On February 14, in recognition and celebration of Black History Month, Roundtable staff visited the Museum of African American History. This reflective experience involved learning about the history of the abolitionist movement in Boston, the people involved, the community that supported it, and the places where the movement was born. We toured the Abiel Smith School, the state’s first African American public school, sat in the very room in the African Meeting House where recruits enlisted for the famous 54th Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry Regiment, and visited the sanctuary that housed the oldest Black church in the country. We learned about famous pioneers in Black history and others who quietly helped change the course of history, and the history of the “north slope of Beacon Hill” – a thriving Black community from the early 1800’s that was a center of activism and where “Black communities organized and advanced the cause of freedom.”

Each of us experienced the day differently, yet consistent themes emerged, such as the transformative impact of public education, the importance and power of community, the inspiration drawn from the people and places that formed such an impactful time in Black history, and a reminder that their work – and ours – is not done. The Roundtable’s policy agenda is guided by the principles of equity, opportunity, and competitiveness. Inspired by our visit, we recommit both personally and organizationally to those principles and the ideals of the people we learned about at the Museum. Below are short reflections of our day:

Rebecca: Black History Month serves as a way for me to reflect on and fully appreciate slavery and its impact on ongoing racial disparities in the country. It also provides an avenue to understand the agency Black people have exhibited in fighting for their freedom from slavery and addressing issues of discrimination and exclusion. The visit to the Museum of African American History was a deeply insightful way to understand the role that Black people in Boston played in advancing the cause of a less racially divisive America. As someone with a deep interest in human rights, it was interesting to learn how the Black community gathered in the African Meeting House to discuss issues such as voting rights and women’s rights. It was also interesting to learn that amidst all the struggles the Black community faced, education was still a key area of focus. I found it quite intriguing to learn that Boston is home to the first Black public school in the U.S., the Abiel Smith School.

The celebration of Black History Month is, to some extent, fraught with mixed feelings. On one hand, it serves as an opportunity to reflect on how far we have come in the fight for racial equality and addressing systemic racism. Yet, on the other hand, it also makes us realize that we still have a long way to go given that we are still fighting some of the same battles that were fought as far back as the 1800s. Black History Month is, in more ways than one, a call to action; a reminder that we cannot rest on our laurels. It is for this reason that the Roundtable will and must continue to be dedicated to addressing racial inequities in the Commonwealth.

JD: It was a moving afternoon, not only learning more about this piece of Black History, but sitting in the places where it happened. Utilizing the Museum’s resources to be transported back in time and triggering the imagination to try to experience what it was like in that place, at that time, was a unique experience. In particular, I was moved by the story of Maria Stewart, who lived in Boston and was the first woman to speak publicly about race, women’s rights, and abolitionism and who later became the first woman to write and publish a political manifesto. I was inspired to learn more, and according to her National Park Service bio, “Many people considered [her public speaking and writing] improper and even immoral. By daring to do so, Stewart embodied the equality she called for in her speeches. She staked a claim for Black women as leaders of the resistance to oppression she believed God demanded of them.” I didn’t know of her prior to the Museum visit. I will be sharing her story with my daughters.

I was also moved by a quote by Ibram Kendi from one of the exhibits, where he said “Individual behaviors can shape the success of the individual. But policies determine the success of groups.” As I think about the Roundtable as a policy organization and the bravery and courage of Maria Stewart, the visit to the Museum reminded me of the responsibility we have to ensure that our work can “determine the success of groups” and that we must bear in mind the experiences of Maria Stewart and the countless other abolitionists from Boston and beyond to ensure that the Roundtable’s work is continually grounded in the equality they were fighting for. 

Lauren: I look forward to Black History Month every year because it is a scheduled opportunity to listen, reflect, and learn about the impact African Americans made in this country. Visiting the Museum of African American History and sitting in the same room as some of the most influential leaders in the Black community put into perspective some of the barriers and hardships our fellow Black Americans endured but also shed light on the deeply rooted progressive values that helped make Boston what it is today. Our tour guide shared with us that this community focused on education, innovative approaches, and a higher quality of life, which is in line with the priorities of the Roundtable. Although we have a long way to go, it is comforting to know that we have allies and pioneers that still want to help make Massachusetts a better place to live, learn, and do business for all.

Tonja: Visiting the Museum of African American History was a moving and enlightening experience. As a lawyer, it was particularly interesting to learn about the role that the courts and our judicial system played in abolishing slavery in Massachusetts. Too often, we credit the Emancipation Proclamation with ending slavery, but reading and learning about the ways Black men and women in Boston led the abolitionist movement was eye-opening.

I believe your community helps to shape who you are and who you will become. Learning about the incredible community that lived right here in Boston and who built the African Meeting House, started the first public African American school, and who created a place that allowed its members to be authentic and bold, at a time of great inequality, has made me want to learn more and teach my own kids about this community and its impact on Boston. It was a reminder of the power and role of communities in shaping the future of our Commonwealth. It was also especially meaningful to share this experience with JD, Rebecca, and Lauren.