You cannot erase belonging.

The Old Corner Bookstore reminds us of the power of words. Built in 1718, it first housed a bookstore in 1828. From 1832 to 1865 one of the most important publishing houses of the time, Ticknor & Fields, operated here, and hosted New England’s most famous authors.

In response to the list of words this administration seeks to edit out of government websites, curricula, and other materials, we visited this historic hub of Boston’s literary heritage to highlight our refusal to erase swaths of our citizens. Activism, belonging, BIPOC, Black, cultural heritage, community diversity, disability, equality, female, immigrants, indigenous, Latinx, LGBTQ, Native American, nonbinary, pregnant people, transgender, social justice, women, and more. These people and concepts have been present, active, and essential throughout Boston’s history, and are Boston’s future. You cannot erase belonging, and why would you want to? This is Boston and you belong here.

-Silence Dogood

March 9, 2025