Alexandria, Virginia is a unique place that is rich in history. The history in Alexandria goes back beyond the birth of George Washington who frequently visited Alexandria during his lifetime. Many African Americans in Alexandria have made many contributions to Alexandria through their labor, artisans, religion, educators, businesspersons, government employees and politicians.
Some of these African Americans in Alexandria have history that go back to the Colonial Period, and a great deal of the African Americans have family members who came to Alexandria during the Civil War. One of those African American families that came to Alexandria prior to the Civil War was the Diggs’ Family.
You can read the article on Lois Diggs Davis titled, “Passing The History On” in the Alexandria Gazette at this link:
Over 70 years ago, Charles Hamilton Houston died from a heart attack. He was the godfather of the Civil Rights Movement. Attorney Houston knocked down one segregation case after another. He and a team of lawyers, which included his former student, Thurgood Marshall, worked on the Brown vs. Board of Education case. This case was based on segregation in the public school system.
Charles was the lead lawyer who took the case all the way to the Supreme Court; but he did not live to see the final Supreme Court decision. Charles Hamilton Houston died in 1950 and the Supreme Court decision on Brown vs. Board of Education was made in 1954 disbanding segregation in the school system.
When I received an e-mail from Alvah Beander that Sonny Duke had died, I did not know anything about Sonny until Alvah told me. I started inquiring about Sonny from my Elderly Advisors. After talking to my advisors, I knew I had to write about Sonny. I contacted his cousin, William “Bill” Gordon and Sonny’s daughter, Wanda Duke Kyler.
As I was researching and writing the article on Sonny, I thought to myself how many African Americans in Alexandria did not know Sonny. Sonny’s life as a businessperson was exceptional and an inspiration to individuals who want to embark on their own business, especially for African Americans.
Through the research and interviews with his cousin and daughter, I was able to reveal Sonny’s passion for being the best businessperson he could be. He valued his customers and he strived to deliver his customers’ clothes within 24 hours. He dressed for success and he rolled up his sleeves to do their clothes even when he had a staff to do the work.
Sonny worked long hours even when his health was failing. He was truly dedicated to making his customers satisfied, which result in his business being successful. His customers were in Alexandria and in Fairfax, Virginia. Sonny’s success really came from his parents that groomed him to be a businessperson. He worked beside his parents in their business starting at the age of thirteen. By the time he was eighteen, his parents made him a manager at their drycleaners.
The life of Sonny is an example of the young learning from their elders. Sonny was good in listening and learning from his elders because his life was a testimony to what he accomplished by learning from them.
Happy New Year to all my readers. I want to thank you all for your e-mails to my editor in 2020 about my column, “The Other Alexandria.”
Last year, was a challenging year with the COVID-19 and the unprecedented elections. We all have experienced someone we know or someone that we are related to who have died from COVID-19.
In additional, we have experienced a national election like no other. We are witnesses to history that will be shared with future generations to come. Through my column, “The Other Alexandria,” I write about the history of African Americans in Alexandria, Virginia who came before us. These individuals had also witness’ unprecedented historical events in Alexandria and in our nation. Their stories have been lost overtime; but these stories have resurfaced through my articles.
As we beginning a New Year, I look forward in continuing to bring these historical and local articles about Alexandria’s African Americans. Your continuous support of my articles have ignited me in researching and writing about the achievements of your family, your neighbors and your community.
The Alexandria Gazette Newspaper has given me the opportunity to write about us and I indeed thank them for that and I thank you for supporting me.
Also, please read several other important articles in the newspaper on COVID-19 vaccinations on the front page; Vote to Boost Black History Museum Project on page 4; and, the Alexandria Gazette Newspaper fundraiser on page 9. Thank you.
Alexandria, Virginia is a unique place that is rich in history. The history in Alexandria goes back beyond the birth of George Washington who frequently visited Alexandria during his lifetime. Many African Americans in Alexandria have made many contributions to Alexandria through their labor, artisans, religion, educators, businesspersons, government employees and politicians.
theotheralexandria 