On last night of Freedom 250 projections, some note parts of history left out

Jan. 5 marked the end of something not seen often in D.C. — The Washington Monument turning into a projection screen.

“It’s an interesting change,” said Marcus Board Jr., associate professor of political science at Howard University. “Usually you just look out there and see this big white obelisk, but you see something different and you’re curious.”

Since New Year’s Eve, the monument has lit up each night with scenes of American history:
The Revolutionary War, the Wright Brothers flight, the moon landing and more, but some have noted the projections noticeably left out some important chapters in America’s 250 years.

“There are some hard conversations that need to be had. […] Trying to find that balance is really hard, and the United States just historically hasn’t done a really good job with it. It’s either folks completely ignoring some of the hard parts of history or only diving into those parts. And so, finding that balance is really important,” Board said. “And for the 250 celebration I think that’s really the big part of it — To be able to say, ‘Hey, we have these really tough parts, but we also have some things to celebrate.’ I think celebrations like this are supposed to be the things that we can turn to and be excited and happy about. But in order to tell that story, you have to tell everyone’s story.”

And part of that story wasn’t on display: no mention of the Native Americans, no mention of slavery and no mention of the Civil Rights Movement.

“For all its ills, we’re not a perfect union — we strive for a perfect union,” one spectator at the monument told News4.

As the U.S. strives for that perfect union over these next 250 years, some are already saying the illumination of the Washington Monument should become a new D.C. New Year’s Eve tradition.

“I think it’s beautiful. I feel great. We need more things like this in the community, in the city,” one spectator said.

“New York has their thing, God bless them, and we have our thing now,” another said.

“I think they should do it like the Burj Khalifa in Dubai,” said another.

News4 asked the organizers if this is going to become a tradition in the District. All they said is that they weren’t surprised with the reception they’ve got and to stay tuned.