White House Hosts Art Tour On Last Day of Black History Month

A relatively warm day, sun beaming, greeted approximately 100 visitors lined up to enter the first set of White House gates to reach the Black History Month open tours. On the very last day of Black history month, men, women and children (many under 13) patiently awaited the 1:30 p.m. start time to arrive for this 30-minute tour.

Line of visitors await entrance to the first of three security checkpoints, and by extension into the White House, on the corner of Sherman Park on 15th Street NW and Alexander Hamilton Place NW in Washington, D.C. on Feb. 28, 2023. Captured by Alana Matthew for 101 Magazine. 

After navigating three rounds of security, visitors climb up the hill on the side of the White House where the Secret Service Police guide guests to the beginning of the tour. 

The left side of the White House, approaching the entrance to the East Wing right off East Executive Park in Washington, D.C. on Feb. 28, 2023. Captured by Alana Matthew for 101 Magazine. 

As guests were ushered into the East Wing, the awe, anticipation, and, most of all, excitement, filled the space.

One woman taking a picture of her friend in front of the tour’s welcome sign, both smiling and seemingly excited for what is to come. As taken in Washington, D.C. on Feb. 28, 2023. Captured by Alana Matthew for 101 Magazine. 

The layout of the self-guided tour did the heavy lifting. Images of Shirley Chisholm and crowds of Black people flood the hallway. Some images are over 60 years old, and some appear as if they were taken last month. Yet, for reasons unknown, they’re all in Black and white.

Image of a Black Lives Matter moment captured, in Black and white, like many of its counterparts, as displayed in the East Wing of the White House in Washington, D.C. on Feb. 28, 2023, captured by Alana Matthew for 101 Magazine. 

As visitors wandered through the space, much of which is sectioned off, there were a few significant pieces of Black art and photography, but the tour still seemed white. The contributions of past presidents, Theodore Roosevelt, James Madison, and James Monroe, and their first ladies, were plentiful rather than a true effort to showcase the contributions Black people made to make it all possible.

Adian Whigfall, a 16-year-old high schooler from South Carolina who was there on an organizational trip to D.C., seemed equally unimpressed and mentioned the Senate would’ve been a more accurate representation of change—not an art and phototherapy showcase. “I don’t regret coming, but if wanna see actual change happening I wouldn’t do any of this…I’d rather see the Senate.”

The Red Room, a fan favorite of many guests for its monochromatic feel and elegance, was decorated in 1845 and formally used as a parlor for former first ladies to receive guests. As seen in Washington, D.C. on Feb. 28, 2023. Captured by Alana Matthew for 101 Magazine. 

The Blue Room, although in the East Wing, presented a very West wing aesthetic with the infamous oval-shaped rooms. It also served as the most formal parlor and home to the official Christmas tree during most holiday seasons. As seen in Washington, D.C. on Feb. 28, 2023. Captured by Alana Matthew for 101 Magazine. 

Jacob Lawrence’s 1947 painting, The Builders, hung and staged next to a purple orchid, in the White House Green Room in Washington, D.C. on Feb. 28, 2023. Captured by Alana Matthew for 101 Magazine. 

President Barack Obama’s portrait, as painted by Robert McCurdy in 2022, was displayed at the very end of the tour in Washington, D.C. on Feb. 28, 2023. Captured by Alana Matthew for 101 Magazine.