairfax County
The Washington Bee was one of the most influential African American newspapers in the United States. During its years of operation 1884- 1922, articles focused on the activities of African Americans and the society page had information about local church events. Civil Rights was a main issue. Articles described the struggles of African Americans both locally and nationally. One may browse issues of the newspaper at the Library of Congress Chronicling America at
Preston Blackwell
- In an interview. Preston Blackwell describes growing up in Vienna and becoming the first African American police commander in the Mount Vernon Police Station.
- Repository: Preston Blackwell Oral History February 2021 You Tube
Annie E. Harper and three other residents from Fairfax sued the Virginia State Board of Elections contending that the poll tax was unconstitutional. In order for Annie Harper to register and vote, she had to pay the poll tax and a late fee. The court case was heard by the US Supreme Court.
- Repository: High Court to Hear Poll Tax Argument
- The Washington Post, Times Herald March 9, 1865 p A5
- The Dying Breath of Jim Crow: Harper v. Board of Election The Fare Facs Gazette Vol. 14 Issue I Winter 2017 William Page Johnson II
- Annie Harper Speech by Rip Sullivan Feb. 23, 2016 You Tube
- Annie E. HARPER et al., Appellants, v. VIRGINIA STATE BOARD OF ELECTIONS 383 U.S. 663 US Supreme Court (1966)
Private Harry W. Hatcher
- 93rd Division, 372nd Infantry Regiment, Company E, World War I
- Harry Hatcher was drafted into the army on October 26, 1917. His military training was in segregated facilities at Camp Stewart, Newport News. His unit arrived in France in March 1918 where they unloaded supply ships. Eighty percent of the African Americans who served during World War I served in labor or supply units. The US government did not want African Americans serving with white soldiers. Later, the French Army welcomed the 372th Regiment to help defeat the Germans. Harry Hatcher died October 8, 1918, in a fierce battle with the Germans. He was buried in France.
- Repository: Silent Heroes National History Day: https://nhdsilentheroes.org/gallery/?war=world-war-i
Dr. E. B Henderson Grandfather of Black Basketball
- “When Dr. Henderson learned the game [of basketball] in 1904, he taught the sport, made teams and leagues and trained referees. He introduced basketball on a wide scale with the Africa American population. That’s how he should be known.”
- Edwin Henderson, grandson of Dr. E. B. Henderson
- Repository: UDC Renames Sports Facility after “Grandfather of Black Basketball” by Sam P.K. Collins The Washington Informer February 22, 2022
Mary Ellen (Nellie) Henderson
- Mary Ellen Henderson Biography
- A Life of Making Differences, Big, and Small
- By Darien Bates
- Nellie Henderson was an educator and community activist. She wrote a report when learning that 90 percent of all funding for Fairfax County Schools went to white schools. Her report was entitled “ Our Disgrace and Shame…” As a result, some of white county residents supported improvements in schools for black children
- Repository: Falls Church News Press
John Jackson Guitarist and Grave Digger
- John Jackson’s guitar playing talent was discovered in Fairfax County. His music was a combination of blues, country, and ragtime. He cut an album and joined the Blues Festival circuit. He performed at the White House and toured parts of Asia, the Middle East, and Europe. At the same time, he continued his job as a grave digger in Vienna.
- Repository: John Jackson, 77, Guitarist and singer in Piedmont Style
- By Jon Pareles The New York Times January 29,2002 Section B page 9
- You Tube videos of performances Digging the Blues and Steamboat Whistle, etc.
Frederick A. Washington
- “The buses would bring the white children in from outlying areas, to Herndon, and they would ridicule us ... spit at you, throw insults at you, throw things at you. We would be standing, about five of us kids, standing there, huddling, waiting for the bus to come, so we caught hate at that point from them. At that point it didn’t bother us greatly because that’s the only life we knew. Growing up in a segregated society, I’m telling you, until you were exposed to something else, it was OK. Not OK, because it was life, it really was. So that’s the way I had to go high school.”
- Repository: Frederick Washington’s Life in Segregated Herndon by Barbara Glakas
- The Herndon Patch on line newspaper July 3,2020
William A. West
- William West was born near where his parents had been enslaved. He held a variety of jobs and was well respected in each. He experienced discrimination throughout his life and occupations because of the color of his skin.
- Son of a Freed Slave, William West Waited 75 Years for Color Line to Fade
- By Penny Whitely
- Repository: The Washington Post January 8, 1970 p. B6
Marguerite and James Mott were instrumental in the integration of Fairfax County recreation facilities and the quest for equality in Northern Virginia.
- The Motts began their activism after they were turned away from picnicking at Lake Fairfax Park in 1965. They subsequently sued in U.S. District Court in Alexandria and won equal access to county facilities for Black people.
- The Motts worked for the Lincoln- Lewis-Vannoy community to bring sewers and indoor plumbing, establish a community center in a log cabin, and provide transportation for residents in the community who had no access to public transportation.
- Repository: Telling Our Story James and Marguerite Mott: https://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/neighborhood-community-services/stories/james-marguerite-mott
- Fairfax Community Activist Would Rise to the Challenge. By Louis Estrada The Washington Post January 11, 2004
- Civil Servant, Community Activist Provided for Others. By Patricia Sullivan The Washington Post
- Mott Family Presents Historical Display Honoring Community Center Pioneers. February 27, 2023: https://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/neighborhood-community-services/mott-family-presents-historical-display-honoring-community-center-pioneers
James Goins (Godfather of Zion Drive)
- James M. Goins was the Sideburn’s Civic Association’s first president. The Black non-profit civic association was formed with the purpose to upgrade the community of Sideburn, provide recreational facilities, and promote and protect the civic and community interests of its residents
- James. M. Goins was nicknamed “Godfather of Zion Drive.” He was instrumental in getting county water and sewer connections for the community.
- “With bulldozers at their backs and developers at their front door, the 30 Black families who live off Zion Drive, south of Fairfax City, have waged a long-standing battle to keep their community together. Through the years, their champion has been Jim Goins, an eloquent , savvy leader who has been fending off attempts to plow under or buy out his community since the late 1960s.”
- Repository: Jim Goins: Zion Drive’s Advocate: Jim Goins : Fending off Bulldozers and Developers on Zion Drive. The Washington Post June 14, 1979 page VA 1
Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall
- Marshall was born in Baltimore Maryland. His interest in law started in high school when his principal made him read the Constitution as punishment for a prank he pulled. He became so interested in the Constitution that he began memorizing sections of it. Through his career he worked on many Civil Rights cases and earned the nickname, “Mr. Civil Rights.” In 1967, Marshall was appointed to the Supreme Court, becoming the first black Supreme Court Justice.
- Repository: https://www.uscourts.gov/educational-resources/educational-activities/justice-thurgood-marshall-profile-brown-v-board
Henry Simms
- Henry Simms was the only blacksmith listed in the Town of Herndon’s first official census in 1880. He also happened to be one of the only African Americans in the Town of Herndon to own a business.
- Repository: Remembering Herndon’s History: The Village Blacksmith by Barbara Glaskas. https://patch.com/district-columbia/washingtondc/remembering-herndons-history-village-blacksmith
- The Village Blacksmith By Barbara Glaskas Herndon Historical Society. https://r.search.yahoo.com/_ylt=AwriihNZiK9mZyQomRYPxQt.;_ylu=Y29sbwNiZjEEcG9zAzIEdnRpZAMEc2VjA3Ny/RV=2/RE=1722808538/RO=10/RU=http%3a%2f%2fherndonhistoricalsociety.org%2fimages%2fHHS%2c_article%2c_Village_Blacksmith%2c_Simms.pdf/RK=2/RS=J2cAKz4mc3XVd_5.5ICtisNUXPY-
Herndon Blacksmith Shops Historical Marker Database
- Inscription. The Moffett family operated a blacksmith shop on this site from 1906 to 1955. William Henry Moffett, a fifth-generation blacksmith, took the shop over from his father after it was burned and rebuilt in 1917. Fairfax County Park Authority bought the shop and moved it to Frying Pan Park in 1975. Other Herndon blacksmith shops include those of Henry Simms, the first African American business owner in town, and Enos Garrett.
- https://www.hmdb.org/m.asp?m=133076
From pioneers to champions By Kim O’Connell
- 1n 1964, Howard University’s first all- Black rowing crew won the Washington Regatta.
- The rowers held a good line and crossed the finish at Thompson Boat Center with open water between them and the rest of the field.
- Repository: Washington Post Retropolis B1 Monday February 26, 2024