The U Street Corridor: The Start Of The 20th Century

Introduction

By the start of the early 1900s, the U Street corridor had began to arise as an extremely culturally diverse neighborhood; flourishing as a prominent community. The racially diverse neighborhood not only attracted an array of affluent professionals, but a plethora of racial groups as well. Black men and women commingled with each other throughout the neighborhood despite the social structures and racially charged changes surrounding the nation. As the start of the 20th century began, the corridor proceeded on as a predominantly African American neighborhood; with an expanding middle class sector. In 1910, U Street was the center for entertainment and industry commercialism. African American leaders began promoting independence