{"id":5482,"date":"2016-02-24T15:53:36","date_gmt":"2016-02-24T20:53:36","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/vault217.gmu.edu\/?p=5482"},"modified":"2016-08-18T13:58:26","modified_gmt":"2016-08-18T18:58:26","slug":"black-focus-the-promise-of-change-in-reston","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/vault217.gmu.edu\/?p=5482","title":{"rendered":"Black Focus: The Promise of Change in Reston"},"content":{"rendered":"

Developer Robert E. Simon bought land in the western area of Fairfax County with his development company Palindrome, Inc. in March 1961. He began planning for a new community that brought together the best aspects of\u00a0rural and urban life. The town he created was\u00a0Reston, and it was one of the first areas to welcome diversity and to have an open housing policy. Many of the surrounding areas at the time were not open to equal housing opportunity, making Reston a great choice for many lower class and minority groups. In 1969, African American residents formed a group called Reston Black Focus to promote an understanding of African American culture among fellow Reston residents.<\/span><\/p>\n

Reston Black Focus was a group of black Restonians who wanted to make sure black people could participate in their town as citizens and preserve black culture and lifestyles. Since black families had limited living choices, many looked to these \u2018new towns\u2019 for housing, schooling, and recreation away from the racism encumbered in \u2018old\u2019 urban and suburban towns.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"C0137B01F048_Page_4\"<\/a>

This list represents the original concerns of Reston Black Focus at the start of their formation and integration into the ‘new town’. Document is from Reston Black Focus Records, Collection # C0137, Box 1, Folder 48, Page 4\/4 of “Reston Black Focus Goals,” Special Collections Research Center, George Mason University Libraries. The link to “Reston Black Focus Goals” http:\/\/mars.gmu.edu\/handle\/1920\/9294<\/p><\/div>\n

In their original document under “Basic Premises”\u00a0it stated:<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cBlack middle class cannot avoid the negative ramifications of political and economic exploitation of black people…We must come to better understand ourselves to present to our children a non-racist vision of who they are and their relationships to each other and to the positive development of America…A new town must, if it is to be truly open, have all kinds of people in positive encounters with each other to lose their fears of the unknown other\u201d (Page 2-3).<\/span><\/h4>\n
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In the “Activity” section, they list four main goals for the group (Page 3):<\/span><\/p>\n