They put their trust in him again, this time he failed. He would be no match for the Republican Congress, and could not recover from an infamous January night in 1990. In analyzing Barry’s connection with the majority of the District’s electorate, Barras concludes, “Marion Barry’s recovery became symbolic of large numbers of black communities in recovery – both in the city and throughout the country. Many District voters had experienced falls similar to Barry’s, and while some knew they were not of his socio-economic ilk, the experiences they shared with him created a sense of identification.”...
