Dear Friends
In the wake of the election results, we’re reminded again of the steep hill before us. Democracy, as fragile as it is powerful, has bent once more toward a vision of America that does not always see us. This moment isn't new—it echoes, and it reminds us, as James Baldwin warned, “the crime of innocence in the country where innocence is a luxury too many cannot afford.” This election season and results are not single fault lines but rather serious fissures in a system built long ago to constrain. For those of us fighting to dismantle structural racism and build a truly just and inclusive America, our work HAS NOT BEEN DERAILED; it has been redefined, emboldened, even as we confront the pain and turmoil this moment brings.
Especially today, Malcolm X resonates: “If you stick a knife in my back nine inches and pull it out six inches, there’s no progress. If you pull it all the way out, that’s not progress. Progress is HEALING the wound that the blow made. And they haven’t even begun to pull out the knife.” Today, we feel that knife anew, and yet, we also know that acknowledging its presence is the first step toward liberation. It is always the first step in being made WHOLE.
Our fight is not to simply push against this moment but to go beyond it. Embrace Boston’s mission—to dismantle structural racism, illuminate belonging, and elevate the power of Black, BIPOC, and ALL communities through arts, policy, and culture—remains UNSHAKEN. And we will continue to work toward racial justice, women’s reproductive health, LGBTQA+ equality, immigrant communities, and the environment.
We’re reminded that every struggle sharpens our resolve, that every step backward holds the potential for a leap forward. Now, more than ever, our work grows richer, deeper, and ultimately, MORE necessary than ever.
With love and deep compassion,
Imari