“Bearing Witness: Museums and Places Amplifying Black History”

On May 1, 2024 , the Boston Athenaeum invited all to join in a conversation about museums as “trusted spaces of memory and education.” The panel, moderated by historian Byron Rushing, included Kyera Singleton, Director of the Royall House and Slave Quarters, and Christian Walkes, Director of Education at the Museum of African American History.

Hosted at the African Meeting House (Boston), the discussion focused on “the intersection of collective memory and museums, delving into the profound role and responsibility of being stewards of historic sites…[navigating] the intricate dynamics of preserving and presenting history to diverse audiences.” At a time when museums are rethinking their educational roles, we learned about these two local sites, and how they are focused on the “history and legacy of slavery and racial injustice and how we might imagine a more just world.”

In greeting and thanking Byron after the talks, we brought him an artifact from our Emmanuel history, a copy of the article about our 1995 series, “Power Shifts,” in which he spoke about wielding power for the betterment of all concerned. (Emmanuel News 1995: v. 1, no. 1) We had a moment to remember his ongoing engagement with racial justice over the years and it was wonderful to share some time with him.

–Mary Beth Clack, Mary Blocher, Cindy Coldren, Pat Krol, Liz Levin
–Published in This Week @Emmanuel Church May 6, 2024