Over the last decade, gentrification has become a major issue for the residents of Washington D.C.
The National Community Reinvestment Coalition (NCRC) reported that D.C. recently had the highest intensity of gentrification in the country. From 2000-2013, 40% of D.C.’s lower income neighborhoods experienced gentrification.
Tens of thousands of Black residents have left the city during the 21st century, many being priced out of their homes and neighborhoods. This mass migration has changed the demographics of a place once called “Chocolate City.”
The new documentary “Cracked Shells” examines the impact of gentrification on D.C.’s remaining Black residents. The film navigates the erasure of cultural heritage, through intimate storytelling and the personal narratives of community leaders.
Director Ruth Tedla will screen her film Friday, October 10 at the True Reformer Building on U street. Ruth sat down with WAMU’s Esther Ciammachilli to discuss the film.
The opening scene features one of your interview subjects eating a handful of sunflower seeds. Can you tell us a little bit about that scene and what the name Cracked Shells means to you?
With that scene, we actually shot Emmanuel. He’s a visual artist from DC. Sunflower seeds to him and the community in DC is not only a staple snack, but it kind of represents what it was like growing up in Washington, DC. Just a cultural aspect of it as well. Only people from DC kind of understand that reference. And to me, a shell is a place of safety and home.
You were born in Ethiopia and raised in Botswana. Describe your relationship with the city and how it has evolved over the years?
So I remember I was kind of touring schools right before college and I toured a couple of schools in D.C., and just instantly felt a sense of familiarity. And I think a large reason why I felt so safe and at home is because I saw people that looked like me occupy different parts of society, and it was not only be normal but celebrated.
We see some familiar faces in your film. I’m thinking of Virginia Ali, owner of Ben’s Chili Bowl. There’s also author and community leader Tony Lewis Jr. You also speak with everyday residents for a fuller picture of life in D.C. How important was it to include multiple perspectives in telling this story?
I wanted a good balance of not only people that have lived through these changes, people that have maybe more context about whether it’s statistics or specific issues. But then also, I wanted to include someone like a young boy who’s living in a building being run by a slum lord and he talks about his experiences and how he has been navigating what gentrification looks like to him. And I think having all those well-rounded perspectives is really important.
This Friday’s film screening is in collaboration with ONE-DC, a local nonprofit who describes their mission as ‘creating a community in DC that is equitable for all.’ What is the significance of partnering with this group for the screening?
It’s massive for me to be able to collaborate with an organization that’s done so much already in DC, fighting against housing injustice and gentrification. Beyond just the screening, we’re planning on having a tabling segment at the end which will be able to connect viewers with different organizations on the ground. And I’m excited to see just the turnout. We’ve had a past screening in D.C. and seeing how many people showed up and were not only moved by the film, but just happy to see D.C. represented in the way it was, was just special and important to me. So I’m really excited for this next screening.
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Published Date : 2025-10-08 21:04:00
Source : wamu.org
