9 jan 1968 & black united front

#OTD Tuesday 9 January 1968, the Black United Front, an umbrella organization for the civil rights/Black Power groups in the city, was founded. Organized by Stokely Carmichael, pictured above, Lester McKinnie, chair of DC chapter of SNCC, among others, their goal was to have the disparate groups work together toward common goals of freedom and justice.

The meeting was held at the New School of Afro-American Thought (a cultural center founded by Don Freeman and Gaston Neal), near 14th and U streets, NW.  According to Diggs Datrooth, National Hotline columnist for the Pittsburgh Courier, 100 leaders responded to the invitation, braving the coldest night of the year, to learn about the mission of BUF.  One of Carmichael's immediate aims was to have the individual representatives commit to co-coordinating a drive to have every Washingtonian join at least one civil rights/Black Power group.

It was a closed meeting. No press allowed.

Your comments are welcome below. Did you attend the meeting? Were you a member of one of the organizations? Please share below or contact privately here.

To see a BUF pinback button, click here.

Photo source: DC Public Library Special Collections.