Providence’s Rich Racial History Has Remained “Hidden in Plain Sight” for Hundreds of Years

Providence’s Rich Racial History Has Remained “Hidden in Plain Sight” for Hundreds of Years

At a press conference hosted by 1696 Heritage Group Vice President Keith Stokes, Truth-Telling and Reconciliation Subgroup Members Raymond Two Hawks Watson and BJ Murray, and senior advisor Shawndell Burney-Speaks, a nearly 200-page report was unveiled on Monday, entitled "Truth-Telling Report: A Matter of Truth."

The report coincides with Providence Mayor Jorge Elorza's initiative "Truth, Reconciliation, and Municipal Reparations" -- and includes a comprehensive analysis of the role of the City of Providence and the State of Rhode Island in supporting a “separate and unequal” existence for African heritage, Indigenous, and people of color. 

Providence also announced a request for proposals to launch the "Reconciliation" phase of the City’s commitment to "Truth-Telling, Reconciliation and Municipal Reparations" after receiving a $100,000 grant from the Nellie Mae Foundation.

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According to the City of Providence:

Community Reconciliation will include several months of engagement and discussion across the community, reflecting on the information discovered and the research compiled during the Truth Telling Phase.

Community meetings, interactive experiences and one-on-one engagement will publicly recognize and discuss the past and present wrongs uncovered in the Truth-Telling report and address their continued impacts on BIPOC (Black Indigenous People of Color) communities; design and recommend a Reconciliation policy structure that lays the groundwork for implementing quality of life improvements; highlight the contributions of BIPOC communities to the historical, social, cultural, and economic advancement of the City of Providence; and celebrate the resilience and perseverance of BIPOC communities throughout history. 

The report states, "The interdependence between these people is what makes our history unique. To tell the story completely, it must be inclusive. African heritage and Indigenous people have made and continue to make major contributions to our capital city’s history, commerce, and culture. This legacy has its roots in ancient Africa and America, particularly in Providence."

"The city’s very names of places and rivers — Woonasquatucket, Weybosset, Tockwotten, Moshassuck, and Wanskuck — are part of its Native American past. And what would be the history of important contributing neighborhoods and historic buildings such as College Hill and the Providence Art Club without its ample African heritage contributions? This rich Providence history has remained hidden in plain sight from most of its residents," according to the report.

READ THE REPORT