Catherine T. Morris Advocates for Boston’s Cultural Workers & Creative Entrepreneurs | Black History Month
Sherline Heriveaux
As an Arts & Culture professional, how far do you believe Boston has come in equity for all, and what changes would you like to see our city implement to obtain more diversity and inclusion in arts and culture?
From busing integration and small business incubator spaces to student MBTA ridership and education, Boston has had moments with equity for all. However, Boston must have a huge overhaul of its systems with a racial equity and social justice lens for arts and culture. There needs to be deep exploration and implementation of basic income for artists, cultural workers and creative entrepreneurs; increased state funding for the entire arts and culture ecosystem (starting at $235M); more diverse cultural spaces that encourage radical imagination, healing, activation and productivity; and a unified understanding and narrative about the necessity of the arts in our lives. Beyond performance, arts and culture are translators of meaning, connection, values and humility. Arts and culture are economic engines that attract visitors from around the world to visit Boston and invest in the destination that educates, informs and inspires them. Arts and culture are doors to our City, neighborhoods, or businesses looking to retain talent because people look for the cultural and social comforts that keep them connected to their heritage, interests and beliefs. To have diversity and inclusion in arts and culture, we have to shift our mindset in treating it as a human rights issue that deserves better and bigger attention than ever before.
How has Black entrepreneurship and creativity contributed to Boston’s growth and cultural shift?
Boston’s Black entrepreneurship and creativity has expanded the imagery and possibility of what supporting us means and looks like. We are betting on ourselves and controlling narratives to create our own systems and infrastructures that sustain and amplify our culture, intelligence, imagination, power, and influence. Furthermore, our stories are becoming more visible, urgent and celebrated through local and statewide campaigns, large and small convenings, and social media. Lastly, today’s Black entrepreneurship and creativity has set a new precedent for future generations to see that this City is in need of what we create, advocate and scale for all to benefit from.
We are betting on ourselves and controlling narratives to create our own systems and infrastructures that sustain and amplify our culture, intelligence, imagination, power, and influence.
Black History Month celebrates the great history of African-American contributions to American society, what does an equitable future look like, where Boston’s Black community can reap those prior contributions, and have the space and power to contribute more?
An equitable Boston for Black communities features more buildings named and monuments created that celebrate the Black pioneers and creatives who have shaped the City of Boston and Commonwealth of Massachusetts. An equitable Boston boldly supports more creative spaces across neighborhoods that develop current and future generations of entrepreneurs, creators, and artists. An equitable Boston for Black communities should celebrate its long-standing history year round in classrooms and on the streets so that pride and culture is restored and preserved. An equitable Boston for Black communities has no racial wealth gap but has a high level of presentation in property ownership, co-ops, businesses and state legislation. And finally, an equitable Boston for Black communities no longer worries about or deals with passive racism as a means to suppress their magic.
What would you say is best practice for supporting the city’s current and next generation of Black creatives?
I would say that it is important to have the next generation of Black creatives participate on Boards and strategic plans for the City as early as possible. We can no longer dismiss their experience, expertise or perspective. Their imagination about a new Boston, a different Boston is what will keep the City moving forward and held accountable to serving the needs of its creative citizens. I highly encourage that individuals put aside their egos and pride in order to actively LISTEN, RESPECT and SUPPORT current and next generation Black creatives. It is time that we plug into the rest of the world… differently and authentically, without hesitation.