07/19/2026
The Black Community Information Center Inc. for many years has played a pivotal role as it pertains to removal of white racist names being honored in the Afrikan/Black community of Greater Roxbury and beyond. Examples would be Washington Park being renamed "Malcolm X Park," former New Dudley Street to "Malcolm X Boulevard” with Dudley Square/Dudley Station renamed NUBIAN SQUARE and NUBIAN STATION respectively. Nubian Square Coalition (N.S.C.) is a component of Black Community Information Center Inc. and continues the "renaming justice campaign”. For last several years, NSC has been in pursuit of the long-standing commitment to have the library in NUBIAN SQUARE renamed NUBIAN LIBRARY. Unfortunately, some unexpected obstacles have arisen in what appears to be racist in nature!! For instance, the Boston Library Trustee Board and library system president David Leonard have produced numerous fabrications with intent to mislead and derail library name change campaign. Ironically at opening of newly refurbished library in Nubian Square some years ago, Mr. Leonard reluctantly admitted publicly "recognition of a strong sentiment in the Roxbury community for the NUBIAN LIBRARY name!!" Word spoken with questionable intentions. On November 5, 2019, the Greater Roxbury community voted overwhelmingly (87%) in favor of NUBIAN SQUARE name. Soon thereafter, the Boston Public Improvement Commission on December 19, 2019, voted to make NUBIAN SQUARE name a part of the official city record. Soon after was Massachusetts. State legislatively mandated NUBIAN STATION. The expectation was for the then named Dudley Library to be next in line for change to NUBIAN LIBRARY!! However, that has not been the case to this moment as Boston Mayor Michelle Wu has led the opposition forces. It is ironic that before becoming mayor she was allegedly pro NUBIAN name. That has changed drastically and is very disappointing. Presently an awkward situation has developed as over a year ago, Roxbury Unity Parade director Toy Burton contacted me with her having full knowledge of community desire and aspiration for NUBIAN LIBRARY. She was reminded of NUBIAN LIBRARY community naming mandate and then not heard from thereafter. Suddenly months later in a stunning development, Mayor Wu was promoting the library to be named after the late Sarah Ann Shaw. It appears Toy Burton and Klare Shaw (daughter of Sarah Ann) had approached Mayor Wu with the Sarah Ann Shaw Library name proposal and not understanding the mayor would implement their suggested name with intent to weaponize anti-NUBIAN division in the community which has failed miserably. Incredibly Mayor Wu went public on June 23, 2025, and declared the library would be called Shaw Library. in advance of the designated group for building naming (Boston Public Improvement Commission) taking a vote in support on July 2, 2025. That vote was due to a dictate coming from the office of Mayor Wu. It is unfortunate, our beloved, late Sarah Ann Shaw name has arisen to give appearance of "split in the community" over the naming of which there is none. In fact, Sarah Ann Shaw was a NUBIAN name supporter who advised the "coalition" on how to approach the "Friends of Dudley Library" in seeking NUBIAN name support. The reality is
Mayor Wu is continuing her disrespect for the Afrikan/Black community (White Stadium, P-3, center bus lane, etc.) with no regret. Generally, it is agreed that no library should be named after an individual. It has been proposed the NUBIAN LIBRARY would have a "wall of honor" that would include Sarah Ann, Mel King, Melnea Cass and many deserving others who have served our community in the past. Someone even suggested a "room" could be named after Sarah Ann but not whole facility. The reason for the NUBIAN LIBRARY name is it would be a total reflection as it pertains to Afrikan/Black culture and give a sense of belonging in the spirit of Umoja (Unity) no matter where your roots may have been planted while on the planet. It is our understanding that Mayor Wu and City of Boston are holding a disrespectful and community excluded library naming ceremony in the recent future without community consent or support. That "plantation" type displayed mentality should not be accepted by our community. Sarah Ann Shaw was beloved and respected and would not allow her name to be used in such an abusive fashion in violation of community approval. She was much better than that!!!!! Therefore, the Nubian Square Coalition is sponsoring a NUBIAN LIBRARY dedication ceremony on Saturday, July 25, 2026, at 10:00 AM EST. The NUBIAN LIBRARY community dedication ceremony location will be held on the plaza area of our library at 149 Dudley Street (change the name) in Nubian Square, Roxbury. We anticipate and desire a large family turnout as there will be "blessing of our ancestors", Afrikan drumming, poetry and most importantly the "dedication ceremony to be embraced. This is our library and to be called NUBIAN LIBRARY!! In addition, we have recently learned the annual Black Market "Nubian Square Festival” is happening 12:00 noon same day of nami8ng dedication for NUBIAN LIBRARY. This will be a joyous day for the community so let’s gather our families for the NUBIAN LIBRARY, naming dedication ceremony program at 10:00 AM and at conclusion "flow down" to the festival beginning at 12:00 noon. Looking to see "your faces in the places!!" Further information can be obtained at 617-216-1705 and www.blackinfonow.org . Sadiki Kambon Sadiki Kambon, Director Director, Black Community Information Center Inc. Chairman, Nubian Square Coalition
