Housing Justice, Historical Truths: Documenting Exclusion and Resilience in Northern Virginia

Presentation by Dr. Krystyn Moon, Professor of History and American Studies at the University of Mary Washington. Dr. Moon will provide historical context drawing on her extensive research and analysis of how racially restrictive covenants in Northern Virginia created separate and unequal communities across the region of Fairfax County, Arlington County, Alexandria City including the Seminary and Fort Ward neighborhoods. Dr. Moon is the author of Proximity to Power: Rethinking Race and Place in Northern Virginia published by UNC Press in Spring 2025.

Participants will gain insights into the consequences of these racial covenants including access to safe, equitable housing and obstruction of generational wealth for marginalized populations today and how systemic displacement and public housing concentration targeted African-American neighborhoods whose residents responded with resilience, agency and advocacy.

Take the first step toward justice and repair by learning how to research if a racial covenant exists on your own property deed and how to petition for removal. During this hands-on session we will be accessing the work of Dr. Moon and her partner website, Documenting Exclusion & Resilience.

This will be a hybrid event.

To register for Zoom or in-person attendance, call 703.960.4808.

Light Refreshments will be provided.

Contacts: Melissa Carter, Davette Himes