Breaking Barriers with Chili: Virginia Ali: The Matriarch of DC

Virginia Ali was born in rural Virginia in 1933, moved to DC in '52, and married Howard student Ben Ali in '58, opening Ben's Chili Bowl the same year. The eatery served chili dogs, half smokes and chili to locals and national civil rights leaders. After the death of MLK, Jr. in '68, the DC U St. area faced harsh challenges: burned-out streets, crack-cocaine wars, Metro construction, and COVID shutdown. Despite setbacks, Mrs. Ali's moral and ethical values, respecting everyone, and perseverance led to this iconic eatery being admired worldwide today. At ninety years young, she still comes to work every day, wearing her pearls and is the most photographed woman in DC. Read more