On June 16, 2021, the DC History Center invited long-time DC statehood activists Anise Jenkins and Samuel Jordan to join Ty Hobson-Powell, a young activist, to discuss the movement for DC statehood: its roots, new and continuing stakes, and how statehood activism is adapting to the current political climate. Cosby Hunt, local history teacher and director of programming for the Center for Inspired Teaching, joined the discussion as moderator.
On July 16, 2020, the DC History Center presented “Is Statehood Possible?” an online conversation between historian George Derek Musgrove (co-author of "Chocolate City: A History of Race and Democracy in the Nation's Capital") and journalist Bob Levey on the history of statehood and its current prospects.
The first half of this video, commissioned by the Mayor's Office for Emancipation Day 2021, explores the history of DC disenfranchisement. The one-hour television special features Rep. Eleanor Holmes Norton, Rep. Steny Hoyer, Rep. James Clyburn, Rep. Jamie Raskin, The Honorable Eric Holder, The Honorable Muriel Bowser, The Honorable Vincent Gray, The Honorable Adrian Fenty, The Honorable Anthony Williams, The Honorable Sharon Pratt, Phil Mendelson, Linda Cropp, William Lightfoot, Ted Leonsis, Chef Jose Andres, John DeGioia, and more.
Beginning at 32:20, the film addresses how statehood would affect the lives of current DC residents by identifying eight areas of impact, including
The video then addresses some of the arguments against DC statehood.