This weekend a couple of us went to Ben's Chili Bowl after a night out on the town. We had all heard great things about the food and it certainly was delicious! What I didn't know, however, is the very important role the restaurant played in the Civil Rights Movement in the D.C. area.
Ben's Chili Bowl was started by newlyweds Ben and Virginia Ali in 1958. The same year Federal troops were ordered into Little Rock, AK to integrate the public schools. At that time the U Street Corridor was know as "Black Broadway," Duke Ellington, Miles Davis, Ella Fitzgerald and Nat King Cole were some of the notable people who often ate there. After the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King race riots ensued in cities all over the country. Most of D.C. was shut down, but Ben's stayed open and was even granted police permission to stay open after curfew to provide food and shelter for activists, firefighters and public servants all of whom were trying to restore public order. The neighboorhood went through a transition period after the riots, many businesses were shut down, but today the U Street Corridor is thriving and redefining itself. Today, Ben's is known all over the world and people come from all over to eat there.
Right before coming to D.C. I had seen an article in Time Magazine mentioning that Ben Ali had just passed away and discussing the importance of the restaurant to the entire D.C. community, the African American community especially. Just this past year President Obama became the first president to eat at Ben's. Bill Cosby is a big fan and helped put it on the map. In fact, a sign in the restaurant that reads that Bill Cosby, Michelle, Sasha and Malia Obama are the only people who get to eat there free. I had read in the Time Magazine article that Barack Obama used to eat there for free too, but insisted on paying.
I highly recommend a trip to U St. to have a bite at Ben's. Not only can you enjoy some amazing chili cheese fries you but you can experience a piece of D.C. history!
-Clare
