Counter Campaign Launched in Response to Washingtonian Magazine’s “I’m not a tourist. I live here.” Campaign

When Angel Anderson saw Washingtonian magazine launch a social media campaign that did not include Black residents while claiming to represent the District of Columbia, “the first call she made was to local activist Tony Lewis,” reports the AFRO, and the duo put together the “I’m Not a Tourist, I’m From Here” social media campaign

The AFRO report added that “Its May 20 photo shoot brought hundreds of Black residents to Union Market, which Lewis dubbed “Old Florida Avenue Market”

“Dressed in Black T-shirts that read “Native,” “Chocolate City,” “I’m Not A Tourist. I’ve Been Here,” “So Southeast” and other messages, residents clapped back in a show of unity against Washingtonian’s “I’m Not a Tourist. I Live Here” marketing campaign.

“Lewis and Anderson launched their counter campaign days after Washingtonian previewed its marketing campaign on Instagram that showed non-Black residents wearing T-shirts with the slogan, “I’m not a tourist. I live here.” The tone-deaf campaign drew widespread backlash over complaints that Washingtonian was attempting to whitewash the city, which is still majority Black, despite ongoing gentrification. The magazine eventually deleted the offending post and apologized for the lack of diversity.”

Photo by Lenore Adkins.