Dream City

Race, Power, and the Decline of Washington, D.C.

By: Harry S. Jaffe, Tom Sherwood

Narrated by: Norman Dietz

With a new afterword covering the two decades since its first publication, two of Washington, D.C.'s most respected journalists expose one of America's most tragic ironies: How the nation's capital, often a gleaming symbol of peace and hope, is the setting for vicious contradictions and devastating conflicts over race, class, and power. Jaffe and Sherwood have chillingly chronicled the descent of the District of Columbia - congressional hearings, gangland murders, the establishment of home rule and the inside story of Marion Barry's enigmatic dynasty and disgrace. Now their afterword narrates the District's transformation in the last twenty years. New residents have helped bring developments, restaurants, and businesses to reviving neighborhoods. The authors cover the rise and fall of Mayors Adrian Fenty and Vince Gray, how new corruption charges are taking down politicians and businessmen, and how a fading Barry is still a player. The "city behind the monuments" remains flawed and polarized, but its revival is turning it into a distinct world capital - almost a dream city.

©1994, 2014 Harry S. Jaffe and Tom Sherwood (P)2014 Audible Inc.

A must read

This book provides great insights into the history of self rule in Washington DC, the drug wars and the multiple problems of ruling or governing a city that truly belongs to the federal government.

Good DC hIstory

This audiobook is an update to a previous book that was written before gentrification swept up NW and parts east of the river. The update takes that into account whereas the book it is updating left off in the depressed 1990s.
It is a recent history of DC, the city of residents, as opposed to the Federal city of agencies and the 3 branches of government. Recent being mid-20th Century going to the 21st century. It covers home rule and hopefully explains it in a way that people new to DC and trying to figure it out can understand. I am a DC historian so it only deepened what I knew about Home Rule.
Of course the late, Mayor for Life, Marion Barry is covered and this might include an explanation of him, depending on your outlook.

It’s available and affordable

More books. But it has a lot! I’ve read more anti-racism material here in my car than I could have elsewhere.

Great book for non-native Washingtonians

The books does a good job in covering DC from Home Rule to Mayor Bowser election night. I struggled the title of the book as I continued to cruise through the chapters. The authors does a masterful job of connecting stories and painting a vivid picture of DC through the years, but at times, the book come across as more of an unauthorized biography of Marrion Barry. I understand that he is a huge part of DC history, but this book really goes there with him. I would dare to subtitle this book, the Unauthorized Biography of the Mayor for Life.

History with detail and candor

Such a good book that gives perspective on how the city came to be. Must read for residents or folks that have any desire to come to or work in dc. Thanks Tom and Harry!

Great!

What did you love best about Dream City?

In depth look at the history of DC and why DC is in its current form.

Important lessons for all Washingtonians

If you want to know the real history of Washington DC, read this book. A must read if you live in DC.