The Lands & Labor

Land and Labor Acknowledgment

We, as four Black women, gather here with a commitment to acknowledge the land on which we meet today in Boston, the traditional and unceded territory of the Massachusett, Wampanoag, and Nipmuc peoples, who have been the caretakers of this land for countless generations. This land was forcibly taken through colonization, war, and broken treaties, and we recognize the continued presence and leadership of Indigenous communities who persist despite centuries of violence, forced removals, and cultural erasure. Though we are visitors here, we understand that the histories of Black and Indigenous peoples are deeply intertwined, rooted in a legacy of oppression, resilience, and reclamation.

As Black women, we honor the labor, knowledge, and resilience of Black and Indigenous women whose voices have been crucial in resisting systemic erasure and shaping this land. Boston’s history is incomplete without acknowledging the enslaved African people whose forced labor built much of this city and generated immense wealth that continues to shape our society. This wealth, built on stolen land and stolen labor, underpins economic structures that remain unequal and oppressive. We also recognize the ongoing, often invisible labor of immigrants, particularly people of color, who work in fields, factories, and service industries under exploitative conditions, providing labor essential to society yet often undervalued and underpaid.

Acknowledgment alone is not enough; we must commit to actions that resist systems that continue to exploit and disenfranchise Indigenous peoples, descendants of enslaved Africans, and other marginalized groups. Let this gathering be a time for connection and commitment—to honor the legacies of those who came before us and advocate for justice, reparations, and an equitable future for all.

In gratitude and with respect, we acknowledge this land, this labor, and the communities whose sacrifices brought us here today. May we carry this awareness forward and work collectively toward a more just future.