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From YouTube: Age Strong Black Heritage Virtual Celebration 2-26-21
Description
In honor of Black History Month, Mayor Walsh along with the Age Strong Commission host a virtual event commemorating the role and influence of African American heritage in the rich fabric that is the Boston community. This year’s theme is Representation, Identity, Diversity: A history of Afternoon Tea in the Black Community. The event features live musical performances by Athene Wilson and Friends and Jah Jah drummers as part of the cultural
ceremonies. The program also features storyteller Valerie Stephen, and
high tea will be facilitated by Cynthia Penton-Bell, President of the historic
Women’s Service Club of Boston.
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H
A
H
H
So
so
again,
one
of
my
favorite
celebrations
really
our
opportunity
to
take
the
time
that
we
take
all
the
time,
but
really
to
take
some
very
special
time
to
celebrate
the
strength
and
the
contributions
of
our
black
community
here
in
boston
and,
of
course,
of
our
older
adults
in
the
city
and
a
wonderful
opportunity
to
see
you
all
as
well.
So
I'm
going
to
get
us
started
quickly
here.
So
we
don't.
H
I
lose
any
time,
but
before
we
move
it
over
to
our
to
our
wonderful
drummers,
I
want
to
just
remind
you,
we're
going
to
have
two
contests
later
for
best
hat
and
best
high
tea
set,
so
feel
f
feel
free
to
grab
a
paper
and
pen.
I
will
be
showing
a
little
slide
show
later
on
and
you
can
write
down
your
favorites
so
that
you
you
can
vote
on
them.
So
grab
a
paper
and
a
pen
for
when
we
get
to
that
part
of
the
program.
H
E
H
Ja-
ja,
drummers-
that
was
fabulous.
We
couldn't
hear
a
piece
of
it,
but
when
we
get
you
we're
gonna
have
you
back
at
the
end
and
then
we'll
we'll
hear
the
whole
thing.
So
I
wanna,
I
wanna
say
thank
you
so
much
for
for
bringing
us
in
with
our
libation
ceremony
and
now
I'd
like
to
introduce
father
oscar
pratt
from
saint
catherine,
dr
drexel
parish,
who
is
going
to
give
our
invocation
today.
I
We
turn
to
the
god
who
has
given
us
this
beautiful
day.
This
is
the
day
that
the
lord
has
made,
and
we
will
rejoice
and
be
glad
in
it.
So
we
turn
to
you,
oh
god,
with
hearts
filled
with
thanksgiving
with
hearts
filled
with
gratitude
with
hearts
filled
with
anticipation
for
what
has
yet
to
be,
and
for
that
fulfillment
of
justice
and
peace
of
truth
and
righteousness.
I
I
Lord
bless
this
gathering
and
let
us
celebrate
not
just
our
past,
but
also
your
promises
for
a
more
just
and
peace
filled
future
lord.
We
thank
you
for
the
the
joy
for
all
of
what
is
to
take
place
in
this
celebration
today
and
we
just
ask
your
continued
outpouring
of
fortitude
of
good
health
of
strengthening
all
people
so
that,
as
we
have
come
this
far
by
faith,
we
trust
that
you
will
take
us
even
farther
building
us
into
that
beloved
community.
A
H
H
This
past
year
has
been
a
challenging
one
for
everyone,
but
the
light
is
at
the
end
of
the
tunnel,
and
I
want
to
encourage
everybody
who's
eligible
to
get
the
covet
vaccine
to
call
our
office.
We
are
helping
boston's
older
residents
to
register
for
vaccines,
and
we
can
help
you
and
there
is
nobody,
absolutely
nobody
who
knows
that
better
than
our
chief
of
health
and
human
services,
marty
martinez,
who
has
been
working
with
mayor
walsh
in
the
city
council
to
lead
our
city's
response
to
covid.
J
Thank
you,
commissioner,
shea,
and
thank
you
for
having
me
here
and
good
afternoon
to
everyone.
I'm
excited
to
be
here
with
you
to
celebrate
black
history
month
and
to
join
in
the
celebration
of
our
culture,
join
in
the
celebration
of
of
our
community
and
to
join
commissioner
shea,
and
and
also
saying
you
know,
thank
you
for
everything
that
you
all
have
done
as
seniors
in
our
community.
J
J
Please
reach
out
to
the
h,
strong
commission,
so
we
can
help
you
get
an
appointment
and
navigate
that
boston
prioritizes
our
seniors,
and
we
will
continue
to
do
that.
So
again,
thank
you
for
joining
us
and
I
just
want
to
give
a
shout
out
to
the
age,
strong
commission.
They
do
such
important
work.
I
see
many
members
of
the
team
on
here
and
I
just
want
to
say
thank
you
for
the
staff
and
all
the
work
you
continue
to
do
on
behalf
of
our
seniors.
Thank
you.
Thank
you.
Thank
you.
J
We
could
not
get
through
this
without
you,
so
I
definitely
appreciate
it.
All
of
that
would
not
be
possible
and
all
the
work
we
do
would
not
be
possible
without
our
leaders
and
our
elected
leaders
who
continue
to
do
this
important
work.
I'm
grateful
that
on
this
call,
we
we,
you
know
we
have
our
some
of
our
elected
leaders,
including
president
janey
who's
joining
us
on
this
call,
which
I
appreciate,
but
again
without
all
the
work
that
we've
done
would
not
be
possible
without
the
ongoing
commitment
and
dedication
to
boston
seniors.
J
G
Thank
you
marty,
and
I
appreciate
your
introduction
and
thank
you
marty
for
all
your
great
work
during
covet
as
well.
It's
been
it's
been.
It's
been,
as
you
said
a
long
year,
we
do
see
a
light
at
the
end
of
the
tunnel,
we're
headed
towards
that
tunnel,
and
now
our
office
of
human
services
has
been
amazing.
So
thank
you,
marty
to
commissioner
shea
and
age
strong
planning
committee
members.
Everyone
will
help
with
this
event
together.
Thank
you
for
your
incredible
work
as
well.
Council
president
janie,
thank
you
for
being
with
us
today.
G
I
know
we're
going
to
hear
from
you
in
a
few
a
few
minutes,
I'm
going
to
introduce
you
valerie
stevens
storyteller.
Thank
you,
cynthia
penton
bell
from
the
women's
service
club
of
boston.
You
look
marvelous
as
seeing
your
picture
on
here.
Thank
you
as
well
to
the
musical
all
the
musical
guests,
including
the
zhajia
drummers.
You
know
it's
amazing,
to
hear
you
and
thank
you
for
being
here.
Everyone
who
submitted
pictures
of
our
best
of
best
hat
and
best
high
tea
set
contest.
G
Thank
you
and
congratulations
and
of
course,
obviously,
everyone
on
this
call
today.
I'm
sad
that
we
can't
be
in
person
together,
but
we're
all
here
in
spirit,
and
this
has
been
a
year
almost
of
doing
what
we're
doing,
but
we're
almost
there
and
then
we'll
either.
As
marty
said
marty
martinez
said,
I
want
you
to
be
careful,
take
care
of
yourself
and
and
get
the
vaccine.
The
vaccine
is
something
that's
really
important.
G
Black
history
month
is
all
about
recognizing
the
central
role
that
black
men
and
women
have
played
in
our
city
in
the
story
of
boston.
Together,
we
honor
those
who
fought
for
our
freedoms
and
for
freedoms,
those
who
paved
the
way
and
overcome
barriers,
and
those
continue
to
continue
to
lead
in
2021.
And
that's
all
of
you
on
this
call
in
this
zoom
in
this
meeting
and
this
gathering,
we
recognize
everyone.
G
G
They
will
be
at
the
radio
lewis
center
in
roxbury.
So
please
stop
by,
and
I
want
to
thank
all
of
our
city
employees
from
the
black
employee
network,
who
have
really
really
done
an
awful
lot
over
the
years,
but
in
particular
this
year
in
a
very
complicated
difficult
year.
Thank
you
for
what
you
do.
Thank
you
for
volunteering
this
weekend
and
for
showing
how
we
look
out
for
one
another
as
a
united
community
to
all
the
seniors.
G
I've
been
deeply
grateful
for
the
roles
that
we've
you've
played
in
our
community,
and
I
said
this
over
and
over
and
over
again
many
of
you
have
lived
in
the
city
for
decades.
Some
of
you
have
immigrated
from
other
places,
but
all
of
you
chose
to
build
your
lives
here
and
help
make
our
city
vibrant,
thriving
in
a
better
place.
G
Boston's
older
adults
have
taught
me
so
much.
You've
inspired
me
throughout
my
time
as
mayor
and
quite
honestly
before
that
I'll,
never
forget
all
the
advice
and
lessons
that
you've
shared
with
me
over
the
years
or
you
told
me.
I
thank
you
for
telling
me
when,
when
you're
not
happy
with
us-
and
I
thank
you
for
telling
me
how
much
you
love
the
h,
strong
commission,
I
promise
to
bring
you
with
me
when
I
go
to
washington
or
wherever
I
go.
G
G
Whatever
questions
you
have,
whether
it's
about
covert
19
or
something
else,
please
make
sure
you
call
three
one
one
get
connected
the
age,
strong,
commission
boston
will
always
have
the
utmost
respect
for
older
adults,
and
nothing
will
change
that,
and
this
isn't
goodbye.
I
mean
I'll,
probably
see
you
in
another
zoom
in
a
week
or
so,
because
that's
what
we're
doing
right
now,
but
I
want
you
to
know
that
this
city
always
is
here
to
support
you.
G
I
want
to
thank
you
again
and
hope
you
and
your
families
are
safe
and
stay
safe
and
wash
your
hands
physical
distance,
wash
your
hands
and
soak
with
water.
Don't
go
out
too
much.
If
you
go
out
make
sure
you
keep
keep
apart
from
people.
I
know
that
a
lot
of
people
saying
to
me
you
know
I'm
sick
and
tired
of
people.
You
telling
me
what
to
do.
I'm
not
telling
you
what
to
do.
I'm
suggesting
that
we
do
it,
because
it's
really
important
when
I
do
get
voted
by
the
united
states
senate.
G
I've
been
working
very
closely
with
with
with
counselor
janey
and
her
team.
As
far
as
having
a
nice
smooth
handoff
in
transition,
she's
somebody
who's
grown
up
in
the
city
knows
the
city
cloak
very
well
understands
not
just
as
an
elected
official,
but
as
an
activist
and
her
family
has
deep
roots
in
here.
G
So
counseling
president
janey
was
more
than
prepared
to
step
into
the
role
of
acting
mayor
in
the
city
of
boston
she's,
here
with
us
today
to
share
some
words
on
on
this
special
occasion
and
this
special
event
that
we
have
every
year.
So
I'd
like
to
now
without
further
ado
turn
the
floor
over
to
the
count.
This,
the
president
of
the
boss
city,
council,
council,
kim
janey.
K
K
I
know
we
all
appreciate
your
work
and
we
wish
you
well,
as
you
go
to
washington
dc
and
continue
to
fight
for
working
families
all
over
our
country
and
certainly
keep
boston
close
to
your
heart.
I
want
to
thank
emily
shea
for
all
that
you
do
as
a
commissioner
of
the
age
strong
group
here
in
boston.
Certainly
chief
martinez,
thank
you
for
your
work.
K
I
I
am
just
thrilled
to
be
here
as
the
president
of
the
most
diversity
council
in
boston's
history
and
as
the
person
poised
to
step
into
the
office
of
mayor
when
mayor
walsh
becomes
the
secretary
of
labor.
As
mayor
walsh
has
already
said,
my
family
has
very
deep
roots
in
boston,
roxbury
and
southend
in
particular,
and
and
I've
learned
so
much
from
my
family,
and
I
believe
my
mom
is
on
this
call.
K
So
I
I
definitely
want
to
add
her
to
my
list
of
thank
yous
and
show
my
gratitude
not
only
to
her
but
to
the
community
that
raised
me.
I
am
standing
here
poised
to
make
history
only
because
of
those
who
stood
before
me.
I
stand
on
their
shoulders
and
boston
has
a
long
history.
In
fact,
our
entire
history.
K
As
soon
as
I
am
eligible
and
able,
I
will
be
getting
the
vaccine,
and
I
encourage
everyone
else
to
as
well.
My
mom
has
had
her
first
dose
and
she's
eagerly,
anticipating
the
second
dose,
and
it's
just
so
important
that
we
get
this
right
so
that
we
can
come
together,
put
this
zoom
away
for
a
little
bit
and
and
go
back
to
having
the
wonderful
gatherings
with
our
singers
and
so
many
others
in
our
community.
K
So
in
closing,
I
just
want
to
thank
you
for
your
your
your
continued
work
in
our
city,
your
activism,
in
our
city.
The
way
you
contribute
to
our
great
city
and
certainly
just
want
to
thank
you
and
look
forward
to
continuing
to
work
with
you
and
to
partner
with
you.
So
many
thanks
for
all
that
you
do,
and
it's
so
great
to
be
here,
to
celebrate
black
history,
which
we
know
is
every
single
day
of
the
year.
Thank
you.
H
H
We
work
with
a
community
planning
committee
to
plan
this
event,
along
with
the
community
and
folks
in
my
office,
and
that's
how
we're
able
to
make
it
such
a
fabulous
event
every
year.
So
thank
you
to
that
planning
committee,
and
now
it
is
my
pleasure
to
introduce
valerie
stevens
valerie
is
a
performing
artist
and
arts
educator
and
valerie.
I
hear
you
have
a
passion
for
history
which
I
think
is
fabulous
you've
toured
nationally
and
performed
throughout
new
england,
and
we
are
thrilled
to
have
you
here
today.
H
D
D
D
D
D
D
D
D
They
dressed
ellen
up
as
a
a
young
white
man.
They
cut
off
her
hair.
She
was
very,
very
nervous.
You
see
ellen,
couldn't
read
or
write,
as
was
the
custom
there
and
she
said
william.
What
am
I
going
to
do?
I
can't
write
anything
down
they're
going
to
look
at
me
and
no,
I'm
not
a
man
and
I'm
not
white,
william
hugged
her
and
says
we
can
do
this.
D
D
My
voice,
I
don't
sound
like
a
man,
don't
worry,
we
can
do
this,
we're
going
to
tie
a
bandage
around
your
mouth
so
that
you
won't
have
to
speak
and
sure
enough.
That's
what
they
did
ellen
cut
her
hair.
She
put
on
men's
clothes
that
she
had
made
william
had
a
little
money
as
a
carpenter.
He
had
a
little
money.
D
D
D
D
D
A
D
D
D
D
D
William
went
to
the
trunk
of
the
train
to
help
her
and
a
man
came
up
to
william
and
said.
Excuse
me,
william,
looked.
Are
you
a
slave?
Well
even
said.
Yes,
I
am
the
man
said:
you're,
not
a
slave
anymore.
You
can
go.
Do
what
you
want
to
do
william,
smiled
and
said,
thank
you,
but
he
knew
he
was
waiting
for
his
wife.
C
D
They
gathered
together
and
went
to
one
of
the
underground
stations
where
william
still
was
there.
They
asked
to
go
into
the
restroom
and
ellen
went
in
with
the
bag
and
she
took
off
the
man's
hat
and
she
took
off
the
man's
jacket
and
she
put
on
her
finest
stress
that
she
had
brought.
She
took
her
big,
beautiful,
bonnet
and
put
it
on
and
came
out.
D
D
D
D
D
and
it's
right
over
there
at
the
dudley
library
for
those
who
are
in
my
neighborhood,
they
stayed
and
they
decided
to
come
back
to
this
country.
Once
the
war
was
over
now,
there's
a
lot
that
happened
to
them.
They
went
back
to
macon
georgia.
Their
goal
was
to
create
a
school
and
they
tried
and
they
had
hard
hard
times,
but
I'ma
hold
that
story
for
another
time.
D
D
E
H
Valerie,
I
I
feel
like
I
could
listen
to
you
tell
stories
all
day.
Thank
you
so
much
for
being
with
us
today.
We
really
appreciate
it
all
right
now.
It
is
my
pleasure
to
introdu
introduce
cynthia
penton
bell.
Cynthia
is
the
president
of
the
women's
service
club
of
boston,
such
a
beautiful
hat
cynthia.
I
love
it.
I
cynthia
thank
you
for
all
that
your
group
does
in
boston
to
make
our
community
a
better
place
to
live,
and,
thanks
for
being
with
us
today,
to
facilitate
our
high
tea
ceremony.
F
Black
americans
was
either
slaves
and
dental
servants
maids
or
butlers,
who
served
all
the
high
teas
and
was
able
to
see
the
fashion
but
important.
They
heard
private
discussion
that
often
affected
them
in
high
tea
service,
an
opportunity
for
blacks
to
get
first-hand
information
on
to
plan
and
organize
when
the
emancipation
proclamation
was
signed,
that
same
process
of
of
network
of
getting
information
eliminated
the
unfair
treatment
of
sharecropping
in
boston.
F
F
What
they
did
was
they
turned
the
tee
to
a
punch
and
they
add
alcohol
to
it,
and
at
that
time
they
would
gather
more
than
200
and
they
would
bring
their
slaves
with
them
to
do
all
the
service
and
at
that
time,
that
same
network
of
information
as
far
as
what
was
needed
for
us
to
improve
ourselves.
During
that
time
we
heard
another
thing
they
stopped
us
with.
Teas
was
the
tea
house,
most
minorities
couldn't
attend
and
in
the
30s
we
decided
to
invest
in
tea
houses
and
new
york.
F
There
was
one
famous
one
and
at
that
place
the
naacp,
the
businessman
of
color,
the
writers
of
sports.
They
all
would
gather
and
discuss,
organizing
and
as
minorities
we
had
to
camouflage
our
tea
houses
as
more
or
less
clubs.
We
had
to
serve
food,
we
had
to
do
music
and
we
had
to
do
dancing
and
but
most
of
all,
that
network
of
communication
and
gathering
information
to
perceive
as
a
race
work
for
us
at
that
time.
Thank
you
very.
H
A
B
Get
started
lorna,
I'm
ready,
you
ready,
so
the
best
thing
contest,
let's
see
what
we
got
going
here.
So
let
me
just
make
sure
everyone,
I
remind
everyone,
write
down
your
choices,
their
your
choices
are
going
to
be
alphabetized,
so
write
them
down
and
we're
going
to
have
a
interactive
poll
at
the
end
of
showing
the
slides
and
then
we'll
come
back
and
let
you
know
who
won
all
right.
B
B
B
By
the
way,
her
location
is
in
st
catherine
drexel
paul
all
right.
Next
contestant
under
the
hat,
competition
is
lillian
o'neill
in
her
favorite
hat.
She
is
an
honorary
member
of
the
the
the
272nd,
and
this
is
her
favorite
hat.
So
she
wanted
to
share
this
with
us
and
her
picture
with
mr
lewis,
who
is
that?
Who
is
that
she
got
the
oh.
She
got
a
lot
from
another
red
room,
all
right
and
she
is
contestant
b
b
under
the
hat
competition
lillian
o'neill,
I'm
going
to
proceed
to
the
next
slide.
B
Now
we
got
smoove
gloria
johnson,
she's
known
to
wear
many
hats,
but
we
love
her
in
her
church
flow.
Contestant
number
c
under
this
hat
competition,
take
it
in
and
and
and
make
sure
you
all
write
down
your
choice.
Look
at
it.
She
got
three
there.
She
got
three
here,
that's
more!
I
mean
she's
like
look
at
the
in
the
nefertiti
hat.
She
got
him
on
they.
B
Yeah
yeah
yeah
yeah
yeah
give
him
a
chance
to
check
out
jamada,
okay
and
then
then
lillian,
which
is
b
gloria,
which
is
c
yes,
jamada
is
a
lillian,
is
b
gloria
and
somebody
need
to
mute
themselves
and
gloria
is
c
all
right,
all
right,
all
right,
all
right.
Okay,
we
ready
to
move
forward.
Lorna,
I'm
ready,
you
ready,
I'm
ready
best
tea
set
contest.
Here
we
go
here.
We
go
all
right,
yeah
right,
she
has
ring
latisse.
L
B
B
Nazarene
latif
is
contestant
a
under
the
t
set
category.
Yes,
green
latif
is
contestant
a
we
ready
to
move
on
lorna
go
ahead,
move
it
move
it
because
now
we
have
sidney
ann
cornelius
who
sent
in
the
lord's
prayer
tea
set.
It
says
secret.
This
is
secret
prius,
on
on
on
on
the
cups.
No,
it
says
lord's
prayer
and
jesus
christ
is
what
it
says.
Oh
look
at
look
in
the
look
on
the
teeth
part,
though
look
it.
It
says
secret
prayers
on
there.
B
A
minute
wait,
a
minute:
okay,
the
next
be
patient.
Let's
keep
your
phones
on
your.
Your
device
is
on
you
until
we
get
to
the
end.
Okay,
okay,
only
okay!
Thank
you!
So
the
next
contestant
we
have
edith
copeland.
We
call
this
tea
in
the
sun.
I
can
see
my
vacation
on
the
beach
and
I
set
up
like
this
and
yeah
relaxing
and
enjoying
some
tea
with
some
friends
todd.
You
see
the
good
details
in
it.
Look
at
the.
B
Contestant
letter
c
edith
copeland
t
in
the
sun
all
right
we're
going
to
move
on
to
the
next
one.
We
have
gloria
johnson.
We
call
this
ladies,
who
lunch
she
just
she.
You
know
she
sent
in
with
the
hat
and
she
sent
in
her
favorite
tea
set.
I
like
the
cup
that
says
why
fit
in
yeah.
You
were
born
to
stand.
B
B
B
B
B
B
B
K
B
Is
a
and
roof
villard
is
b
but
way
tai.
I
think
I
like
barbara's,
I
don't
know
who
I
like
barbara
roof:
barbara
ruth
barbara
roof
bar
both
came
they're
decisions
playing
around
I'm
telling
you
and
look
at
the
necklaces.
Oh
they
just
too
much
they're
not
playing
around.
So
now.
It's
time
for
the
pole,
I'm
gonna
pull
it
up.
B
L
B
L
L
B
L
L
B
G
J
B
K
A
C
H
That
was
fun.
Thank
you,
everybody.
I
we're
we're
learning
how
to
do
things
like
this,
so
so
super
fun.
I
want
to
thank
everybody
who
sent
in
their
pictures
and
participated
in
our
contest
and
we
will
see
who
those
lucky
winners
are.
So
now
we
have
come
to
the
ringing
of
the
bell
and
it
is
my
pleasure
to
welcome
thelma
burns.
Who
is
going
to
do
the
honor
honors
for
us
today.
So
thelma
are
you
here.
I
heard
your
voice
earlier.
J
E
H
E
H
A
D
A
A
A
A
A
A
H
B
A
B
B
So
the
winner
in
this
category
is
kathy
ann
connellius
for
the
lloyd
george
prayer
with
22.
Actually,
sorry,
oh
man,
whoa
no
you're
fired
you're
fired
by
it
because
I'm
gonna
have
to
give
her
something
good
for
you,
yeah.
I
owe
you
cynthia
that
happened
at
the
oscars
a
couple
years
ago.
I
know
it
was
an
awesome
thing
and
I
had
to
be
the
one
to
do
it.
B
H
B
H
I
I
We
ask
your
blessing
upon
mayor
marty
walsh,
as
he
moves
on
to
join
our
current
administration.
We
ask
your
blessing
upon
our
president
kim
janey
as
she
transitions
to
the
office
of
mayor
of
boston.
We
ask
your
blessing
upon
all
these
people
who
serve
our
elders,
who
serve
the
community
with
such
faith
and
conviction
with
such
dedication.
We
thank
you
for
all
of
them.
Lord.
We
ask
your
blessing
upon
all
of
our
elders
upon
all
gathered
here,
praying
the
blessing
of
aaron.
May
the
lord
bless
you
and
keep
you.