Discover the untold story of Washington DC's legendary Black Broadway scene

In the 1950s, Black culture and artistry was thriving in Washington, DC. On the U Street corridor in the US nation's capital, then known as Black Broadway, the hottest performers of the day (Duke Ellington, Ella Fitzgerald, Nat King Cole and Miles Davis) took the stage at packed music halls and upscale theatres.

At the first-ever Grammy Awards, Fitzgerald won two. Thirty per cent of DC's Black population owned homes, and the civil rights movement was gaining momentum. It was a time of pride and promise for many.

I'm learning about this fascinating period from author and historian Briana Thomas, of Black Broadway Travel. We're standing outside Ben's Chili Bowl, a family-owned mainstay of DC's Black community since Ben and Virginia Ali opened for business in 1958. The decor and fit-out has barely changed in seven decades. The menu has also stayed true to those mid-century roots: diners can still order the Original Half Smoke, a mixed pork and beef hotdog, smothered in homemade chilli sauce (the chunky kind made with ground beef or turkey and beans, not the condiment).

Chicken tenders, onion rings and loaded chilli nachos are also there to be enjoyed. It's simple, satisfying fare with broad appeal.

On the day I visit, I see kids in sports gear grabbing a post-game snack of banana pudding, friends catching up over lunch, and a few solo diners at the counter, tucking in to chilli cheese fries and hot dogs.