October 25, 2007
Duke Ellington, Chuck Brown Could Get Own Streets
The Post's Marc Fisher alerted us to some exciting news on Wednesday: the possibility of Chuck Brown and Duke Ellington meeting in D.C. No, smelling salts aren't involved. Rather, Ward 1 Council member Jim Graham is proposing naming sections of T Street NW and 7th Street NW after the two local music legends in Shaw. The renaming would coincide with the expected reopening of the historic Howard Theatre in 2008, a place where both Duke and Chuck have actually played, Fisher points out.
This seems like a fine idea, though while they're at it, it'd be nice to see a D.C. street named after Marvin Gaye as well. The real question will be of course, which one would be the cooler street to live on? Duke Ellington Ave. has a real classy ring to it, but telling people you live on Chuck Brown Way would be more or less like having your middle name be "Badass."
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I think these street renaming things are relatively stupid but at least they're harmless. Unless they try, like with 6th Ave./of the Americas, to make it the "official" name. Really, it's tough enough to get a cab to figure out how to get to 7th and T, when you start saying Brown and Ellington, their heads will explode.
Although, sometimes I feel like we're really stretching. I mean, Chuck Brown is the godfather of Go-Go and all, but it's kind of sad that he's the biggest thing we've had since the big band swing era (although I think a case can be made that Minor Threat/Fugazi were/are(?) much "bigger" nationwide than Chuck Brown ever was).
And for what it's worth, Ellington will always be more closely associated with Harlem than U St., despite how hard DC tries to claim him as its own.
DC already has a Brown St. (in Mt. Pleasant). I vote instead that we rename Emerson St. to Ellington St., thus preserving the naming system.
What percentage of the Howard Theater space will be a restaurant and how much actual arts space? Is it a secret?
It's nice that the city is attempting to honor its own, shall we say. It's interesting, however, how the proverbial powers that be are making such a concerted effort to acknowledge Shaw's ever fading darkness via street namings-Black heritage plaques, etc. ("Mommy. Did Negroes used to live here?")
The predominating black "establishment" of Shaw (more likely former residents of Shaw who left for PG) needs to give up the ghost. The neighborhood is changing and getting very light... so bright in fact I have to wear sunglasses in January!
Brown Street in Mt. Pleasant is part of the miniature system of streetes named after Universities (Columbie, Harvard, etc)
I do agree, though. If we name a street after Chuck Brown we should also name one after Ian Mackaye and Henry Rollins. After all, they are arguably more nationally well-known and influential.
Oh, and yes, Marvin needs his due. Marvin Gaye Way? I love it.
Marvin Gaye has something better than a street named after him, he has a whole park named after him!
In April of 2006 Watts Branch Park was renamed for Gaye.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/04/01/AR2006040101105.html
http://www.washingtonparks.net/marvingaye.html
I guess Shaw is supposed to be the black "chinatown" of DC. The streets will be named after famous blacks of DC and the signs will be in ebonics. There will be a Ruby Tuesday's and the sign will read Mo'f*ck'n Chicken...
DC is becoming more disneyfied everyday...
I don't think anybody uses those honorary street names anyway. Who says Ben's Chili Bowl is at the corner of U Street and Ben Ali Way? There's also Kivie Kaplan way on 21st near the Phillips Collection, and of course, "FUN" Street near the Verizon Center.
I READ THE HIDDEN SHADE IN ALL OF YOUR WORDS -AND ITS TRULY SAD. EITHER YOU'RE ALL IGNORANT, OR YOU'RE CLEARLY NOT NATIVES AND COULD CARE LESS ABOUT CHUCK BROWN. I THINK THE NAME CHANGES WOULD BE GREAT. THESE TWO GENTLEMEN DID MANY GREAT THINGS FOR THIS CITY AND I WOULD BE PROUD TO REFER TO THAT INTERSECTION AS SUCH....
REID, YOUR COMMENTS AREN'T WORTH MUCH, THEY DON'T EVEN MAKE SENSE - ELLINGTON WAS BORN IN DC, GENIOUS. WHY WOULDN'T THEY HAVE A STREET TO HONOR HIS LEGACY.