Proximity to Power

Located just across the Potomac River from Washington, DC, Alexandria, Virginia, has long held a unique sociopolitical position due to its proximity to the nation’s capital. This unexplored relationship had a profound impact on African Americans' access to schools, transportation, and other resources in comparison to other southern towns and cities. Proximity to Power examines the history of Alexandria’s African American community from the mid-nineteenth century to the twenty-first century, focu