Share this @internewscast.com

In an unprecedented act, descendants of some of the most prominent Civil Rights leaders from the 1950s and ’60s and other foundational historic figures are gathering at the White House on Tuesday, some convening in the same room for the first time.

The families of Frederick Douglass, Harriet Tubman, Booker T. Washington, Ida B. Wells, Malcolm X, Rosa Parks, Emmett Till, and Thomas Jefferson and Sally Hemings, among others, are scheduled to attend.

The Descendants, as the group calls itself, will pay homage to their familial legacies as they celebrate the Black History Month event hosted by the Biden-Harris administration.

Joshua Jordison, one of the behind-the-scenes coordinators for The Descendants, said discussions to bring this group together began several years ago. 

“It was amazing that many of them had never met,” he said.

Invitations went out to other notable families, organizers said, although some were unable to attend due to scheduling and other factors.

“Having carried the ancestral weight of history upon our shoulders, The Descendants possess the unique ability to lead our nation in a much-needed spirit of collaboration and community,” Kenneth B. Morris Jr., a descendent of Frederick Douglass and his first wife, Anna Murray Douglass, told NBC News.

“This historic event marks the beginning of coalescing The Descendants’ families and like-minded leaders and organizations to catalyze transformative positive societal change amongst the most significant challenges faced by our country,” Morris said. 

Morris is also a descendant of Booker T. Washington, he said, whose families were joined by marriage in the 1940s.

Through the nonprofit he co-founded, Frederick Douglass Family Initiatives, Morris’ work and that of his mother, Nettie Washington Douglass, has centered around antiracism and human rights. But he stressed that while he helped organize the convening, it is not about one person or family. “It’s an equal collaboration. We are all coming together,” he said.

Ernestine “Tina” Martin Wyatt is a great-great-great-grandniece of Harriet Tubman. The Washington, D.C., resident hosts an annual Harriet Tubman Day celebration in the district to educate the public about the contributions of her famed ancestor. She said she was “excited” to meet the descendants of fellow freedom fighters.

Nearly 100 other guests are also expected to attend. Morris is among those expected to give remarks at the White House reception, along with several members of the Congressional Black Caucus and administration officials. Organizers were not sure if the president or vice president would stop by. 

Beyond the official gathering, a series of activities for the descendant families will be held in the district on both Tuesday and Wednesday. Their itinerary is expected to include stops at the U.S. Capitol, the Lincoln Memorial, Supreme Court and a tour of the Smithsonian’s National Museum of African American History and Culture, as well as dinners and opportunities for group dialogue.

Share this @internewscast.com
You May Also Like
Former TV anchor charged with first-degree murder in stabbing death of 80-year-old mother: DA

Ex-TV Anchor Faces First-Degree Murder Charges in Tragic Stabbing of Elderly Mother, DA Reports

A former morning television news anchor has been charged with first-degree murder…
Israel’s $10M AI Hasbara: Geofencing Churches & ChatGPT

Inside Israel’s $10M AI Hasbara: How Geofencing and ChatGPT are Reshaping Global Perception

Israel is investing over $10 million in a large-scale propaganda campaign targeting…
Illegal immigrants allegedly offered WhatsApp 'menu' of women for sex trafficking ring

Exposed: Shocking WhatsApp ‘Menu’ Fuels Disturbing Sex Trafficking Network Among Illegal Immigrants

In a troubling case out of Louisiana, federal prosecutors have charged three…
Outkast, Cyndi Lauper, Salt-N-Pepa, The White Stripes and more introduced at 2025 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremony

Unforgettable 2025 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Induction: Outkast, Cyndi Lauper, Salt-N-Pepa & More Honored

The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame welcomed its 2025 inductees with…
North Carolina police officer killed in line of duty during emergency room shooting incident

Tragic Loss: North Carolina Officer Fatally Shot Amid ER Chaos – A Community Mourns

Tragedy struck a North Carolina hospital early Saturday morning when a police…
Multiple agencies responding after LifeFlight helicopter crashes in Tennessee; casualties unknown

Emergency Response Mobilized After LifeFlight Helicopter Crash in Tennessee: Casualty Details Pending

Emergency crews are on the scene in Wilson County, Tennessee, following the…
Teen saw ‘devil in disguise’ John Wayne Gacy before her friend disappeared forever

Teen Encounters John Wayne Gacy, Infamous ‘Devil in Disguise,’ Prior to Friend’s Disappearance

Kim Byers vividly remembers the unsettling encounter with a peculiar contractor at…
GoFundMe pulls fundraisers for felon accused of killing commuter in random Charlotte train attack

Joe Rogan and Elon Musk Criticize Urban Justice System Amid Charlotte Train Murder Case Involving Repeat Offender

In a recent episode of “The Joe Rogan Experience,” popular podcaster Joe…
Three landscape supply employees gunned down in Texas shooting, police say

Tragic Texas Shooting Claims Lives of Three Landscape Supply Workers: A Community in Mourning

Three workers at a landscape supply company in Texas lost their lives…
Creator of AI ‘actress’ Tilly Norwood has plans for ‘universe’ of characters

AI Innovator Behind Tilly Norwood Set to Launch a Dynamic Universe of Virtual Characters

The creator of the AI “actress” Tilly Norwood is planning to develop…
'Teacher of the Year' in South Carolina charged after allegedly trying to hit her baby's father with car

South Carolina’s ‘Teacher of the Year’ Arrested for Alleged Car Attack on Child’s Father

A South Carolina teacher who recently earned the prestigious “Teacher of the…
Farmers’ Almanac to end publication after more than 200 years

Farewell to Tradition: Farmers’ Almanac Concludes Over 200 Years of Timeless Agricultural Wisdom

In a poignant announcement, the editors of the Farmers’ Almanac have revealed…