Monumentalinscopeandvividlydetailed,ChocolateCitytellsthetumultuous,four-centurystoryofraceanddemocracyinournation’scapital.EmblematicoftheongoingtensionsbetweenAmerica’sexpansivedemocraticpromisesanditsenduringracialrealities,Washingtonoftenhasservedasanationalbattlegroundforcontentiousissues,includingslavery,segregation,civilrights,thedrugwar,andgentrification.ButD.C.ismorethanjustaseatofgovernment,andauthorsChrisMyersAschandGeorgeDerekMusgrovealsohighlightthecity’srichhistoryoflocalactivismasWashingtoniansofallraceshavestruggledtomaketheirvoicesheardinanundemocraticcitywhereresidentslackfullpoliticalrights.TracingD.C.’smassivetransformations--fromasparselyinhabitedplantationsocietyintoadiversemetropolis,fromacenteroftheslavetradetothenation’sfirstblack-majoritycity,from“ChocolateCity“to“LatteCity--AschandMusgroveofferanengagingnarrativepepperedwithunforgettablecharacters,ahistoryofdeepracialdivisionbutalsooneofhope,resilience,andinterracialcooperation.
