Reflections on Black History: We must preserve our history

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

We must preserve our history

by Joyce Ferriabough Bolling

I have always been curious about African American history because when I was growing up, the inquisitive kid that I was, there was no mention in my textbooks that we as a people individually or collectively contributed to anything. We saw Indians depicted as savages and the cowboys always won, but Black people were invisible.

Back then, one could not define Black history as American history, which is a common phrase today. I’m not sure that it can even be embraced today. The new DEI erase rules are confusing and applied in a way that frankly threatens what should be an embrace of American progress.

A case in point is the recent story about the cleansing of DEI language from military training material depicting the Tuskegee Airmen, the hero Red Tails who saved countless lives even though the United States was hesitant about engaging them. Thank you, first lady Eleanor Roosevelt for helping to debunk the myth that Black men are not smart enough to fly.

It makes you wonder if the current powers that be are indiscriminately targeting anything Black without thought or consideration of the contributions made throughout history by Black Americans — and women for that matter. A huge public outcry reversed efforts to cleanse our history.

That’s only one instance. There will be more, no doubt. Our work will be cut out for us to hold onto our historic achievements if we truly believe that Black history is American history. We must fight against the wholesale devaluation and gutting of our history in the guise of DEI cleansing. African American contributions to American history are many.

They are the accomplishments meant to inspire our next generation to reach for the stars of history yet to be made, and they are a history of achievements often made against great odds.

Here in Boston, acts of Black history have led and often inspired the nation. For example, I am proud to pen this article in the Bay State Banner, not only because it is one of the oldest African American papers in the country but also because of its history of advocacy, whether it was of DEI in the police and fire departments or condemning blatant and not so blatant acts of discrimination.

The African Meeting House on Joy Street, Beacon Hill, Boston PHOTO: WIKIMEDIA COMMONS

On Joy Street stands the majestic African Meeting House where the men of the 54th Regiment met to get their marching orders to fight in the Civil War — a first for Blacks.

A book I conceived and hired the great Robert Hayden to pen was “African Americans in Boston: More Than 350 Years.” It was meant to be a vehicle to support the African Meeting House and, of course, to share an illustrious history of accomplishments with our young people. A copy should be in every library throughout the state.

Though I am working to update it, it contains some great nuggets of Boston and Massachusetts history. For example, Black women played an outstanding role in the fight for DEI. Yes, DEI was necessary even back then — Harriet Tubman, by direct action; Maria Stewart by the power of her oratory supporting Blacks and women; and Phillis Wheatley for her brilliance and excellence.

I was privileged to support Phillis Wheatley’s inclusion as a statue and all the women portrayed on Commonwealth Mall.

Of particular pride was the election of our first and only Black Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley, from Massachusetts, who sits in the office of the one and only Shirley Chisholm. As president of the Black Political Task Force, I worked to carve out the initial geographic foundation for a person of color to win a seat in the House of Representatives. It took 30 years and some tweaking of the district, but my sister Ayanna won the seat.

She joins my friend Ed Brooke, the first African American U.S. senator popularly elected, in the history books. The NAACP is also in our history books and has its roots in Massachusetts, thanks to the work of W. E. B. Du Bois.

Every day, we discover new contributions to Black history about Black men and women heroes who, without DEI, would not have had the chance to break through the many barriers before them to achieve and inspire generations still to come.

Joyce Ferriabough Bolling is a veteran political, community relations and communications specialist. She is a longtime Boston resident and community activist.