Barry Farm: Community, Land & Justice in Washington DC

This documentary film, a collaboration between the Bertelsmann Foundation and the DC Legacy Project, tells the story of a journey for community, land, and justice. It is a story of Barry Farm and a story of Washington, DC. In the cycles of place and displacement, it is also a story of the United States.

50-minute film screening and discussion to follow with the directors, Sabiyha Prince and Samuel George, moderated by Amber Wiley, incoming Nord Director of the Center for the Preservation of Civil Rights Sites (CPCRS) at the University of Pennsylvania.

This in-person event is free and open to the public.

From the film’s producers:

Take a left off the Anacostia Freeway on to Firth Sterling Ave – what do you see? You see empty fields. You see shiny new buildings just breaking ground. Construction equipment. Sweeping views of the capital. As one community member states in this film, if you are a developer, you see a gold mine.

But these empty fields hold powerful memories. Enslaved people once worked this land. Later, during Reconstruction, the formerly enslaved purchased it, and built one of DC’s first thriving Black communities.

Here, the city constructed a sprawling public housing complex in the 1940s, beloved by insiders, if notorious to outsiders. Here, the movement for Welfare Rights took shape. Here, the Junkyard Band honed its chops on homemade instruments before putting a turbo charge into the city’s Go-Go music. Here, residents lived in the Barry Farms Dwellings up until 2019, when the final community members were removed for the redevelopment.

Food and beverages will be provided by Honeysuckle Provisions.

Join us for the third installment of our visioning series for the future of the Barry Farm Historic Landmark. This free event will feature a screening of Barry Farm: Community, Land and Justice in Washington DC followed by an interactive performance by Verbal Gymnastics Theater Company. We will also preview initial design plans for the historic site and will invite participants to share their wishes for the future of this sacred site.

This event is sponsored by the National Trust for Historic Preservation Telling the Full History and Humanities DC Vision Partnership programs.

Join the DC DSA Socialist Night School and co-sponsors CAS, D.C. History Research Lab, Empower DC, DC Legacy Project for a screening of Barry Farm: Community, Land and Justice in Washington DC, followed by discussion with the filmmakers, former Barry Farm residents, and special guests.

Please note: masks are required on UDC's campus. This is a hybrid in-person and online event. Please RSVP if you plan to attend either way; Zoom information will be given upon RSVP.

RSVP at https://actionnetwork.org/events/film-screening-barry-farm-community-land-and-justice-in-washington-dc.

From the film’s producers:

Take a left off of the Anacostia Freeway on to Firth Sterling Ave – what do you see? You see empty fields. You see shiny new buildings just breaking ground. Construction equipment. Sweeping views of the capital. As one community member states in this film, if you are a developer, you see a gold mine.

But these empty fields hold powerful memories. Enslaved people once worked this land. Later, during Reconstruction, the formerly enslaved purchased it, and built one of DC’s first thriving Black communities.

Here, the city constructed a sprawling public housing complex in the 1940s, beloved by insiders, if notorious to outsiders. Here, the movement for Welfare Rights took shape. Here, the Junkyard Band honed its chops on homemade instruments before putting a turbocharge into the city’s Go-Go music. Here, residents lived in the Barry Farms Dwellings up until 2019, when the last remaining community members were forced to move so the complex could be demolished and redeveloped.

Barry Farm: Community, Land and Justice in Washington DC was co-produced by The Bertelsmann Foundation and DC Legacy Project with the support of Empower DC. Funding was provided by Humanities DC and the National Trust for Historic Preservation.

Join the DC Legacy Project for a screening of Barry Farm: Community, Land & Justice in Washington DC, followed by a discussion with the film’s creators.

From the film’s producers:

Take a left off of the Anacostia Freeway on to Firth Sterling Ave – what do you see? You see empty fields. You see shiny new buildings just breaking ground. Construction equipment. Sweeping views of the capital. As one community member states in this film, if you are a developer, you see a gold mine.

But these empty fields hold powerful memories. Enslaved people once worked this land. Later, during Reconstruction, the formerly enslaved purchased it, and built one of DC’s first thriving Black communities.

Here, the city constructed a sprawling public housing complex in the 1940s, beloved by insiders, if notorious to outsiders. Here, the movement for Welfare Rights took shape. Here, the Junkyard Band honed its chops on homemade instruments before putting a turbocharge into the city’s Go-Go music. Here, residents lived in the Barry Farms Dwellings up until 2019, when the last remaining community members were forced to move so the complex could be demolished and redeveloped.

Barry Farm: Community, Land and Justice in Washington DC was co-produced by The Bertelsmann Foundation and DC Legacy Project with the support of Empower DC. Funding was provided by Humanities DC and the National Trust for Historic Preservation.

Join Showing Up for Racial Justice (SURJ) for their 4th annual fundraiser for Empower DC! This year's theme is: Learn from the Past, Fund the Future of Housing Justice in DC. The event features a screening of Barry Farm: Community, Land & Justice in Washington DC, co-directed by Empower DC Board President and DC Legacy Project steering committee member Sabiyha Prince. 

Empower DC has worked alongside Barry Farm residents since 2012. Join them to celebrate Barry Farm history and fund the ongoing movement for housing justice!

Reserve your free ticket through Eventbrite, and consider making a donation of $15 or more per ticket via a direct donation to Empower DC. Through this event, SURJ hopes to raise $20,000 to support Empower DC's work.

Please note: the True Reformer Building requires masks and proof of vaccination to enter the building.

From the film’s producers:

Take a left off of the Anacostia Freeway on to Firth Sterling Ave – what do you see? You see empty fields. You see shiny new buildings just breaking ground. Construction equipment. Sweeping views of the capital. As one community member states in this film, if you are a developer, you see a gold mine.

But these empty fields hold powerful memories. Enslaved people once worked this land. Later, during Reconstruction, the formerly enslaved purchased it, and built one of DC’s first thriving Black communities.

Here, the city constructed a sprawling public housing complex in the 1940s, beloved by insiders, if notorious to outsiders. Here, the movement for Welfare Rights took shape. Here, the Junkyard Band honed its chops on homemade instruments before putting a turbocharge into the city’s Go-Go music. Here, residents lived in the Barry Farms Dwellings up until 2019, when the last remaining community members were forced to move so the complex could be demolished and redeveloped.

Barry Farm: Community, Land and Justice in Washington DC was co-produced by The Bertelsmann Foundation and DC Legacy Project with the support of Empower DC. Funding was provided by Humanities DC and the National Trust for Historic Preservation.

Join the DC Legacy Project for the second installment of our visioning series for the future of the Barry Farm Historic Landmark. We’ll be celebrating art and activism of Barry Farm, including a free performance by Barry Farm’s own Junkyard Band!

This event is sponsored by the National Trust for Historic Preservation Telling the Full History and Humanities DC Vision Partnership programs.

Join the DC Legacy Project at Busboys and Poets Anacostia for a screening of Barry Farm: Community, Land & Justice in Washington DC and a book signing by Alcione Amos, author of Barry Farm-Hillsdale in Anacostia: A Historic African-American Community on Friday, October 21, 2022, 6 pm.

Take a left off the Anacostia Freeway on to Firth Sterling Ave in Southwest DC–what do you see? You see empty fields. You see shiny new buildings just breaking ground. Construction equipment. Sweeping views of the capital. As one community member states in this film, if you are a developer, you see a gold mine. But these empty fields hold powerful memories. Enslaved people once worked this land. Later, during Reconstruction, formerly enslaved individuals purchased it, and built one of DC’s first thriving Black communities. Here, the city constructed a sprawling public housing complex in the 1940s, beloved by insiders, if notorious to outsiders. Here, the movement for Welfare Rights took shape. Here, the Junkyard Band honed its chops on homemade instruments before putting a turbocharge into the city’s Go-Go music. Here, residents lived in the Barry Farms Dwellings up until 2019, when the final community members were removed for the redevelopment.

This documentary film, a collaboration between the Bertelsmann Foundation and the DC Legacy Project, tells a story of a journey for community, land, and for justice. It is a story of Barry Farm, but it is also a story of Washington, DC. And, in the cycles of place and displacement, it is a story of the United States of America.

Join the DC Legacy Project at Capitolbop’s NEXTfest ‘22 for a screening of Barry Farm: Community, Land & Justice in Washington, DC. The film will be a part of NEXTfest’s Culture and Conversations programming on Sunday, September 25, 2022, 3 pm, at the Josephine Butler Parks Center. The screening will be followed by a talkback with filmmaker Sabiyha Prince.

Take a left off the Anacostia Freeway on to Firth Sterling Ave in Southwest DC–what do you see? You see empty fields. You see shiny new buildings just breaking ground. Construction equipment. Sweeping views of the capital. As one community member states in this film, if you are a developer, you see a gold mine. But these empty fields hold powerful memories. Enslaved people once worked this land. Later, during Reconstruction, formerly enslaved individuals purchased it, and built one of DC’s first thriving Black communities. Here, the city constructed a sprawling public housing complex in the 1940s, beloved by insiders, if notorious to outsiders. Here, the movement for Welfare Rights took shape. Here, the Junkyard Band honed its chops on homemade instruments before putting a turbocharge into the city’s Go-Go music. Here, residents lived in the Barry Farms Dwellings up until 2019, when the final community members were removed for the redevelopment.

This documentary film, a collaboration between the Bertelsmann Foundation and the DC Legacy Project, tells a story of a journey for community, land, and for justice. It is a story of Barry Farm, but it is also a story of Washington, DC. And, in the cycles of place and displacement, it is a story of the United States of America.

Join us at Thurgood Marshall Academy, 2427 MLK Jr Ave SE, to remember and celebrate the historic community of Barry Farm-Hillsdale. Participants will be invited to share their memories and create art to honor those who lived there.

Light refreshments will be served. We will walk about 1/3 mile to Barry Farm for the second portion of this program, and make rides available.

Thurgood Marshall Academy is located directly across Howard Road from the Anacostia Metro Station. A parking lot and street parking are available.

This event is sponsored by the National Trust for Historic Preservation Telling the Full History and Humanities DC Vision Partnership programs.

Join the Bertelsmann Foundation and the NYU in DC community for a virtual screening and panel discussion on, Barry Farm: Community, Land & Justice in Washington, DC. This is a Bertelsmann Foundation and DC Legacy Project Film directed by Sabiyha Prince and Samuel George, who will take part in the post-film conversation. Joining them on this panel is NYU DC's Academic Fellow and Part-Time Lecturer, Vicky Kiechel.

Take a left off the Anacostia Freeway on to Firth Sterling Ave in Southwest DC–what do you see? You see empty fields. You see shiny new buildings just breaking ground. Construction equipment. Sweeping views of the capital. As one community member states in this film, if you are adeveloper, you see a gold mine. But these empty fields hold powerful memories. Enslaved people once worked this land. Later, during Reconstruction, formerly enslaved individuals purchased it, and built one of DC’s first thriving Black communities. Here, the city constructed a sprawling public housing complex in the 1940s, beloved by insiders, if notorious to outsiders. Here, the movement for Welfare Rights took shape. Here, the Junkyard Band honed its chops on homemade instruments before putting a turbocharge into the city’s Go-Go music. Here, residents lived in the Barry Farms Dwellings up until 2019, when the final community members were removed for the redevelopment.

This documentary film, a collaboration between the Bertelsmann Foundation and the DC Legacy Project, tells a story of a journey for community, land, and for justice. It is a story of Barry Farm, but it is also a story of Washington, DC. And, in the cycles of place and displacement, it is a story of the United States of America.

A special screening for DC Reads

A screening of the documentary Barry Farm: Community, Land, and Justice

Join DC Reads for a special encore screening of the documentary Barry Farm: Community, Land, and Justice. During the month of September, DC Reads will be reading How the Word is Passed, Clint Smith's personal exploration of the legacy of slavery in spaces and locations in the contemporary United States. As part of that conversation, come view this film about a former site of enslavement in DC and the vibrant community that is Barry Farm. Following the screening of the film, join a conversation with a panel that includes the filmmakers Sabiyha Prince and Sam George.

The film tells the story of a journey for community, land and justice. It is a story of Barry Farm, but it is also a story of Washington, DC.

About this event

Join Sankofa Video Books & Café for this free screening of the documentary. Following a screening of the film, join directors Sabiyha Prince and Samuel George for a panel discussion of the film and this iconic neighborhood.

Barry Farm: Community, Land and Justice in Washington, DC, a collaboration between the Bertelsmann Foundation and the DC Legacy Project, tells the story of a journey for community, land, and for justice. It is a story of Barry Farm and a story of Washington, D.C. In the cycles of place and displacement, it is also a story of the United States.

From the film’s producers:

Take a left off of the Anacostia Freeway onto Firth Sterling Ave in Southwest DC – what do you see? You see empty fields. You see shiny new buildings just breaking ground. Construction equipment. Sweeping views of the capital. As one community member states in this film: if you are a developer, you see a gold mine. But these empty fields hold powerful memories. Enslaved people once worked this land. Later, during Reconstruction, formerly enslaved individuals purchased it, and built one of DC’s first thriving Black communities.

Here, the city constructed a sprawling public housing complex in the 1940s, beloved by insiders, if notorious to outsiders. Here, the movement for Welfare Rights took shape. Here, the Junkyard Band honed its chops on homemade instruments before putting a turbocharge into the city’s Go-Go music. Here, residents lived in the Barry Farms Dwellings up until 2019, when the final community members were removed for the redevelopment.

The film tells the story of a journey for community, land and justice. It is a story of Barry Farm, but it is also a story of Washington, DC.

About this event

Join the Goethe-Institut Washington for this free screening of the documentary. Following a screening of the film, join directors Sabiyha Prince and Samuel George for a panel discussion of the film and this iconic neighborhood.

Barry Farm: Community, Land and Justice in Washington, DC, a collaboration between the Bertelsmann Foundation and the DC Legacy Project, tells the story of a journey for community, land, and for justice. It is a story of Barry Farm and a story of Washington, D.C. In the cycles of place and displacement, it is also a story of the United States.

From the film’s producers:

Take a left off of the Anacostia Freeway onto Firth Sterling Ave in Southwest DC – what do you see? You see empty fields. You see shiny new buildings just breaking ground. Construction equipment. Sweeping views of the capital. As one community member states in this film: if you are a developer, you see a gold mine. But these empty fields hold powerful memories. Enslaved people once worked this land. Later, during Reconstruction, formerly enslaved individuals purchased it, and built one of DC’s first thriving Black communities.

Here, the city constructed a sprawling public housing complex in the 1940s, beloved by insiders, if notorious to outsiders. Here, the movement for Welfare Rights took shape. Here, the Junkyard Band honed its chops on homemade instruments before putting a turbocharge into the city’s Go-Go music. Here, residents lived in the Barry Farms Dwellings up until 2019, when the final community members were removed for the redevelopment.

Join Samuel George (Bertelsmann Foundation) and Sabiyha Prince (DC Legacy Project), directors of the documentary Barry Farm: Community, Land, and Justice, in a panel discussion about urban renewal’s impact on communities of color.

The panel is part of the DC JazzFest’s production of "Gone in a Phrase of Air," a multimedia project by jazz violinist Regina Carter.

This is a JazzFest event, ticket purchase necessary. Proceeds do not go to the DC Legacy Project.