I’m pretty sure that there is an archaic rule somewhere that says business trips aren’t supposed to be fun; good thing I am a rebel who loves to break the rules.

I had to go to DC for a top-secret mission that quickly turned into play. I’ve always thought of the nation’s capital as that place with a lot of statues, monuments, and really old stuff hanging on the walls. *Shoulder shrug* that’s what happenes when you spend a week in DC on a fifth grade class trip. Since I try not to travel backwards, I wasn’t exactly thrilled about being in DC for a week. However, much to my surprise I am happy to report that DC is definitely a place that I would love to revisit over and over and over again.

I of course visited the National Mall, but my favorite part about DC was definitely my unplanned visit to Anacostia, a neighborhood just east of the Anacostia River and is significantly more challenged than the other historical districts of DC. I took the metro (green line) to the Anacostia station and when I arrived I felt like I was in another world. You can immediately tell from leaving the station that you are no longer in the touristy area, and this has its advantages. You can walk freely without worrying about interrupting someone’s photo opt. Anacostia is the type of place you go to get southern cuisine without all of the frill and fancy table scape, or you can do like I did and grab a hot meal at Caribbean Citations, a Jamaican restaurant at the corner of Martin Luther King Boulevard and 1208 Maple Place SE.  I ordered six jerk wings, a side of plantain, and coco bread. No doubt the food is scrumptious, but if you bring in your traffic ticket you can be entered into a drawing to have it paid off. Yes, you read and understood that correctly, a meal and possibly a traffic ticket paid.

Sorry I got distracted, back to my reason for visiting Anacostia. I went there to visit Fredrick Douglass’ Cedar Hill home, which is aptly named as it sits on the top of a hill that overlooks all of DC. Fredrick’s home is about a 10-15 minute walk from the metro station or you can take the bus, which will drop you off directly in front of the home.  The home is maintained by National Park Services, so the only way to see inside of the home is to participate in a guided tour that lasts about 30 minutes. If you are with a group of 9 or less the tour will be every hour on the hour and groups of 10 or more are scheduled for half past the hour.

Walking up to the home is like seeing a ray of sunshine. It’s positioned so that it takes your breath away at first sight, it’s simply unbelievable. Unbelievable, that such a beautiful and historic home is located in the middle of an impoverished neighborhood. Unbelievable that what Fredrick Douglass fought so hard for seems to be lost on the journey to the home, yet it serves a reminder of how far we still have to go to be on fair playing ground, and how a group of people can be discarded and forgotten, even in the place that screams this is the home of Change, Freedom, and Justice. I’d like to think that the residents see this landmark as they walk to school, drive to work, or go about their daily dealings and know that they too can change their circumstance, even if it looks bleak.

Upon arriving you should visit the Visitor’s Center  which is located next door, so walk down the steps, if you’re like me and don’t read signs, but instead walk up to the door and turn the knob. Walk to your right, if you are facing the street in front of the home, if you are on the side of the home walk to your left and you will see a set of stairs. Once you arrive at the Visitor’s Center you can watch a 20 minute video about Fredrick Douglass’ life, read quotes, and see artifacts.

I thoroughly enjoyed my visit and would happily return again, I recommend speaking with the locals as the area is undergoing some major changes, but more so they are quite comical, easy going, and a pleasure to chat with.

 “The American people have this to learn: that where justice is denied, where poverty is enforced, where ignorance prevails, and where any one class is made to feel that society is an organized conspiracy to oppress, rob, and degrade them, neither person nor property is safe.” Fredrick Douglass