Center Panel — Marion Barry Legacy Project

Mayor Marion Barry at his first swearing in with Thurgood Marshall and Effi Barry

Barry was first sworn in as Mayor of Washington D.C. in 1979 by Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall, with Effi Barry, Mayor Barry’s wife at the time, beside him.

The middle panel of the mural highlights people, places, programs, and policies crucial to Mayor Marion Barry’s time in office. The key elements of this mural are the “4 pillars” of his administration — 33% set asides for minority businesses, summer jobs, programs for seniors, and the promotion of women into leadership positions. Meant to inspire, the panel title, “Big Impact,” refers to a quote from Mayor Barry that says in order to achieve great things, one must have “Big Dreams and Big Goals.” Click on an image in this mural panel to learn more about it.

This mural was designed by the CreativeJunkFood artist team led by Nabeeh Bilal. Photos provided courtesy of the Marion Barry Jr. Legacy Foundation and DC Public Library.

BIG IMPACT

Opening of the Reeve’s Center

In 1986, the Franklin D. Reeves Municipal Center opened at 14th Street and U Street, beginning the revitalization of the U Street Corridor, which had still been recovering from the 1968 riots.

First-time homebuyer’s program

Mayor Marion Barry with Bob Moore, who served as housing director under Barry. Moore was recruited by Mayor Barry to head the Department of Housing and Community Development in 1978. Moore was also instrumental in the redevelopment of Washington D.C.’s Columbia Heights neighborhood.

Chinatown Friendship Arch rendering

The Chinatown Friendship Arch was built in 1986 just east of 7th and H Streets NW in a cooperative effort between Mayor Marion Barry and the Mayor of Beijing to symbolize their sister city relationship. The Arch was part of the revitalization of Washington D.C.’s Chinatown, marking it as a destination.

Carol Thompson Cole and Gladys Mack

As Mayor, Marion Barry was committed to placing women in leadership positions. This included Carol Thompson Cole, who held several senior leadership positions including City Administrator, and Gladys Mack, the first Black director of the D.C. Budget Office.

The groundbreaking at the site of the Convention Center

Washington D.C.’s original Convention Center opened on December 10, 1982. The Center was expected to provide 5,000 new jobs, $66 million in new revenue, and 300,000 new visitors. The individuals present in the photo from left to right are Eleanor Holmes Norton, Vinnie Cohen, Linda Cropp, John Ray, Jack Evans, Charlene Drew Jarvis, and Vincent Orange.

Mayor Marion Barry and Calvin Rolark

Mayor Barry with Calvin Rolark, a key ally and friend. Calvin Rolark founded the Washington Informer Newspaper and the United Black Fund, a foundation that supported charitable activities for Black and Latino residents in the Washington D.C. area.

Plan for Georgetown Harbour

The Georgetown Harbor Project revitalized a key section of the Washington D.C. waterfront. The project was completed during Mayor Marion Barry’s third term.

Mayor Marion Barry on a District bus with a senior citizen

Mayor Barry established the Office on Aging as part of his unwavering commitment to ensuring that seniors did not become a forgotten demographic and that they would be able to age well with dignity and purpose. He increased the budget for senior programs by more than 600% in the 1980s.

Tens of thousands of young people have participated in the program since the 1970s. The program provided youth with an introduction to the work world to promote skill development and a desire to further their education and build careers. The program has also helped bring income stability to Washington D.C. households that were struggling to make ends meet.

Mayor Marion Barry with participants of his summer jobs program

During his first term as Mayor of Washington D.C., Mayor Barry committed local funding and doubled the size of the Summer Youth Employment Program.

President Jimmy Carter and Mayor Marion Barry

President Jimmy Carter was serving as president during Mayor Barry's first term as Washington D.C.'s mayor. Mayor Barry was a man who was as much at home in the presence of presidents and dignitaries as he was the common man. He often quoted from a poem by Rudyard Kipling, saying he could “walk with kings” and not “lose the common touch.”

In 1984, Jackson became the second African American (after Shirley Chisholm) to mount a nationwide campaign for President of the United States, running as a Democrat. Mayor Barry was a key supporter of Jackson's campaign.

Mayor Marion Barry and Rev. Jesse Jackson

Jackson and Mayor Barry at the opening of the first Rainbow Coalition National Convention at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center in 1986.

A sign showing the expected impact of the Convention Center at its construction site

The Convention Center opened in 1982. It was expected to provide 5,000 new jobs, $66 million in new revenue, and 300,000 new visitors.

“Former SNCC Chief Takes Over as DC Mayor”

A headline from the Baltimore Afro-American Newspaper when Marion Barry was elected as Mayor.

Mayor Marion Barry, David Clarke (D.C. Council Chairman), and Alfred Liu (Architect of Chinatown Friendship Arch) at the Great Wall of China

The Chinatown Friendship Arch was built in 1986 just east of 7th and H Streets NW in a cooperative effort between Mayor Barry and the Mayor of Beijing to symbolize their sister city relationship. The Arch was part of the revitalization of Washington D.C.’s Chinatown, marking it as a destination.

33% set asides for minority businesses

Mayor Marion Barry established the Minority Business Opportunity Commission. He was committed to ensuring that the minority contracting community was included in the prosperity that flowed from the City’s economic development. Mayor Barry paved the way for other set-aside programs by directing that 33% of the District’s business go to minority-owned firms.