---
product_id: 6942676
title: "Dream City: Race, Power, and the Decline of Washington, D.C. Paperback – April 1, 2014"
brand: "harry s. jaffetom sherwood"
price: "R1831"
currency: ZAR
in_stock: true
reviews_count: 8
url: https://www.desertcart.co.za/products/6942676-dream-city-race-power-and-the-decline-of-washington-d
store_origin: ZA
region: South Africa
---

# Dream City: Race, Power, and the Decline of Washington, D.C. Paperback – April 1, 2014

**Brand:** harry s. jaffetom sherwood
**Price:** R1831
**Availability:** ✅ In Stock

## Quick Answers

- **What is this?** Dream City: Race, Power, and the Decline of Washington, D.C. Paperback – April 1, 2014 by harry s. jaffetom sherwood
- **How much does it cost?** R1831 with free shipping
- **Is it available?** Yes, in stock and ready to ship
- **Where can I buy it?** [www.desertcart.co.za](https://www.desertcart.co.za/products/6942676-dream-city-race-power-and-the-decline-of-washington-d)

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- harry s. jaffetom sherwood enthusiasts

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## Description

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## Customer Reviews

### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 







  
  
    One of the best intros to DC politics and Marion Barry
  

*by A***N on Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on July 13, 2005*

Jaffe does an excellent job of recounting the hope and promise that many Washingtonians held when Marion Barry was first elected Mayor as part of an grassroots coalition of low-income blacks, liberal whites and a growing gay and lesbian community and how badly that promise was betrayed.There is no doubt the 80's were an awful time for DC. Crack, violence and economic abandonment by the middle class, nearly killed DC. Most major urban centers faced similar problems thanks to Reaganism and white flight but Jaffe clearly documents Barry's compounding of the problems faced by DC through financial irresponsibility(largely due to patronage) incompetent and criminal staff and his growing personal addictions to drug and sex. He documents Barry's failings without demonizing him or resorting to the disguised racism of many of Barry's detractors.It should be added that Barry was recently elected back onto City Council, representing the nearly all black and poverty stricken Ward 8. Many outside DC couldn't believe that DC residents would want this guy back on the City Council, but those folks don't know Ward 8 or Barry's appeal. While DC is booming economically, Ward 8 continued to be ignored by the rest of the city and the Mayor. By voting for Barry against a Mayoral ally, Ward 8 was warning the rest of the city that they will not be ignored.

### ⭐⭐⭐⭐ 







  
  
    Well-done review of DC politics
  

*by C***O on Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on April 22, 2015*

This book is very well-written, thorough, and engaging, if a bit dry at times. Through covering most of DC's history, focusing mainly on Marion Barry the man and mayor, some important events and decisions are necessarily glossed over. Overall, though, an invaluable resource for anyone seeking to understand the DC political landscape.The Afterword describing the 20 years following the book's initial publication in 1993 is a nice addition, though not as detailed as previous eras covered. Ending in April 2014, just a few months before Marion Barry's death.One major complaint -- far too many spelling, typographical, and layout errors for such a respectable tome. The publisher needs to hire a better copyeditor to go through this edition line by line. Not sure if this problem is limited to the Kindle version or present in print as well.

### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 







  
  
    you have to read this to know DC
  

*by Z***E on Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on June 19, 2014*

This book has a copyright date of 1994, and as someone who moved to the District just after it was published, there were many moments of disconnect when the authors described a version of the city that I moved to that is nothing like the place where I live today.  That said, if you love DC or are serious about wanting to understand its political backstory, you have to read this book.  When this was published, 14th St was littered with buildings destroyed during or after the 68 riots; they're all razed now, but those 45-year-old ghosts haunt the City Council and and ANCs, and probably will for decades more to come.This is an Important Book, but it's also a very engaging, readable book.  You know how the story of young Marion Barry ends, but it's still fascinating to watch each step of his journey of reinvention and rise to power.

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*Product available on Desertcart South Africa*
*Store origin: ZA*
*Last updated: 2026-03-16*