Noteworthy Past Events

CCI is turning 50!

You are cordially invited to join us for a night of “Honoring Our Past, Changing Our Future” as we celebrate CCI’s 50th anniversary. It will be a night of music, food, celebration, and reflection as we honor the work CCI has done over the last 50 years. We will also unveil our plans for the future.

In addition to looking toward our next steps and growing our anti-racism work throughout New England and beyond, we will be honoring all who played a vital role in our history, including past board chairs and previous directors. And looking back at 50 years, here are just a few highlights of our accomplishments:

Black Manifesto: In 1969, CCI was involved in organizing and consulting assistance to two conferences on racism and conducted a three-month program involving teams from several Massachusetts churches.
YWCA One Imperative: CCI was involved in work in 1970 that ultimately led to the National YWCA “One Imperative,” which called for women to “thrust their collective power towards the elimination of racism wherever it exists and by any means necessary.” Later, CCI sent a team to New York for one week to work with the national staff on the implementation of the imperative.
Desegregation and METCO: Working with other local non-profits, CCI was involved in efforts that worked toward school integration in the Boston area, culminating in the historic 1974 court desegregation decision.
Affirmative Action: Working with the Mass Alliance to Save Affirmative Action (MASAA), CCI was instrumental in defeating Gov. Mitt Romney’s push to end affirmative action for state employees.
Expanding Awareness and Activism: Throughout the years, CCI has provided internships to hundreds of high school, undergrad and graduate students and, since 2000, has worked with over 100 organizations and thousands of people through workshops on racism and ongoing organizational consulting.

Keynote Speakers

Tarana Burke has worked in social justice and Black arts and culture for more than 25 years, is co-founder of Jendayi Aza(an African-centered rites of passage program for girls, and is creator of the non-profit Just Be, Inc.(part of her work at which led to the start of the ‘me too’ movement).

Tim Wise is a prominent antiracist essayist and educator and author of seven books, including Dear White America: Letter to a New Minority and White Like Me:Reflections on Race from a Privileged Son.

Friday, June 8, 2018 6:30 p.m. to 9 p.m.Event Details
Hibernian Hall 184 Dudley Street, Roxbury, MA

Read more about CCI's History

Alternative July 4 Kick Off and Readings

A gathering of Boston residents and public officials on the Boston Common to read "What to the Negro is the Fourth of July?" an 1852 speech by Frederick Douglass. The reading was followed by reflections on the meaning and implications of this speech in the so-called "Age of Obama." Audience members were then invited to organize their own public or private reading of the speech and offered informational resources to support them to that. The event was co-sponsored with Mass Humanities, The Charles Hamilton Houston Institute for Race and Justice, Boston African American National Historic Site, MA Office of Access and Opportunity, New Bedford Historical Society and others. On July 4, readings of the speech were held in a dozen locations Boston and beyond. (June and July 2009) This event is annually and cosponsored by Mass Humanities and the Charles Hamilton Houston Institute for Race and Justice.

More Than Traces: Examining The Enduring Impact of Slavery

In commemoration of the 200th anniversary of the abolition of the slave trade, CCI co-sponsored this screening of Katrina Brown's film Traces of the Trade. A discussion featuring Tim Wise, Stephanie Robinson, Katrina Browne and Donna Bivens and moderated by Charles Ogletree followed the screening. Co-sponsored with the Charles Hamilton Houston Institute for Race & Justice at Harvard Law School and the Boston African American National Historic Site. (December, 2008)

You Don't Have to Ride Jim Crow

A viewing of Robin Washington's nationally acclaimed film about the freedom rides of the 1940s that tested the Supreme Court decision of "Morgan v. Virginia" that declared the segregation of interstate buses unconstitutional. At this event, attended by 300 people, hosted by the Suffolk University Law School and co-sponsored by the Black Law Student Association, we also awarded Irene Morgan, Wally and Juanita Nelson, George Houser, Robin Washington and Judge Higginbotham (posthumously) with honorary Drylongso Awards (April 2002)

We Hold These Truths to be Self-Evident