Resolution to Acknowledge, Condemn and Apologize for the Role Played by the City of Boston in the Trans-Atlantic Slave Trade and the Ongoing Detrimental Impacts Experienced by the Black People of Boston. On motion of Councilor Fernandes Anderson, Rule 12 was invoked to include Councilors Louijeune and Lara as co-sponsors. On motion of Councilors Fernandes Anderson, Louijeune and Lara, the rules were suspended, the resolution was adopted; yeas 12.
Dr. Numbers 0770. Councilor Fernandes Anderson offer the following resolution to acknowledge, condemn and apologize for the role played by the city of Boston in the transatlantic slave trade and the ongoing detrimental impacts experienced by the black people of Boston. Thank you. The chair recognizes counsel Fernandez innocent. Counsel Fernandez innocent. You have the floor. Thank you, Mr. President. I'd like to add a couple of counselors as original co-sponsors as well. Counselor Rosie Lujan and Counselor Kendra Laura. Councilor Fernandez Anderson is seeking to add council illusion in council. Lara seeing a hearing? No objection. Both councilors are out. Thank you, Mr. President. I offer this because I think that it's imperative that we apologize for the heinous historical criminality of slavery and its modern day manifestations. When a harm is done, the first step is to acknowledge the harm and to apologize for it. The fact that this hasn't been done and yet yet at the municipal level is stunning to me. Let's just look at the facts for a moment. Slavery likely began in Boston in 1638 and was legalized in Massachusetts in 1641. Massachusetts Bay Colony slave codes were authored by the state's first governor, John Winthrop. These codes legalized and formalize a set of incredibly harsh and humanizing conditions. The local economy grew exponentially, largely on the backs of unpaid enslaved laborers. The enslaved African population of Boston increased 350% over the first half of the 18th century. Many famous and wealthy Bostonians of the era, including Peter Faneuil, who rich from the buying and selling of enslaved Africans, when he when he died, he still owned five human beings. As of estate inventory of all white Bostonians taken between 1717 75, around 25% of them possessed enslaved Africans. The legacy of this dastardly crime manifests today in generational trauma and in various disparities in realm of politics, economics and social indicators. We've heard it often, but it is said it is such an astounding stat that it bears repeating. The average net worth of white family in Boston is 2200 $50,000, while the average net worth of black family is still $8. In terms of businesses that are tained contracts with the city between 2014 and 2019, a dismal 0.4% of them were black owned. In short, the political and economy power brokers of Boston have a lot to apologize for, and I say now is a good time to do so. I file this and a lot of, of course, vitriol from Twitter, our favorite platform and calls and emails and even people stopped me in events. There are a lot of people that said, you know, we didn't do that. My ancestors did. But still yet there are. I recognize that there are poor white families or individuals that feel that they are not responsible because they don't have the privilege of their white brothers and sisters that do have money or wealth. And so this is not necessarily to target one individual. And I believe that as a black woman, I shouldn't have to stand here and apologize and educate. It's not the burden shouldn't be on me to educate, but it is incumbent on me if I have. This. Knowledge or information that I am patient and graceful with my white brothers and sisters to extend more grace and say there should be a platform for reconciliation. There should be a platform where we treat each other as though we are equal to do so. Before we begin the process of reconciliation, we must speak the truth. In order for us to talk about the truth. We have to begin with intentions. If you don't have the. Courage. To actually act on your intention, then at least that you feel it in your heart that this is wrong. That there has been no time in history in municipal government, where the city of Boston has actually taken responsibility and apologized for the harm and the perpetual harm that still continues today. We can go on and on and speak about where we lynch redlining, bussing, mass incarceration. Now systemic racism. And even today, all of the departments in the city of Boston, excluding maybe one I found in the budget process to be highly still systemically racist. We do not hire according to the demographics, or at least that people that are hired in city departments do not reflect the population of the city of Boston. I know that this council at least wants to do right. I also know that this council works very hard to create, to the best of their purview, our ability or courage to create racial justice in the city of Boston. But politics is a funny thing where we get sponsored by unions or nurses and officers and people of high, upper middle class people that donate to our campaigns, people that speak about the good in the greater good of working class. Yet we have to somehow respond to everyone in our responsibilities to consolidate our community, those that are invested in politics and those who are not, and those who don't have access. This is a hard task, but I believe that in the midst of all of that conflict, in the midst of all of that balancing act between those who have and those who don't, the status quo and those who don't have access. The poor and the rich that we are all interconnected. White, black, that we can do better, that we can be more intentional. And to do so, we must speak truth. And without truth, there is no reconciliation. If we are intentional, if we are sincere. I implore you to at least pray or ask the universe to give you some sort of motivation to act upon it. And those who don't know better yet will follow. Today, I'm asking you to give your heart and your courage to vote to suspend and pass this resolution today. So that we can actually act upon our intention and hopefully acknowledge the harm and begin discussions about what it means to truly undo the harm that has been done to the African-American people in the city of Boston. Thank you. Thank you. Councilor Fernandez Anderson, the the chair recognizes Constitution. Constitution. You have the floor. Thank you, Mr. President, and you accountable for bringing this forward. We as a city, we have a lot of work to do to reckon with our past. We are talking about the work that we need to do to build a better, more just more equitable. Boston For me, when we think about the word equity that we talk about a lot baked into, the very idea of equity is about the corrective action that we need to take for our policy harms and and the policy wrongs that we've done in the past. When we look at the brilliance that that really culminated in decades, centuries long work on making the case for reparations in China. As Coates talks about the foundation of the wealth building in this country, in the foundation of capitalism, really being the slave trade, and that really serving as a model of wealth building and profit. And when we think about our city and the wealth of our city, which I talk about quite often, that wealth is really built on the back of blacks in the city and around the country. So we have a lot of work to do when it comes to acknowledging the harm and really repairing. But it's one of the frustrations that I experience when we talk about equity because it is now the word du jour and baked into that word is corrective action. Baked into the word equity is an acknowledgment of our history and where we have gone wrong and what we need to do to make it all right. A second thing that I wanted to mention is that Boston has this really rich. And I think because when I spoke to this as well, it. The idea that Boston is it has a very rich history of abolitionism and we talk about it. But when we do that, we ignore the fact that we also played a very active role in the slave trade. I think about the Fugitive Slave Act and something that I have up in my office that I got from the Museum of African History about a decade ago is this advertisement that was put out by I think his name was Theodore Parker, a prominent abolitionist at the time, to warn black folks in the city of Boston about potential capture. Now, just read it so that everyone sees it. It says Caution colored people of Boston, one and all. You are hereby respectfully cautioned and advised to avoid conversing with watchmen and police officers of Boston. Four. Since the recent order of the mayor and aldermen, they are empowered to act as kidnapers and slave catchers, and they have already been actually employed in kidnaping, catching and keeping slaves. Therefore, if you value your liberty and the welfare of the fugitives among you shall them in every way possible, in every possible manner, as so many hands on the track of the most unfortunate of your race, keep a sharp lookout for kidnapers and have top eye open. This was April 24th, 1851, when slavery was outlawed in 1783. And when we talk about evolution of discrimination and racism and bias, it's a continuum, right? These these these racist structures don't just disappear. They're really ingrained in a lot of the work that we have to undo here in city hall in the city. So. And my last point will be also to something Councilperson Andre Anderson said. This is not about individual blame. When I went to college, I remember I met someone who a really good friend of mine who introduced me to this singer songwriter named Ben Folds, who has a song called Rock in the Suburbs. And in that song, he talks about coming up to a stoplight and he's a white guy and how a black man in a car next to him pulls up and looks at him and darts his eyes at him and this thing. And Ben Folds of the song was like, He's glaring at me because, you know, my great, great, great, great granddad made somewhat and maybe his great great granddad, his slave. And he says, But it wasn't my idea. Not at all my idea. Never my idea. And this isn't about today whether or not slavery was an individual person's idea. Right? It's not about whether it was your idea. It's about acknowledging that profit, that wealth in this country, in this city, in Boston was able to tout this triple-A bond rating, these very strong fiscal resources that we have in this city . But a lot of that is rooted in an unjust systems that really start where we start with indigenous folks who are coming here in the Mass Bay Colony, but it continued with slavery. And so we have a lot of work to do to atone for that, to repair the harm and to do the work together, to really be honest about our history, to do the work of repairing. And I think the idea of having a citywide conversations about truth and reconciliation are really important part of that process. So I just want to thank Councilor Fernanda Anderson and all the activists and active advocates, a lot of them who are here who have really been doing the work to really center this conversation in the city of Boston. So thank you. Thank you. Counsel on the chair recognizes counsel. Lara. Counsel Lara, you have the floor. Thank you, President Flynn And I would like to extend my gratitude to Councilor Fernandez Anderson for including me as one of the original co-sponsors in this resolution. I don't have much more to say. We've heard from Councilor Fernandez Anderson about the importance of this. We've gotten an incredible amount of historical context from Councilor Region. And so I think for for my remarks, I would just like to quote Alhaji Malik al-Shabab or Malcolm X as folks know him. Brother Malcolm said that if you stick a knife in my back nine inches and pull it out six inches, that is not progress. If you pull the knife out completely, that is still not progress. That progress is ultimately healing the wound that was made by pulling putting the knife in my back in the first place. And to paraphrase. Not only have we not taken the knife out, we haven't even admitted that the knife is there. And so some people will say that we have taken the knife out six inches. Some people might even argue that we've taken the knife out completely and that we are doing work to start healing that wound. And I'm not here today to argue the merit of either of those arguments, but this resolution is specifically about not skipping the critical step of admitting that the knife is there. And so my hope is that my council colleagues will vote in favor of passing this resolution today because we can't get to pulling it out six inches. We can't get to pulling it out completely. And we definitely cannot heal the wound if we don't first admit that the knife was there in the first place. Thank you. Thank and thank you. Council are the chair. This council, I mean, here, council me. Here you have the floor. And that's how it was for us. But, Mr. President, I'll go first. Thank you. So I just want to thank the MCA. I am so incredibly just grateful for your leadership and to the co-sponsors for rising up. I do think that this moment here in the city of Boston, I do know how difficult it is to stand up and call things out, because Twitter is terrible at letting you know about yourself. And I think that this city has an amazing opportunity to really right the wrong. And we can't do that if we're not allowing ourselves to recognize the harm that has been done. And I think as a council right this moment calls for us to have that courage and to recognize that if we're really serious about restorative justice, if we're really serious about the things that we talk about in terms of equity, we can't miss out on this opportunity in passing this resolution and saying that this is how we begin that process. So, Councilor Anderson, I just want to say thank you, because I remember when I first files just a hearing order and reparations. How? How much backlash I got from folks as a result of that. And then when we entered the conversation about an ordinance here in the city of Boston, how that backlash continued. But despite that backlash, we have to keep showing up and pushing the envelope. So that is what courage is all about. So I am grateful for you and to the advocates for continuing to sound the alarm of what this moment calls for. Thank you. Thank you, Councilman. Here, the chair recognizes Council of Royal. Council. Royal. You have the floor. Thank you, Mr. Chair. I want to extend my gratitude to the maker. I thank my council colleagues of color, understand. And those not of color who have stood up on racial justice issues. I don't think I've ever received vitriol the way I do on anything that I stand up on to speak in support of or in favor of. Like I do when that thing is black lives or race in this city, in this country, that is usually when the worst vitriol comes my way. And so, you know, I appreciate the courage. I think this is an important part for the city to acknowledge their role in this, the ways in which we have profited as a city over time, by this trade and by the ways in which we have excluded and or subjugated entire people. And so, you know, I think the biggest part for me about this in an act like this and the importance of an act like this, is admitting that the harm was done and taking accountability for that part of it so that we can move on to the healing and the restauration that comes after. But nothing comes until you do that part. And so I'm grateful to you for putting this on table. I'm grateful for the folks and the advocates in the room with push for this. This is not a a new matter. And I hope that the passage of this, which I am going to vote in favor of this and I look forward to vote in favor of this, that the passage of this begins us on a track towards having real conversations about how we do that healing, how we address some of those those harms that have been done in the ways in which our neighborhoods have have sort of borne the brunt of them over decades. And so I look forward to this. Thank you. Thank you. To those on the council push for this. Thank you to the advocates in the room will push for this. And I'm grateful to you. Thank you. Counsel Arroyo, the chair recognizes counsel. BLOCK Council. BLOCK view of the floor. Thank you so much, Mr. President. And I just wanted to thank the makers and to add my voice along with my vote in support of this, please add my name. I think I said this when Councilor Mickey and I introduced the reparations hearing order last session. But the reality is, is that we live inside of institutions in the city of Boston many and celebrate them and talk about them, many of which have a legacy that goes back to before the slave trade and certainly the profiting off of the slave after slavery was banned in this city. So I just I want to say that it hasn't been that long and that so many of the things that shape the architecture of this city date to the same period. And so I think it's very important we can't go and talk about our institutions that we're so proud of, been around. They're the oldest in the country because they've been around 1600s of the 1700s without saying the Boston of the 1617 hundreds where Africans were enslaved in this city also still lives with us. And so I just want to thank the makers and say that I'll be voting in support. Thank you, Counsel. BLOCK The chair recognizes counsel BAKER Counsel. Baker, thank for thank you, Mr. President. Thank you for your words. They were great. There's three pieces here. Acknowledge, condemn and apologize. Acknowledge and condemn. I'm all in. Apologize. I'm a little uneasy about if we can be honest enough, we're going to have conversations. You know, I feel so far removed from John Winthrop and Peter Faneuil and Harvard University. I grew up a little rough and tumble. We grew up poor. So the apologize part is is difficult for me. But I think if my words can help. Your community heal and our community in Boston heal. And I'm absolutely ready to do this and sign on to this and vote for this for you. Thank you. Thank you, Councilor Baker. Would anyone else like to speak on this matter? I'm going to I'm going to Counsel Fernandez to just speak on this a second time. Thank you, Mr. President. I first thank you for all the kind words and encouragement. And yes, thank you. I'm here for filing for the hearing order for the Commission on Reparations and as well as Council for your efforts in the previous year. I would first like to acknowledge Councilor Baker. Councilor Baker. It is that this level of work and sincerity that will take us to reconciliation will take us to healing. If you had said anything else, if you had been pretentious about it, I would have said he's not ready. But the fact that you got up and you said, This is how I feel, I will be honest with you. But in support, in the effort or in the spirit of healing, if this helps, then so be it. I'm I'm with you. I appreciate that. And I think that is where we start. I thank you for your open heart. I look forward to doing my part, hopefully to bringing you to understand. And as far as the advocates, I like to just recognize quickly, not quickly, but I have to do it quickly. Reverend Kevin Peterson, I thank you so much for your blood, sweat and tears in this work. Of course, all of the every single advocate here, Sister Aziza Robinson. Good night. I see a lot of Johann and all of the beautiful people in the room, Pablo Barros. And I can't name all of you because of time, but there are people in the community in the city of Boston that have been fighting for this, people before us and people today and those who will come after us. And I want to thank you. I want to thank all of my black brothers and sisters and allies that are here that has taken the time to understand that this is important. And I apologize that city council meetings are at 12:00 for those at home. And I thank all of those who are watching in that spirit. And I and I look forward to working with you. I appreciate you. I serve you. And I love you. Thank you. Councilor Fernandez. Anderson. Would anyone else like to speak on this matter? I'd like to take this opportunity to to thank the makers for their. Important message in. And how we move forward as a city. Want to acknowledge the the importance of this resolution over the weekend. I had a I had several calls as well from my colleagues, but also from Reverend Kevin Peterson. Also from my friend and in the podium in the stands there, Bill. Right. As well. And just want to acknowledge their commitment to bringing this city together. But I also want to acknowledge the important words of of council at Baker as well. You know, it's important that we have a strong and positive message of inclusion and of addressing our past history, even though it's hurtful and painful. But that's exactly what Council Baker did today. And that's what. That's what this body is all about, is is dealing with tough, difficult issues, even if it. Even if it hurts you in your own community. But I just want to acknowledge the incredible the incredible resolution that's before us. And I was talking to another another advocate over the weekend about this about this hearing order and. There's a congressman that that's I believe it's Seth Moulton in the North Shore. He's asking for. Veterans that served in World War II. Most of them, unfortunately, are dead now, but they didn't get their VA benefits. African-American veterans. But there is a proposal before Congress that would recognize the family, families of African-American veterans that were excluded from VA benefits so that their family could could get those that might be housing support, that might be a job training support. That might be that might be financial assistance. But here you have African-American veterans that served in World War Two. Many of them were wounded. Many of them were killed, unfortunately. But many of them many of them were wounded. And they came back to cities like Boston and Chicago and Cleveland and New York City, and they weren't able to get a VA home loan, which most World War Two veterans. That's how they bought their. That's how they bought their homes was through the VA home program, but not African-American veterans. So I was I had a long discussion with an activist over the weekend, as I mentioned. But the. Here is a community. Here's some this man and woman, they're ready to and willing to die for our country, which they did and wounded for our country. Which they did. But they came back here and they they weren't treated with the respect and dignity that they've earned. So it's a somewhat it's a somewhat similar story, but I'm certainly supportive of this of this declaration because it's an important it's important matter. But it also puts Boston on a path where we can address. Our our terrible mistakes of the past, but to try to come together as a city and improve improve race relations for all. So I just want to acknowledge the. This proposal by by our colleagues council and council of Laura. And Council of a royal. Yeah. Yeah. Council for an emergency. So. Would anyone else like to add their name? Please raise your hand. The pleas that Counsel Baker, counsel counsel Brad and Counsel Calata Counsel of Clarity. Counselor here counsel Tim Murphy, please. You are the chief. Oh, please. That council rail. Um, Counsel Fernandez Enerson. Counsel, Elvira. And Councilor Lujan. Six suspension. Of the rules and adoption of docket 0770. All those in favor say I am opposed saying, Hey, Mr. Clark, we're going to have a roll call vote. Could you please call the roll. Roll call vote on docket 0770? Counsel Arroyo Yes. Counselor Arroyo. Yes. Counselor Baker. Counselor Baker. Yes. Counselor Book. Counselor. Book Yes. Counselor. Counselor Breeden. Yes. Counselor Calello. Counselor. Falletta. Yes. Counsel for Ananda Sanderson. Counsel for Ananda Sanderson. Yes. Counsel. Clarity. Counsel. So yes. Counsel Flynn. Yes. Counselor Flynn. Yes. Counsel. Laura. Counsel. Lara. Yes. Counsel. Louisiana. Counsel. Louisiana. Yes. Counselor. Me here. Counselor. Me here? Yes. Counselor Murphy. Counselor Murphy. Yes. Talking number 0770 has received a unanimous vote. Yes. Thank you. See the resolution has been adopted. We're going to take a brief recess for 2 minutes and. Mr. Clarke. Yes. Mr. Clarke, please read your code. 07710771. Councilors Braden and Barr call for the following resolution commemorating the 50th anniversary anniversary of the hotel burned on fire on June 17, 1972, and memorializing the lives of nine firefighters lost in the line of duty.