Global Greater Boston: Immigrants in a Changing Region

Jennings presented these subpopulation dynamics that make Greater Boston’s Black population the most diverse in the nation. And he shared some of the knotty questions that naturally flow from the report, such as: How can this report serve as a tool to create equity-seeking strategies without sowing division? Is the term African American broadly applicable in Boston? Are there new political issues Black leaders must contend with, given today’s dramatic diversity?

Such questions set the stage for a good conversation, moderated by Elizabeth Tiblanc of Embrace Boston.

As to how to use the report, United Way of Mass Bay and Merrimack Valley’s Ansin President and CEO Bob Giannino said, “The old United Way would have taken this report and figured we had all the info and go about our business. But the questions make us realize there’s more we need to explore. We need to change the way we act as organizations, especially in philanthropy. We need to get closer to the communities whose images of success we aim to support…. We can best utilize this tool to tease out commonalities in terms of assets and experiences as well as the opportunities that lie ahead for all.”

Former Boston  Acting Mayor and EMpath President and CEO Kim Janey took that farther, emphasizing the importance of story-telling. “There is a sentiment that foreign-born Blacks are taking jobs and opportunities away from African Americans,” she said, with some murmured affirmation from the audience. “But if we look closely there are many more connections and similarities that should bring people together rather than tear the community apart.” Baker Center President and CEO Bob Franks too urged looking beyond the flat data, saying, “There are people behind the numbers. We can talk about low rates of housing security, but what does that mean for a child in a family where there are concerns about housing, or for families displaced after generations?”

Jennings was first to agree the data need backing up with qualitative information. “Hard data is quite limited,” he said. “We need more storytelling about experiences because stories give us insight into how the numbers play out. The focus on understanding experiences is essential.” As for using that deeper understanding to promote unity across the population’s diversity, he cautioned that “the interests that are promoting division are maintaining the systemic inequities that are in place.” The report can help us navigate that, as it offers an opportunity to think about and define what is the Black population today. Bringing it full circle, he said, “Like Mel King said, ‘If they name you, they can claim you.’ This is our demographic opportunity.”