Black men were allowed to vote in D.C. from 1867 to 1870, for federal government positions, making it the first time in the country's history that black men were allowed to vote. However, to prevent black people from voting, a law was passed to remove voting rights from everyone in D.C.
Washington D.C. only has a single non-voting member of the House of Representatives and no representation in the Senate, meaning the residents of D.C. are unable to elect someone to vote on their behalf.
The Home Rule Act of 1973 granted Washington D.C. limited self-government, but Congress still maintains ultimate power over the city's laws and budget through the appropriations process, leading to concerns about government overreach and disenfranchisement of D.C. residents.