Preserving Black History in Boston: A fight Against Erasure
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Boston, Massachusetts - On August 18, 2025, a group led by U.S. Senator Ed Markey embarked on a tour of Boston’s Black historic sites, highlighting a growing concern over the preservation of African American history in the face of potential funding cuts and shifting historical narratives.
A Walk Through History and memory
Ari Zorn, a Boston native now residing in the Berkshires, joined the tour, reflecting on a past marked by racial tension. Zorn recalled a Boston where immediate safety was a concern for young Black residents leaving public events, a stark contrast to the city he knows today.”You didn’t walk,you ran,” he remembered of leaving Red Sox games as a youth.
The tour began at the Robert Gould Shaw Memorial on Boston common, a bronze sculpture commemorating the 54th Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry Regiment, one of the first African American units in the Union Army during the Civil War. The regiment’s origins trace back to the Berkshires region of massachusetts according to the Housatonic Heritage organization.
Dr. Imari Paris Jeffries, head of Embrace Boston, emphasized the enduring significance of the memorial.”You can’t look at this sculpture of black folks without looking at the means of their emancipation in their hands,” he stated.
Did You Know? The 54th Massachusetts Regiment faced significant prejudice and discrimination, including lower pay than their white counterparts, despite demonstrating extraordinary bravery in battle.
Concerns Over National Park Service Funding
The tour participants voiced concerns that proposed funding cuts to the National Park Service could lead to the erasure of stories belonging to Black, Indigenous, LGBTQ+, and other marginalized communities. Thay argued that these cuts are part of a broader effort to promote a selective version of American history. As reported by PBS NewsHour, the National Park Service is already grappling with significant funding and staffing shortages.
Senator Markey echoed these concerns at a news conference held at the Museum of African American History on Beacon Hill. He warned that the Trump governance was attempting to “rewrite truth” by suppressing narratives that challenge its preferred historical interpretation. “Trump is reaching deep into our archives…He’s ripping up the pages that reference slavery,” Markey asserted.
These concerns materialized earlier in 2025 when the Trump administration briefly attempted to remove information about Harriet Tubman and the Underground Railroad from Park Service exhibits, a move that drew widespread public criticism and ultimately reversed as reported by the New York Times.
The Embrace and the Fight for Remembrance
The group continued to the Embrace, a new monument honoring Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and Coretta Scott King. Zorn reflected on the importance of monuments in preserving collective memory. “To tell the truth of what happened is crucial,” he said. “Knowing the names and faces is crucial. It reminds us that we have more in common than we don’t.”
Dr. Noelle Trent, president and CEO of the Museum of African American History, underscored the museum’s role in connecting the past, present, and future. “Museums operate with the consideration of the past and present and future together,” she explained. “The past, in what we collect and preserve…the present and how we connect with our audiences, and the future [is] the consideration of our work.”
Pro Tip: Support local museums and historical societies to help ensure the preservation of diverse historical narratives.
Trent also revealed that the museum faced a $500,000 grant cancellation under the Trump administration, a decision challenged in court by state attorney General Andrea Campbell. while the court initially halted the cancellation, the museum remains wary of accepting federal funding due to potential future restrictions.
Paris Jeffries framed the struggle to preserve Black history as a continuation of the broader fight for equality. “Parks are the new lunch counters. Monuments are the receipts and the promissory notes for democracy,” he declared.”Every inscription that names the enslaved…lays another brick on the road from memory to justice.”
What role do monuments play in shaping our understanding of history and identity? How can communities ensure that diverse voices are represented in public spaces?
| Event | Date | Significance |
|---|---|---|
| Robert Gould Shaw Memorial Unveiling | May 31, 1897 | Commemorates the 54th Massachusetts Regiment, a pioneering African American unit in the Civil War. |
| Trump Administration Attempts to Revise Park service Exhibits | April 2025 | attempt to downplay or remove narratives related to slavery and marginalized communities. |
| Tour of Boston’s Black Historic Sites | August 18, 2025 | Raises awareness about the importance of preserving African American history and the threat of erasure. |
The ongoing Struggle for Historical Accuracy
The debate over historical narratives is not new. Throughout American history, there have been ongoing efforts to control and shape the stories that are told, often reflecting the biases and power structures of the time. The current concerns about funding cuts and selective storytelling are part of this larger pattern. Preserving diverse historical perspectives is crucial for fostering a more inclusive and accurate understanding of the past, and for building a more just and equitable future. This requires ongoing vigilance, advocacy, and support for institutions dedicated to preserving and sharing these stories.
Frequently Asked Questions
- What is the significance of the Robert Gould Shaw Memorial? It commemorates the bravery and sacrifice of the 54th Massachusetts Regiment, one of the first African American units in the Civil War.
- Why are funding cuts to the National Park Service a concern? Cuts could lead to the loss of resources for preserving and interpreting sites related to marginalized communities.
- What is “The Embrace” monument? it is indeed a new monument in Boston honoring Rev. Dr.Martin Luther King Jr.and Coretta Scott King.
- How can individuals support the preservation of Black history? Support museums, historical societies, and organizations dedicated to preserving and sharing african American stories.
- What was the Trump administration’s role in this issue? The administration faced criticism for attempting to revise historical narratives within the National Park Service.
We hope this article has shed light on the vital importance of preserving Black history and the ongoing efforts to ensure that these stories are not forgotten. please share this article with your network, leave a comment below with your thoughts, and consider subscribing to World Today News for more in-depth reporting.
