• Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
  • HOME
  • NEWS+OPINIONS
    • NEWS TO US
    • COLUMNS
      • APPARENT HORIZON
      • DEAR READER
      • Close
    • LONGFORM FEATURES
    • OPINIONS
    • EDITORIAL
    • Close
  • ARTS+ENTERTAINMENT
    • FILM
    • MUSIC
    • COMEDY
    • PERFORMING ARTS
    • VISUAL ARTS
    • Close
  • DINING+DRINKING
    • EATS
    • SIPS
    • Close
  • LIFESTYLE
    • CANNABIS
      • TALKING JOINTS MEMO
      • Close
    • WELLNESS
    • GTFO
    • Close
  • STUFF TO DO
  • TICKETS
  • ABOUT US
    • ABOUT
    • MASTHEAD
    • ADVERTISE
    • PRIVACY POLICY
    • Close
  • BECOME A MEMBER

Dig Bos

The Dig - Boston's Only Newspaper

CURRENT STREET EDITION

DIG 23.05 – 4/8/21

THE NEXT EPISODE: BLACK LIBERATION ORGANIZERS DISCUSS WHERE MOVEMENT IS HEADED

Written by SHIRA LAUCHAROEN Posted October 15, 2020 Filed Under: News, News to Us, NEWS+OPINIONS

Photo by Derek Kouyounjian

“What a lot of people don’t understand is that protests are just the beginning of a revolution.”


Black Boston, a youth-driven Black liberation organization, was founded this year as protests swept the country. Individuals initially issued a call to action on Twitter, rallying forces on social media.

Now that summer’s over, the group’s COO Toiell Washington is hearing people ask: In the aftermath of a season of rallying, what comes next?

“We sat and thought about how we kind of already have this platform—now, what do we do with it?” Washington said in an interview, noting that Black Boston is working to become more structured and organized in hopes of developing a more permanent foothold. “It took us a few days of collecting ourselves, trying to think about everything that’s been going on, and fully recharging. We decided we wanted to turn this into a community organization. It originally started with three women, myself, and two others who organized the protests. … We thought about the needs of the Black community in Boston right now. ”

The two main priorities of Black Boston that emerged from those discussions: political advocacy and education. The advocacy team is currently in daily meetings with elected officials, Washington said, and is focused on the reallocation of police funding to social workers, teachers, or low-income housing. At the same time, the education branch of Black Boston is creating workshops for Boston Public Schools about Black history, generational trauma, allyships, and other forms of anti-racist education—subjects that are not typically offered in classrooms.

On multiple fronts, the region’s Black liberation movement is experiencing changes and shifts, with organizations looking to see what kind of work needs to be done beyond protest marches. Many stakeholders and groups that have been active for decades are continuing critical work in their wheelhouses, in many cases at an accelerated pace—Mass Police Reform and the Boston Branch of the NAACP, for example, are grinding away on the details of reform bills at the municipal and state levels. The past five years have also seen new organizations assemble, especially over the past five months. With the cold setting in and reform measures being discussed in various venues, Washington said this is a time of transition. (Read up on progress made by the Boston Police Reform Task Force here.)

“There’s definitely new work that needs to be done,” the Black Boston organizer said. “What a lot of people don’t understand is that protests are just the beginning of a revolution. They’re not the end of it. Even if justice was served for the police who wrongfully murdered innocent Black people, it’s still not done. … A lot of people assume that just because protests and rallies aren’t happening as often, that things aren’t happening. But that’s because they’re happening behind closed doors.”

Monica Cannon-Grant, founder of the organization Violence in Boston, established the group’s Social Impact Center in Hyde Park in September. The facility has a studio and podcasting area for young people, a computer center, healing space for mental health professionals, social work assistance, and an on-site food pantry. With coronavirus concerns in play, the center also does door-to-door deliveries, while its Safestay program for victims of violence provides emergency housing, and a program called Transcend aims to support young men who have been through the criminal justice system with employment, trauma and healthcare services, and “all the things they are going to need to be successful and not go back to jail,” according to Cannon-Grant.

“[It’s] painful,” the organizer added. “When you leave, it’s like you’re leaving your brothers behind. A lot of them are doing life. Some are waiting for parole, but some will never come home. It’s painful to see because they’re fathers, and they’re uncles, and they’re sons.”

Daunasia Yancey, a lead organizer with Black Lives Matter Boston, said that now is a time for people to be “leveling up,” reevaluating roles, becoming more streamlined as a movement, strengthening partnerships, and building security. Karlene Griffiths-Sekou, who is also in a leadership role with BLM Boston, said that she hopes to see people be clear and intentional about their principles, and strategic about their goals: “Moving forward is going to always include [the questions]: How do we remain secure and how do we provide for those on the margins? How do we continue to push, to reimagine and reconstruct this idea of a society … to reconstruct how we live and how we understand what it means to be human, the kind of systems that it will take to support human flourishing and human dignity?”

For the People, a collective founded by Black and brown youth that emphasizes defunding the police, is also undergoing changes. According to organizer Queen-Cheyenne Wade, the group is trying to support existing community infrastructure, with an emphasis on mutual aid and direct reparations. Wade said that she has seen a transition in the Black liberation movement, as community members are seeking out next steps.

“…[There is a] shift that is really beautiful and is going to be making history,” Wade said. “There has been a huge shift in the ways that people are engaging in the practice of organizing and the practice of solidarity. Boston has this very liberal label … that comes with a lot of conversation but not with a lot of action. What I’ve seen in that shift, specifically within the Black liberation movement in Boston, is we have seen more engagement.”

Wade continued, “People are creating programs and structures, not just with outreach but with education. This definitely engages us with a way to further practice this and moves further away from the conversation, which of course is still important and needs to be had. But I think now we’re really understanding that the conversation has to be met with a similar or equally powerful action.”

Whichever tactics and approaches groups use to advance the movement, Wade said it is critical for this work to be done by individuals as well, since it takes more than the effort of visible organizations.

“Specifically thinking about police abolition and prison abolition, I would urge people to work on this in an outward-facing way … to also really think about how you engage with the system,” Wade said. “This movement is so big, and it’s so vast, and it’s so important. But you must think about the individual and personal political journey, how you are supporting this work—not just as supporting organizations and initiatives, but thinking about your personal experiences and actions.”

SHIRA LAUCHAROEN

Shira Laucharoen is a reporter based in Boston. She currently serves as the assistant director of the Boston Institute for Nonprofit Journalism. In the past she has written for Sampan newspaper, The Somerville Times, Scout Magazine, Boston Magazine, and WBUR.

More from author
  • SHIRA LAUCHAROEN
    https://digboston.com/author/shira-laucharoen/
    EMERGENCY PRESS CONFERENCE AND RALLY FOR DAUNTE WRIGHT
  • SHIRA LAUCHAROEN
    https://digboston.com/author/shira-laucharoen/
    PARENTS RELEASE AN ANALYSIS OF BOSTON PUBLIC SCHOOL FUNDRAISING INEQUITIES
  • SHIRA LAUCHAROEN
    https://digboston.com/author/shira-laucharoen/
    PRESSLEY MEETS WITH LOCAL 26 WORKERS
  • SHIRA LAUCHAROEN
    https://digboston.com/author/shira-laucharoen/
    JANEY OFFICIALLY DECLARES THAT SHE WILL RUN FOR FULL TERM

Filed Under: News, News to Us, NEWS+OPINIONS Tagged With: Black Boston, Black liberation movement, Black Lives Matter, For the People, Violence in Boston

WHAT’S NEW

Massachusetts National Guard by The National Guard is licensed under CC BY 2.0

CORONAVIRUS UPDATE: DON’T LET YOUR GUARD DOWN

BRIDGES AND BUDGETS: PUTTING THE COUNTRY BACK TOGETHER, FROM BOSTON TO BIDEN

BRIDGES AND BUDGETS: PUTTING THE COUNTRY BACK TOGETHER, FROM BOSTON TO BIDEN

SPECIAL FEATURE: UNCHARTED WATERS

SPECIAL FEATURE: UNCHARTED WATERS

THE OPPONENT: NEWCOMER MCBRIDE TAKES ON BAKER IN D3

THE OPPONENT: NEWCOMER MCBRIDE TAKES ON BAKER IN D3

THE IMPORTANT ART STOLEN FROM BOSTON THAT NOBODY SEEMS TO CARE ABOUT

THE IMPORTANT ART STOLEN FROM BOSTON THAT NOBODY SEEMS TO CARE ABOUT

PICS & RECAP: JUSTICE 4 DUANTE WRIGHT JUSTICE 4 ALL EMERGENCY RALLY 

PICS & RECAP: JUSTICE 4 DUANTE WRIGHT JUSTICE 4 ALL EMERGENCY RALLY 

Primary Sidebar

HEMPIRE FREEDOM PACK 25% OFF

FEATURED EVENT

Most Popular

  • VACCINE EQUITY NOW! COALITION ASKS BAKER TO ALLOCATE 20% OF NEW DOSES TO HARD HIT COMMUNITIES by SHIRA LAUCHAROEN
  • IF YOU’RE SURPRISED THE BPD CODDLED AN ACCUSED MOLESTER COP, YOU’RE NOT PAYING ATTENTION by CHRIS FARAONE
  • THE MYSTERY OF CHEZ TORTONI by CHRISTOPHER EHLERS
  • THE IMPORTANT ART STOLEN FROM BOSTON THAT NOBODY SEEMS TO CARE ABOUT by CHRIS FARAONE
  • A FAREWELL TRIBUTE (OF SORTS) TO MARTY WALSH by DIG STAFF

READ CURRENT MEMBER EDITION

DIG Member 2.1 – March 2021

READ CURRENT STREET ISSUE

DIG 23.05 – 4/8/21

Footer

digbos

digbos
Putting the country back together, from Boston to Putting the country back together, from Boston to Biden. https://digboston.com/bridges-and-budgets-putting-the-country-back-together-from-boston-to-biden/ #news #analysis #infrastructure #Boston #Massachusetts
CORONAVIRUS UPDATE: DON’T LET YOUR GUARD DOWN. K CORONAVIRUS UPDATE: DON’T LET YOUR GUARD DOWN. Keep wearing masks and social distancing until public health officials say it’s safe to stop. The latest from DigBoston's @jasonpramas. https://digboston.com/coronavirus-update-dont-let-your-guard-down/ #health #publichealth #mask #vaccine #politics #Boston #Massachusetts #coronavirus #COVID19
“My administration is doubling down on our work “My administration is doubling down on our work to stand up the #Boston Office of #Police Accountability and Transparency.” https://digboston.com/politicians-get-in-line-to-call-for-boston-police-accountability/ #politics #Massachusetts
This week is your last chance to hit up Mooby’s This week is your last chance to hit up Mooby’s in #Boston … https://digboston.com/moobys-boston-how-kevin-smith-has-brought-his-pick-up-experience-to-10-cities-during-the-pandemic/ #fan #popup #fun #restaurant #movie #Massachusetts #snoochieboochies
The group is asking that polices address the dispa The group is asking that polices address the disparities the #data has revealed. https://digboston.com/parents-release-an-analysis-of-boston-public-school-fundraising-inequities/ #education #school #public #study #fundraising #racism #Boston #Massachusetts
“We’re not going to survive for 20 more years “We’re not going to survive for 20 more years if we don’t do this [move to a bigger space].” https://digboston.com/how-juliet-hit-a-100k-kickstarter-goal-in-4-days/ #restaurant #business #food #crowdfund #SomervilleMA #coronavirus #COVID19
EDITORIAL: DIGBOSTON SEEKS CLIMATE IDEAS FOR MAYOR EDITORIAL: DIGBOSTON SEEKS CLIMATE IDEAS FOR MAYOR KIM JANEY. Environmental organizations and individual activists invited to submit opinion articles for publication. https://digboston.com/editorial-digboston-seeks-climate-ideas-for-mayor-kim-janey/ #politics @boston_mayor #environment #globalwarming #climate #activist #callforsubmissions #policy #Boston #Massachusetts
“Most are some of my favorite bars or local clas “Most are some of my favorite bars or local classics that I’ve learned to love in my time living in the city. Others just have a great facade that I know would make a great drawing.” https://digboston.com/drawn-but-not-forgotten-local-artist-sketches-beloved-boston-restaurants/ #art #artist #sketch #drawing #Boston #Massachusetts #bar #restaurant
Despite #pandemic hurdles, Mass #music instructors Despite #pandemic hurdles, Mass #music instructors hit new high notes. “My #teaching has gone to another level.” https://digboston.com/the-medium-is-the-maestro/ #education #Massachusetts #coronavirus #COVID19
From the podcast to the book, Wayne Federman chron From the podcast to the book, Wayne Federman chronicles the business of joke-telling. https://digboston.com/the-history-of-stand-up-from-mark-twain-to-dave-chappelle/ #comedy #history #book #interview #Boston #Massachusetts
Load More... Follow on Instagram
Social Buttons

DigBoston facebook DigBoston Twitter DigBoston Instagram

Masthead

About

Submissions

Advertise

Privacy Policy

Customer Service

Distribution

About Us

DigBoston is a one-stop nexus for everything worth doing or knowing in the Boston area. It's an alt-weekly, it's a website, it's an e-mail blast, it's a twitter account, it's that cool party that you were at last night ... hey, you're reading it, so it's gotta be good. For advertising inquiries: [email protected] To reach Editorial: [email protected] For internship opportunities: [email protected]