Roxbury librarian files discrimination complaint against Boston Public Library

Months after he was placed on leave last summer, Allen Knight, who served as head librarian at the Roxbury Branch of the Boston Public Library for over a decade, submitted a complaint to the state last month, alleging discriminatory actions against him by the BPL.

Knight filed his complaint with the Massachusetts Commission Against Discrimination on Jan. 17 after he was placed on paid administrative leave from his position in early July. In the time since, he has gone through steps of the library’s disciplinary process, including an investigatory interview in September, and a disciplinary hearing in December.

“We strive for fairness and the same treatment that everyone else gets. In this matter, Allen Knight is treated differently as a director at the Roxbury public library [branch] than the white directors at other libraries,” alleged Miniard Culpepper, who served as the attorney who represented Knight in his investigatory interview and the senior pastor at the Pleasant Hill Missionary Baptist Church.

Knight declined to comment.

Culpepper said the placement on administrative leave was based on two instances: the Witherspoon Gala, an event held at the branch library in June that ran long, keeping the library open past its scheduled closing time; and an incident in which someone urinated on books in the library’s children’s section. Knight was not at the library when the books were urinated on.

The complaint alleges that in a comparable situation, a white librarian would not have faced the same disciplinary action, said Culpepper, who is not currently officially involved with the MCAD complaint in his capacity as an attorney.

Roxbury librarian Allen Knight (right) accepts a certificate of appreciation from Boston Public Library President David Leonard for 25 years working at the Boston Public Library at an event in November 2018. Knight was placed on leave in July, after an event at the library ran overtime and a patron urinated on books in the children’s section. Courtesy Photo

But for Bruce Bickerstaff, even given the months of developments, the actions taken by the library seem, to him, to be “mysterious in their substance.” Bickerstaff was one of eight community members who sent a letter to David Leonard, president of the Boston Public Library, in early September criticizing Knight’s treatment.

Bickerstaff said that, to his knowledge, the library has not made public any official charges or accusations that led to the removal of someone in such a community-facing role. For community members who have been engaged with the events, that lack of information around why Knight is facing discipline hasn’t fostered any trust.

“Those are the kind of the things that I would hope that come more to the public and the reasoning behind them are explained,” Bickerstaff said.

Culpepper said that, because the allegations are related to personnel, he thinks the library may not be able to make information about them public.

Boston Public Library declined to comment on the proceedings or on the complaint filed with MCAD, citing library policy to not comment on personnel matters.

If the suspension is based on the Witherspoon Gala and the damaged books, Philecia Harris, a former BPL librarian, said she finds the reasoning strange.

Harris, who worked with Boston Public Library from 2016 to 2023 and served as children’s librarian at the Roxbury branch from early 2020 to late 2021, said that when she worked with the library, she was generally told that actions could be taken “at the discretion of the librarian.” In her experience, she said libraries stay open late all the time and books must be withdrawn from the collection regularly.

“[The administrative leave is] an odd and ridiculous situation for something that is just a normal everyday, business-as-usual situation,” Harris said.

According to a description of the events leading to his placement on leave, which Knight reviewed, when organizers and participants at the gala were delayed leaving the building, Knight opted to let it run over “given the visibility and influence of those present.” The event was attended by city officials, including multiple city councilors and community leaders.

According to a guide published by the state, after Knight filed his official complaint with MCAD, the Boston Public Library has an opportunity to respond to the statement before the commission conducts an investigation. That process may yield a determination of probable cause if the investigation finds evidence to support a conclusion that unlawful discrimination may have occurred, or a lack of probable cause.

Knight’s placement on paid leave has brought to his defense community members who said that during his time heading the Roxbury branch, Knight has worked to make it a space that is very open to and engaged with the community.

Knight has worked with the Boston Public Library for the past 30 years, and served as the librarian of the Roxbury branch for the past 12, heralding it through, among other things, a massive remodel and the COVID-19 pandemic.

Bickerstaff said Knight, in his Roxbury role, was always supportive of local community activities.

“He has been supportive in terms of his response not only as a librarian but as a community member to make sure that the library is used not only as a repository of information and insight — which libraries are, that’s basic — but in terms of further programming to accommodate the community,” he said.

The Witherspoon Gala, Culpepper said, is just one example of that work.

“It was really a community event,” Culpepper said. “I think Allen has allowed that library to be an anchor in the community, for learning, for education and for community involvement.”