I had an interesting conversation with Bernard Demczuk, Assistant Vice President for the George Washington University’s office of DC Relations.
A former resident of the Dupont community, I wanted to understand the changes that occurred in Dupont’s history and how the green movement is being affected by it. Is the green movement part of a counterculture that can be related to the Bohemian? Does this affect whether or not people of the green movement can be classified as Bohemians?
I hope to answer all these and more in my interview:
When did you live in Dupont?
1973-1985
Where did you live?
13th and R
Can you describe to me the place?
It was a small one-bedroom apartment, infested with roaches; hot in the summer and cold in the winter—typical for a student. Dirty, small, and cheap.
What attracted you to Dupont?
The vibrant culture and the beautiful demographics. The artistic and politically progressive community. A lot of mixed races, people and venues—gay/lesbians, political leaders, young people, restaurants, and cafés. It was the best place to be in the city as a young graduate student.
How was the location important?
The location was important because it was within walking distance from Georgetown University and George Washington University and not far from it was Howard University. It was only a bus ride from American University. You could even walk to the white house from Dupont.
While researching the history of Dupont, I found that it was a prominent area for movements and demonstrations in the 60s through the 80s, with the Vietnam War demonstrations, the LGBT rights movements, etc. Can you tell me more about it? What was it like living through it all? How do you think it affected the community as a whole?
Dupont was like the left bank of Paris, Greenwich Village in New York City, or North Beach of San Francisco. It was of that caliber. It was the destination landmark that attracted left winged progressive students. The nightlife was vibrant and politics were cutting edge. The circle itself became a haven for chess players, radical demonstrations and even nudity. It was a center force for progressive change and many of the young people who were attracted to the area also found houses and jobs and made the area a permanent home or themselves and so today, it is occupied by a lot of hipsters who were part of the progressive era of the 70s. Today, the quality of life is great but it is much more stayed, conservative, and wealthy; less cutting edge, but still vibrant. Where races can mix and homosexuality can be accepted. It is a place where anyone can feel comfortable unless you are a conservative racist riding through with a confederate flag in SUV. They are not welcomed there.
You talked about how the area has changed into a more conservative environment and that it was not as liberal as before. Do you think that these changes are beneficial or harmful to Dupont?
It is all-beneficial because it is still a progressive community but it is a much more wealthy community, which gives a significant amount of taxes to the city. Young students who don’t have much money find other venues and communities to lay their head and start to revitalize progressive movements. You can find this in the U street corridor, Adams Morgan, Brookland, or Southeast. Communities change, neighborhoods change but its all good for the city.
Sometime ago, we had a discussion on Bohemians and the Bohemian culture and how it lies in the counter culture. Does the present day conservativeness of the Dupont community hinder the presence of a Bohemian culture?
This lifestyle was much more prevalent back then. People would actually be in the fountain with no clothes on in the Dupont Circle. Even the cops were stoned. You don’t see that in Dupont anymore.
I believe that the Bohemian lifestyle can still be seen through the Green Movement. Before the media publicized it, it was very underground and part of a counterculture. Was it ever present in Dupont?
It was very prominent in Food for Thought, a cutting edge restaurant that promoted alternative food, lifestyles and energy conservation. It was at 1378 Connecticut Avenue. There was also Yes, an organic store and a food co-op on 18th and S street. Both were very popular and underground. These places are gone now but that doesn’t mean that the community has reverted to energy consuming waste. The people there today are quite energy conscious and sustainability conscious, but the people then were Bohemians and part of the counterculture lifestyle.
So you are saying that Bohemians are not present at all today in Dupont? Not even through the present day Green Movement?
I believe that the bohemian lifestyle has changed from the stereotype and from the past. This lifestyle now can look like a person with a three-piece suit, a briefcase, or an owner of a restaurant. Take Ben’s Chili Bowl for example. When his sons took over, all the energy at Ben’s as well as places around Dupont, was converted to wind energy. The whole food culture is a creative culture. The explosion of the industry is a creative driven economy.
After discussing these issues with Bernard, I realized that today’s Bohemians, while different and less radical than those in Dupont 20 years ago, are still present through their ability to integrate the counterculture of the green movement into the creative part of the business sector of the economy. It takes people who are passionate and creative to think of ways to bring the green movement to society in ways that will benefit everyone. While many today think of Bohemians as only people who work in the fine arts field, being an artist myself, I find that art is a much bigger and more diverse term that incorporates everything creative. As times change and societies change, so do Bohemians. Bohemians would not be beneficial to the arts if they were stuck in the past and did not think of new ways in which to be progressive. It would wipe out the entire Bohemian culture. Where would we get our counterculturists?
Bernard Demczuk (Right) with his father celebrating their Polish heritage
Bernard Demczuk with his son Che, his mother Jennifer Mumford and Mayor Marion Barry
Bernard Demczuk at a Labor Day conference
