About this Event
Join Eaton, DC History Center and author Calvin Stovall Jr. for en evening of examination and celebration of the stories of Black hotel entrepreneurs.
Through rare archival photographs, personal accounts, and historical context, Hidden Hospitality (NAACP Image Award Nominee for Outstanding Literary Work Non-Fiction) uncovers how Black entrepreneurs built spaces of refuge, dignity, and self?determination within the American hospitality industry—often during times of extreme racial exclusion and violence. It is a Black history book told through a hospitality lens, centering stories that were nearly lost to time.
The evening will feature insights from the author, a moderated conversation and audience Q&A. Cash bar available.
About Calvin Stovall Jr.:
Calvin Stovall, a hospitality professional with nearly thirty years in the industry, brings this overlooked history to light. In Hidden Hospitality: Untold Stories of Black Hotel, Motel, and Resort Owners from the Pioneer Days to the Civil Rights Era, Stovall shares the inspiring paths of these pioneers. He highlights the immense challenges they faced and the enduring impact of their establishments, showing how their spaces became vibrant hubs of Black culture, where people could gather, find joy, and be their true selves.
Event Venue & Nearby Stays
Eaton DC, 1201 K Street Northwest, Washington, United States
USD 0.00
