The words Chocolate City sit at the top of our crest for a reason. The name carries pride, power and a whole era of DC history.
Where the Name Came From
The nickname started with radio DJs in Washington in the early 1970s. It described what everybody could see: DC had become a majority Black city, with Black residents at more than 70 percent of the population at the peak.
The Record That Made It Famous
In 1975 the funk band Parliament released an album called Chocolate City. The title track was a tribute to Black life and Black political power in the nation's capital, and the album cover showed the National Mall's monuments melted in chocolate. The song took a local nickname and made it known across the country.
More Than a Nickname
The 1970s were a turning point for the District. After the Home Rule era began, DC residents gained the right to elect their own mayor and council, and Black leadership shaped City Hall. Go-go was rising at the same time and became the soundtrack of the city. Historians often describe the Chocolate City years as roughly the 1960s through the late 1990s.
The city has changed a lot since then, and the Black share of the population has fallen. That is exactly why the name matters. It is a reminder of who built this city's culture and who keeps it alive.
Rep the City
Every piece in our Chocolate City Collection is a salute to that legacy.
Sources: Carnegie Hall Timeline of African American Music, Wikipedia, DC Bar
