WORCESTER, Mass. – For Debbie Hall, celebrating a month devoted to Black history is both a good and bad thing.
“History is told by whoever is telling it in that moment and it’s the way they see it,” Hall said. “So, there’s still so much we have to learn and avail that we didn’t learn about. I know I didn’t learn about in school.”
Hall came to Worcester almost a decade ago from St. Louis, Mo. When she got here, she realized there was more to discover about the roots of Worcester’s Black community.
“I knew about all of the things that happened in Boston because it’s well documented,” Hall said. “Portsmouth, New Hampshire, well documented. What happened in Worcester?”
Hall founded the Worcester Black History Project in 2018. The organization recognizes and celebrates the experiences of Black people in the city and region.
But not just elected officials and well-known historical figures. They’re telling the stories of everyday people. People like William Brown, who became one of Worcester’s most successful business owners in the 19th century.
Brown ran a carpet making and upholstery business on Main Street.
“Because (Brown) did it, it’s possible,” Hall said. “That’s why those things are important for anyone in history. It’s important for everyone to know.”
Hall is looking to do more than just tell stories. The Worcester Black History Project is now working in collaboration with the Worcester Historical Museum to collect and preserve items documenting the city’s Black history.
“Future generations can just go to a place, and say ‘I’d like to know about the history of Black folks in Worcester,'” Hall said.
Hall’s passion also expands beyond Worcester. She says as a country, we need to educate ourselves. “There needs to be a recognition, a reckoning with our past, and reconciliation at some point,” she said.