Reflections on Black History: Let’s learn from history while looking to the future
For this Black History Month, the Banner reached out to members of our community and asked them to share their thoughts and feelings about our Black history and culture. We think you will find their responses as inspirational as we did. — Ronald Mitchell, Publisher and Editor, Bay State Banner
Let’s learn from history while looking to the future
by Robert Lewis Jr.
When people introduce me as a “Black leader,” I gently correct them: I am a leader who happens to be Black. This isn’t just a matter of semantics; it’s about how we frame leadership in America. We don’t typically refer to “white leaders,” so why do we feel the need to qualify leadership with race at all? Yet, this distinction speaks to a larger conversation about how we recognize, develop and celebrate leadership in our communities.
Every February, we celebrate Black History Month, but let’s be clear: Black history is American history. It cannot be contained within a single month; it is woven into the fabric of this country. Black history is the story of innovation, resilience and leadership, and it is alive in our communities every single day.
I know this from experience. Fifty years ago, my life in Boston changed overnight. My family was the first Black family to move into the Maverick Projects in East Boston. At the time, I was just a regular teenager — playing sports, excelling in school and spending my afternoons at the Salesian Boys Club. East Boston wasn’t just where I lived — it was my home.
Then, in 1974, everything shifted. Judge Garrity’s desegregation order sent shockwaves through the city, sparking violence and division. One night, someone I considered a friend — a boy I had played ball with, shared meals with and laughed with — stood outside my house with a Molotov cocktail. He lit it, threw it and watched as my home went up in flames.
In an instant, I lost more than a friend. I lost my sense of security. I lost my belief in the Boston I thought I knew. But standing there at 16, watching my home burn, I made a decision: I would dedicate my life to bringing people together. I refused to let hate dictate my future. Instead, I poured my energy into youth development, community activism and leadership — work that has shaped who I am today.
That journey led me to the Boys & Girls Clubs of Boston (BGCB), where we are both trailblazers and torchbearers. We honor those who lit the way before us while ensuring that we are creating pathways for those coming behind us.
At BGCB, we don’t just see our role as filling gaps; we see ourselves as building bridges. While we are not a school, we ensure our young people can read, write and do math at grade level. While we are not a hospital, we provide critical health and wellness support to families who need it most. We are not just an after-school program, we are a movement.
Every day, I see the boundless potential in the young people we serve. That’s why at BGCB, we have completely shifted away from deficit-based language. We don’t talk about “at-risk” or “underserved” youth. The only thing our young people are at risk for is success.
The importance of representation
Representation matters. When I joined BGCB, the leadership and management team was not representative of the young people and communities we serve. Today, that has shifted significantly. That change didn’t happen by accident. It happened because we recognized that young people need to see leaders who look like them, who understand their experiences and who can show them what is possible.
But representation isn’t just about seeing diversity in leadership. It’s about redefining leadership itself. Leadership doesn’t only exist in boardrooms or corner offices. It thrives in our neighborhoods, in our community centers, in our schools, and in our streets. It is found in the mentor who helps a young person apply for college, the coach who instills discipline and self-confidence, the small business owner who creates jobs and opportunities.
At BGCB, we teach our young people that leadership is about action. It’s about using your voice, lifting others up and creating positive change. And right now, more than ever, we need to empower the next generation to lead.
The power of collective action
We cannot afford to wait for change to happen. We must create it. That means making real investments in education, health and economic opportunities for Black and brown communities. It means supporting programs that uplift young people and give them the tools they need to succeed. It means ensuring that no child’s future is determined by their zip code.
BGCB is committed to being part of that change. We have set bold goals:
• Ensuring every club member can read and do math at grade level.
• Doubling the number of teens we serve.
• Expanding workforce readiness programs so that every young person graduates with a concrete plan for their future, whether that means college, a career, or a trade.
• Closing the 23-year life expectancy gap that exists between neighborhoods just two miles apart in Boston.
These are not just lofty aspirations. They are commitments. And they require all of us — leaders, educators, business owners and community members — to step up and invest in our future.
The time is now
James Baldwin once said, “The challenge is in the moment. The time is always now.”
Boston has always been a city of resilience, innovation and progress. We have the opportunity to build on that legacy — to come together, invest in our young people and ensure that every child has the opportunity to succeed. By working collectively, we can be a city that nurtures talent, fosters opportunity and leads the way in creating a more equitable future.
That is the Boston I want to help build. And it is the Boston I believe in — the one where every young person can thrive, dream big, and achieve their full potential.
Robert Lewis Jr. is Nicholas President & CEO of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Boston.
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