Humanities Truck Community Archive

In the fall of 1969, Angela Davis spoke at Meridian Hill Park and called for it to be renamed to Malcolm X Park. This 2019 exhibition and event marked the 50th anniversary of Davis' call for renaming and celebrates that history through the photography of Nancy Shia, local photographer and activist, during the Sunday drum circle. On September 22, 2019, the Humanities Truck parked on 15th St. to exhibit the history and everyday moments Shia has captured 1974-2014. Photographs showcased subjects from the everyday drum circles of the 1970s, to protests, cultural festivals and performance art presentations. The park is known for its beauty, art, and recreation, but it also has an illustrious history as a space in the city for free speech, especially for local African-American communities. 

As part of the the Humanities Truck's Mobilizing Memories: Share Your Story efforts, Truck volunteers conducted short video interviews with community members who wanted to share their memories of the park and the District. This project was part of a related National Park Service project, the "Meridian Hill National Historic Park Oral History Project," to collect oral histories about Malcolm X / Meridian Hill Park.