>> CROSSLEY: WELCOME TO "BASIC BLACK."

SOME OF YOU ARE JOINING US ON OUR BROADCAST AND OTHERS OF YOU ARE JOINING US ON OUR DIGITAL PLATFORMS.

I'M CALLIE CROSSLEY, HOST OF UNDER THE RADAR, 89.7.

TONIGHT: EMBRACE BOSTON.

THE 20-FOOT TALL AND 40-FOOT WIDE BRONZE SCULPTURE SITS ON THE BOSTON COMMON, THE FIRST NEW MEMORIAL IN MORE THAN A CENTURY.

THE EMBRACE IS AN ARTISTIC RECREATION OF THE MOMENT THE REVEREND DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING JR. AND HIS WIFE CORETTA SCOTT KING EMBRACED AFTER HE WON THE 1964 NOBEL PEACE PRIZE.

THE HONOR WAS A HIGH POINT IN THE LIVES OF THE COUPLE WHO MET IN BOSTON, COMMITTING TO EACH OTHER AND TO THEIR LIFE'S WORK AS CIVIL RIGHTS ACTIVISTS.

AS CIVIL RIGHTS ACTIVISTS.

THE UNVEILING OF THE EMBRACE SCULPTURE HAPPENED THIS WEEK AS BOSTON AND THE NATION ALSO CELEBRATE DR. KING'S UPCOMING BIRTHDAY.

WILL THE EMBRACE DO MORE THAN SYMBOLIZE THE KINGS' LEGACIES AND BOSTON'S PAST OR WILL IT REPRESENT A RENEWED DEDICATION TO ADDRESSING BOSTON'S ONGOING RACIAL TENSIONS AND ITS FUTURE?

JOINING US THIS EVENING: L'MERCHIE FRAZIER, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF CREATIVE STRATEGIES, SPOKE.

IMARI PARIS JEFFRIES, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, EMBRACE BOSTON.

AND TITO JACKSON, C.E.O.

AND FOUNDER, APEX NOIRE CANNABIS.

WELCOME TO YOU ALL.

OF COURSE, IMSTARTING WITH YOU, IMARI.

2017 HAS BEEN A JOURNEY.

CLOGS, FIRST.

>> THANK YOU.

SO EXCITE TO HAVE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO SHARE IT WITH THE CITY I FELT EXCELLENT.

WHY NOW TUNING IS JUST THE RIGHT TIME IS THIS OF COURSE, PLAINTIFFS PLANNING AN CONSTRUCTION AND ALL OF THATSH BUT IT LANDS AT A PARTICULAR TIME IN BOSTON'S CURRENT HISTORY.

SO WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT THAT?

>> YOU KNOW, I THINK THE EMBRACE COULDN'T HAVE HAPPENED TEN YEARS AGO, AND I THINK THERE'S THIS USHERING OF THIS CHANGE, THIS WAVE THAT HAPPENED REALLY WITH THE ELECTION OF CONGRESSWOMAN PRESSPRESSLEY, AND WE'VE SEEN POPCORN IN THE MICROWAVE, THINGS POPPING AND EXPLODE, AND I THINK EMBRACE IS A FEW WAVE OFIVE ISIC AND ELECTED LEADERSHIP HAPPENING ACROSS BOSTON.

SO WE'RE SEEING THE CHANGES.

TO HAVE A MEMORIAL NOT ONLY SYMBOLIZED THE CHANGE BUT REPRESENTED ASPIRATIONS FOR THE FUTURE TO EMBRACE WHAT IT'S ABOUT.

>> Crossley: WHAT ARE YOU MOST EXCITED ABOUT HAVING PEOPLE RESPOND TO THE UNVEILING AND ALL THE REST THAT THE A PART OF THIS?

>> YOU KNOW, EVERY I'M I GO OUT OF TOWN, PEOPLE SAW YOU'RE FROM BOSTON IS THIS YOU LIVE UP THERE?

STAVE GOT BLACK FOLKS UP THERE?

WE THOUGH BOSTON IS A CITY THAT'S 51% PEOPLE OF COLOR, SOMETIMES 25, 23% BLACK.

TO BE ON THE TREATMENT TRAIL AND IN AMERICA'S OLDEST PARK, THE BOSTON COMMONS IS PART OF FREDERICK OLMSTEAD'S VISION OF PARKS.

ABOUT 6LE'LL VISIT BOSTON COMMONS EVERY YORE AN TO HEAR ABOUT A BHK LOVE STORY ABOUT A FAMILY IN BOSTON, AMERICA'S OLDEST PARK ON THE FREEDOM TRAIL,ETH A NEW STORY OF AMERICA I THINK VISITORS AN RESIDENTS WILL GET TO HEAR AN EX MORE ABOUT OUR CITY.

>> Crossley: I WANT TO MAKE SURE EVERYBODY UNDERSTANDS EMBRACE SCULPTURE IS A PIECE OF EMBRACE BOSTON.

THE TWO OF YOU WERE A PART OF A COMMITTEE TO LOOK AT THE OTHER MAIN PART OF THE SCULPTURE'S UNVEILING WHICH IS THE HONORING OF 65 BOSTONIANS.

SO, TITO, TALK ABOUT THAT.

>> INTERESTINGLY, WE WERE GIVEN SOMEWHAT OF A THANKLESS TASK IN HAVING TO IDENTIFY JUST 65.

BUT I THINK THE TONE ABTEN TORE OF -- AND TENOR OF THIS, WE KNOW THAT THE MOVEMENT IS TRULY A MOVEMENT AN I HAVE TO NOT ONLY ONE PERSON -- IT WAS NOT ONLY ONE PERSON AND NOT ONLY ONE MAN.

TROOPERTHERE WERE SO MANY WOMEN, ALLIES, PEOPLE WHO WERE PART OF THE MOVEMENT AS A WHOLE.

I WANT TO THANK MARIO AND HIS TEAM FOR NOT ONLY DOING THE STATUE, WHICH WAS WOLF, BUT UNDERSTANDING THIS MOVEMENT WAS OR TBARCHG IN BOSTON AND HAPPENING PRIOR TO KING'S ATTENDANCE AT SCHOOL HERE AND THE LIKE AND IT ALSO WENT ON AFTER HIS UNOR NOT DEATH.

SO -- UNFORTUNATE DEATH.

SO VERY VERY PROUD OF THE HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE WHO WERE NOMINATED.

IT WAS AN OPEN COMMUNITY PROCESS AND EMBODIED WHAT WE WANT TO SEE THIS AN INTERACTION AND CIVIC ENGAGEMENT THAT HAS ALREADY HAPPENED AND I HAD THEBY PART THEIR EVER.

>> Crossley: YES, YOUR CO-CHAIR L'MERCHIE FRAZIER.

L'MERCHIE, YOU SAID THE FOLK, YOU STARTED WITH 35 AND STARTED WITH 65, BUT THE FOLK FOCUS IS CIVIL RIGHTS.

>> I THANK TITO OR HELPING ME TO DO THIS, BUT SIGNIFYING WHAT CIVIL RIGHTS IS AS A CONTINUUM, BOSTON IS AN ANCHOR OF HUSBAND RIFROM 1638-PORED.

SO THIS PARTICULARs PERIOD OF TILE WE HAD TO IDENTIFY PEOPLE WORKING MONTANA MOVEMENT FROM 1954 TO ABOUT 1970, THERE WERE SO MANY THAT CONTRIBUTED TO -- WHEN YOU TO YOU ABOUT THE IDEA OF OR TORY, THOSE ARE THE PEOPLE WE SEE FIRST, THEORY THE PEOPLE OUTFRONT, BUT WHAT ABOUT THE INNER WORKINGS OF THE MEETINGS AND THE KITCHEN TABLES PEOPLE MET TO STRAT JUICE IN THE CIVIL RIGHTS ERA TO BRING ABOUT WHAT IS HUMANLY UPON, WHAT IS HUMAN RIGHTS ALONG WITH THE MESSAGE OF DR. KING.

SO HIS SITS IN 19 -- VISIT IN 1965 WAS SEEN BY 22,000 PEA.

HAD -- PEOPLE.

HASN'T HAPPEN BECAUSE YOU HAVE ONE PERSON.

THAT HAPPENS WAS THERE'S COOKING IN THE KITCHEN TO FEED PEOPLE, ARCHITECTURE BUILT TO GIRD UP THE CITY FOR THE SCHOOLS THAT ARE GOING TO IMPROVE BECAUSE CIVIL RIGHTS IS A FOLK.

SO WHEN WE THINK ABOUT THE ABOLITIONEST COMMUNITY THAT WAS HEAR IN BOSTON IN BEACON HILL, THEY'RE -- THEIR ECHOING OF WHAT HAPPENS NOW IS STILL WITH US.

WHEN WE THINK ABOUT THE COMMUNITY THAT DEMANDED THE CHRISTMAS ATTICS SCULPTURE, THAT WAS A COMMUNITY.

WHEN WE THINK ABOUT THE EMBRACE AND CORETTA SCOTT KING'S MESSAGE OF HOV THAT HANK WILL HIS HOLES TOOK ON -- >> Crossley: THE ARTIST FOR THE SCULPTURE.

>> -- THE ARTIST FOR THE SCULPTURE, WE HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO LOOK AT THE EMOTIONAL IMPACT OF WHAT THIS WILL TOUCH PEOPLE IN THAT 6 MILLION PEOPLE COP, THIS WILL TOUCH THEM IN WAYS THAT COVER THE GLOBESH THAT BOSTON IS A DES THIGHS, YES, BUT IT HAS RIPPLE EFFECTS THAT ARE GOING OUT TO A GLOBAL COMMUNITY IN TERMS OF CIVIL RIGHTS AND THE CONTINUE QUOLL AND THE EVER-GOING EVIDENT.

SO IT SPANS MORE THAN JUST A PAST AND A PRESENT, IT ECHOES INTO THE FUTURE.

SO THE PEOPLE WHO ARE REPRESENTED IF THAT 65 -- IN THAT 65 ARE PEOPLE WHO WE CAN ANCHOR TRUTH WITH.

>> Crossley: IMARI, TO PUT A BUTTON ON THIS PIECE OF IT, YOU SAID THESE ARE A LOT OF NAMES YOU'VE EVER HEAR OF BEFORE.

>> THERE'S DEFINITELY A FEW WE HAVEN'T HEAR OF AND A LOT PEOPLE DON'T KNOW THEIR FULL STORIES.

WHEN THEY GO TO THE EMBRACE, THERE'S AN APP, THE EYES OF DIGITAL EXPERIENCE, WHERE THEY GET TO HEAR THE STORIES OF SOME OF THE UNSUNG HEAROS AND FOLKS LIKE MEL KING, HUBEI JONES, DR. JEAN McGUIRE, SOME OF THE FOLKS THAT WE OBJECT KNOW THE REAL STORIES MEAN THEIR WORK.

SOP THRASH FIGURES, SOME LOCAL FOLKS.

OF THE 65 HONOREES, 45% ARE WOMEN.

WE AS BLACK FOLKS ALL DO, OPEN OUR TABLE TO OTHERS AN REALLY TELL A COMPETE STORY.

SO THERE ARE FOLKS WHO IDENTIFY AS INDIGENOUS, FOLKS WHO IDENTIFY AS ASIAN, AS LATINX, TWO WHO IDENTIFY AS JEWISH, ONE WHO IDENTIFIES AS WHITE IS REVEREND JAMES REED WHO WAS KILLED AS A BLACK IN A FREEDOM RIDE WHEN DR. KING SPOKE AT HIS FUNERAL.

IT WAS A GROUP OF DIVERSE LEADER WHO WERE HERE BEFORE THE KINGS IN THE '65 MARCH AND CONTINUE TO DO THE WORK.

>> Crossley: REED WAS IN SELMA ON THE KING EYES ON THE PRIZE PRODUCER.

>> YES I FELT REFERENCE BABE AN TO THESH AN YOU ALL SHOULD AIRED THIS AND CITING THIS ON BOAST COMMON -- BOSTON COMMON, I HAVE TO THE FEARS NEW MEMORIAL IN A CENTURY HUGE IN BOSTON, BUT AT THE SAME TIME SOME ASK WHY NOT ROXBURY.

I DON'T VIEW IT AS A SEAR -- ZERO SUM GAME.

I VIEW IT AS BLACK PRESENCE CITYWIDE.

BEACON HILL WAS A BLACK NEIGHBORHOOD.

SO WE WANT TO PUT IT IN THE PROPER HISTORICAL CONTEXT.

BUT IT DIMINISHES OR SYRIAN TIES THE WHERE BECAUSE THE WHERE IS WHERE THE IMPACT IS GOING TO BE.

SO WHAT RAISES THE HEAR ON MY ARMS, BEAUTIFUL STATUE AND THE LIKE, BUT THE COMPONENT AROUND ADDRESSING THE FINANCIAL DISPARITY IN OUR CITY IS WHAT MOTIVATES ME.

THE FACT THAT EMBRACE IS NOW GOING TO BE PART OF PARCEL THEE, WHICH IS A VACANT PARCEL THAT IS GOING TO COME UP IN ROXBURY, BUT ALSO AIRED THE DISPARITIES THAT EXIST TODAY IN THE CITY OF BOSTON.

IN MY OL' CITY COUNCIL DISTRICT FROM BACK BAY TO ROXBURY THERE'S A 33 YEAR DIFFERENCE IN LIFE EXPECTSY.

BACK THERE YOU LIVED IN 91.9, AND IN ROXBURY 58.9.

IN TERRACE OF ECONOMICSSH WHITE TAP LIS WORTH $247,500, BHB FA LIS BEING WORTH $8.

SO THE COMPONENT IS TOT STATIC.

SO YES WE HAVE THIS BEAUTIFUL TO HAVE BEEN CAN ON THE AND IT HAS THIS LEBRONTRONIC STUFF NOW ELECTED TO IT AND THE LIKE, BUT THE WORK OF EMBRACE IS ACTUALLY NOT ONLY ABOUT THE ACTUAL STATUE, IT IS THE REVERBERATION THAT IS HAPPENING, THE CONNECTION WITH HISTORIC 12th 12th BAPTIST CHURCH.

I LOVE THE FACT THERE'S THE EMBRACE FESTIVAL THAT WAS JUST ENLIVEN, THE HISTORIC ENUBIAN SQUARE.

I MAY HAVE PARTICIPATED IN SOME DANCING, CALLIE.

(LAUGHTER) BUT ALL THAT SAID, THIS IS AN ACTIVE ORGANIZATION THAT DOESN'T STOP ANDSH IN FACT, THE EM-- AND, IN FACT, THE EMBRACE IS THE COMMENCEMENT OF THIS MOVEMENT AND THE CONTINUED MOVEMENT WHERE BOSTON MUST LEAD AND NOT FOLLOW WHAT IS HAPPENING NATIONALLY, AN WE'VE ALWAYS DONE THATSH AN THIS IS EXACTLY WHAT IMARI EMBRACED IN THE AMAZING STAFF THAT THEY'VE PUT TOGETHER IS ACTUALLY DOING.

>> Crossley: I'M GOING TO PICK UP ON THAT BECAUSE A LOT OF PEEL SAY, YOU KNOW, THE ORIGINAL NAME WAS KING MEMORIAL.

SOME FOLKS ARE LIKE EMBRACE, HOW I KNOW THAT'S THE STATUE AND THE STATUE IS FABULOUS, BUT BOSTON EMBRACE?

WE'RE NOT THERE YET.

THAT FEELS LIKE THERE'S A PAPERING OVER SOME OF THE ISSUES THAT LONG HAVE BEEN A PART OF BOSTON, REALLY.

>> WE'RE DEFINITELY NOT THERE.

I THINK ONE OF THE THINGS WE DIDN'T DO AND L'MERCHIE SAID IT BEST THAT NO ONE PERSON DUE IT AHONE, AND MRS. KING WAS AND IS ABIMPORT FIGURE IN THE MOVEMENT, SO THE MONUMENT MEMORIALIZES BOTH OF HEM.

I WAS BORN IN 1973, DR.

KICK WITH YOU ASSASSINATED IN 1968.

MY RERNG OF INTEREST KING'S LEGACY CAME FROM THE HOW THE OF MRS. KING.

SHE WAS THE STEWARD IN THE HEG SI THAN -- LEGACY THAN DR. KING I FELT SOME SAY MORE.

>> THAT'S RIGHT.

I EXPERIENCED THE KING LEGACY FROM MRS. KING.

THE IDEA STEWARDED MORE THAN JUST NAMING THEM AS THE SOLE PROPRIETARIES OF THE WORK.

WHAT DID IT MANE FOR US TO EMBRACE A BOSTON WHERE BLACK FOLKS BELONG EMBEDDED WITHIN THE WORD EMBRACE IS THE WORD RACE.

HOW DO WE KEEP FRONT AND CENTER AND THERE IS A RACIALIZED COMPONENT IN THE WORK THAT WE ARE DOING IS?

IN 1965 DR. KING MARCHED WITH MARCHERS LAKEWOOD, GARDNER, FOR FOUR REASONS IN BOSTON.

IF YOU ASK BOSTONNIANS WHAT WOULD BE THE CHALLENGES IN BOSTON TODAY, THEY WOULD PROBABLY SEE THE FOUR REASONS -- HOUSING, POVERTY, RACIAL EQUITY ABEDUCATION.

SO THEORY STILL -- EDUCATION.

STILL THE SAME STORY.

YOU STOLE I PLATFORM.

WHAT ARE THE FOUR ISSUES THAT REMAIN FROM KING'S TIME.

>> TIFERLS, THE WORD -- FIRST OF ALL, THE WORD EMBRACE IS MOTT A PAPER OVER.

AND IT HAS HISTORY IN BOSTON IN THAT MEL KING ALWAYS HAS SAID LOVE IS THE QUESTION AND THE ANSWER, AND THAT WE HAVE LEADERS LIKE HIM WHO HAVE BEEN IN BOSTON.

HE ALWAYS ENCOURAGES HUGS.

SO WHEN I READ HANK WILLIS THOMAS' DESCRIPTION OF WHY HE CHOSE THAT WORD IN CORETTA SCOTT KING'S QUOTE OF EMBRACE, IT WAS GENUINELY AND AUTHENTICALLY CONNECTED TO HOW BOSTON CIVIL RIGHTS HAS BEEN ISSUED.

IT IS HOT THAT EVERYONE -- NOT THAT EVERYONE GETS IT, ENG THAT'S A CRITICAL ISSUE, BUT THAT IT IS NOT OUT OF PLACE AND IT IS SOMETHING WE CAN MAKE REAL.

IT IS A CAUSE TO ACTION.

SO IT'S NOT STATIC.

FREEDOM IS AN ONGOING QUEST.

WHEN WE TALK ABOUT THE EMBRACE AND ROVE LOVE AND WRAPPING AROUND THE ISSUE OF PEOPLE HAVING TO RIGHT TO BE, THE DECLARATION OF HUMAN RIGHTS TALKS ABOUT EVERYONE HAVING THE RIGHT TO EXIST AN BE CARED FOR, WE NEED TO AS A GLOBAL AND CREATIVE CITY KEEP THAT MESSAGE GOING.

IT HAS NEVER EVER REALLY REACHED FINALLY BUT IT IS ONGOING AND BECOMING.

SO I THINK THAT IT'S APPROPRIATELY NAME.

>> Crossley: SO GOING FORWARD, BECAUSE ALL OF YOU HAVE SAID -- AN WE WANT TO EMPHASIZE, THE UNVEILING IS NOT THE END, AS TITO SAID, THIS IS THE COMMENCEMENT.

WHERE DO WE SEE EL BRACE BOSTON, IMARI, AFTER THE UNVEILING?

>> DEFINITELY THE BEGINNING.

WE THINK ABOUT THE WAYS THIS WHICH OUR CITYSH YOU KNOW, ONE OF MESH'S STORY-TELLING -- AMERICA'S STORY-TELLING CITIES DOESN'T TELL A STORY OF DIFFERENT BONNES, IT -- BOSTON, IT TELLS A SING LAR STORY.

MOREMORE MONUMENTS IS ABEMPHASIS.

EMBASE BOSTON IS AN ARTS AN CULTURE ORGANIZATION AND RESEARCH POLICY CENTER.

ONE OF THE HINGE WE'RE EXCITED ABOUT IS THE PARCEL IN P3.

WHEN I WAS HIRED, THEY SAID YOU'VE GOT TO RAY THE WILL, THE RESOURCES ABOUT THE NO-HOW TO BUILD THIS MONUMENT.

YOU HAVE TO THINK ABOUT HOW WE SUPPORT 12th BAPTIST CHURCH.

YOU NEED TO RAISE A MILLION DOLLARS AND GIVE IT TO TWELFTH BAPTIST CHURCH.

THEN YOU HAVE TO BUILD A CENTER IN ROXBURY TO CONNECT THE 1965 FREEDOM RALLY CORRIDOR THAT CONNECTS ROXBURY, HISTORIC BOSTON, WITH THE PARK, WITH BOSTON COMMON, WHICH IS THE HISTORIC FINANCIAL HEART OF BOSTON.

WE'VE DONE TWO OUT OF THE HEE THINGS.

WE'VE BUILT A BEAUTIFUL MEMORIAL, AN INCLUDIVE PROCESS AND GOT UPTHOUSANDS OF PEOPLE TO SUPPORT US THROUGH THEIR TILE AN ERI FELT THE RENDERINGS, THE DRAWINGS WERE RIDGE RIAVAILABLE FOR PEOPLE THIS NEIGHBORHOOD TO WEIGH IN.

IT WAS THE ONE THE COMMUNITY VOTED ON.

WE RAISED ALE TARS AN GAVE A MILLION DOLLARS TO TWELFTH BAP THEBAP -- BAPTIST CHURCH.

THE LAST BIG PIECE IS TO CONTINUE THE WORK WITH THIS CENTER.

PLACEMAKING IS IMPORTANT.

I MERCHANDISEY AND AT THIS TIME -- L'MERCHIE AND TITO TALK ABOUT IT ALL THE TIME, WE HAVE TO PLACE MAKE.

WHERE CAN BLACK BODIES BE SAFE IF NOT TO EAT IS THIS WE DON'T SEE OURSELVES THERE, IN MONUMENTS, IN HOMEOWNERSHIP.

PLACES HAVEN'T BEEN AVAILABLE TO US AND HAVE BEEN STRIPPED AWAY IN THE FORM OF RACISM.

THE MONUMENT IS PART OF PLACEMAKING.

THIS IS OUR HOLE BASE.

WE BELONG HERE.

>> Crossley: WHEN WILL THE CENTER BE TONE?

CAN YOU PROJECT IS THIS.

>> WE'RE IMAGINING 2027WELL BE OPENING THE DOORS THERE.

IT'S RIGHT AROUND THE CORNER.

TOOK IS US IF YOU'VE YEARS TO EMBRACE AN WILL TAKE US ANOTHER FIVE TO FINISH THIS PROCESS.

>> Crossley: WE MENTIONED HAMPG WILLIS THOM IS THE ARTIST.

I DON'T THINK PEOPLE HAVE A SENSE OF HOW HUGE IT IS.

ONE OF THE THINS HAT TOBE FADE TO BE REMINDED OF.

IT'S NOT YOU CAN JUST LOOK AT IT.

YOU CAN BE UNDER IT, AROUND IT, L'MERCHIE, TALK ABOUT THAT.

I THINK THAT IS ONE OF THE MOST SALIENT VALUES AND TRIERED MOMENTS FOR PEOPLE WHO COME TO THIS.

THEY BRING THEIR OWN INFORMATION TO THE SCULPTURESH BUT WHEY THEY GO UNDER, THEY CAN SEA THEMSELVES REFLECTED IN THIS.

SO IT IS A LIVING MEMORIAL, NOT A STATIC SCULPTURE YOU VISIT OR STAND THIS FRONT OF, BUT YOU CAN SEE YOURSELF REDIRECTED AND YOU AS THE STAR PLAYER BEGIN TO UNDERSTAND MORE ABOUT, WELL, MAYBE THIS IS MORE ABOUT ME THAN I THINK.

SO I THINK THE VALUE OF HAVING THAT REFLECTIVE SURFACE IS A PART OF MIRRORING COMMUNITY AND MIRRORING INDIVIDUAL THATMAKE THIS COLLECTIVE AND THIS UNAPOLOGETIC KIND THRUST INTO -- TRUTHS THE WORDS OF CORETTA SCOTT KING AND MARTIN LUTHER KING IN THE AREA OF JUSTICE, AM I PARTICIPATING IS A QUESTION THAT CAN BE ASKED UP UNDER IT.

I EXPERIENCED THE CHICAGO BEAN AND THE REFLECTIVE SURFACE OF THAT.

THOUGH ITTIES TORTS YOU A LOT MORE THAN THIS ONE WILL, THERE IS THIS OPPORTUNITY TO RECKON WITH ONE'S SELF AND SELF-DISCOVER.

SO IT'S AN ONGOING WORK AN PEOPLE VISIT IT.

>> Crossley: I WANT TO GIVE YOU YOU CREDIT BUT A YOU DID DOUBLE DUTY NOT ONLY WORKING WITH TITO AND PICKING THE 65 FOLK BUT ALSO SELECTING THE ARTIST, THAT THE WHY YOU CAN SPEAK TO IT IN THE WAY YOU CAN.

YES.

>> Crossley: BOTH OF YOU, HOW ABOUT THE RATIONAL TESS OF IT AND -- LARGE THESES OF IT?

>> I CONSIDER MYSELF A RATIONAL PERSON.

I'M -- LARGE PERSON.

IT'S THE REFLECT OF THE IMPACT OF TWO AMAZING VIZ BUT I ALSO THINK IT'S A CONNECT WITH THE CHALLENGE WE HAVE TO BE A PART OF THE MOVEMENT TO DO OUR PART.

I THINK THIS ALSO TO HE IS A CONNECTION OF THE AMAZING HEARD THAT WE HAVE -- LEADERSHIP THAT WE HAVE.

IT WAS SIGNIFICANT WE HAVE A BLACK MAN RUNNING THIS ORGANIZATION AND USING NEW TECHNOLOGY THAT WE INDEPENDENT HAVE AT THE TIME, BRINGING FOLK YOURPURPOSELY TO THE TABLE, GIVING WOMEN AND OTHERS FOLKS FROM THE L.G.B.T.

I.A.

COMMUNITY, THE DELIBERATENESS OF WHAT HAPPENS SPEAKS TO US RISINGO THE OCCASION.

I THINK IT'S VERY IMPORTANT IMARI IS WHO HE IS AN OCCUPIES THE SPACE HE OCCUPIES NOT ONLY DOWNTOWN BUT IN ROOMS, IN THE BY COMMUNITY, IN THE CULTURAL COMMUNITY.

I LOVE YOU BROTHER, AND WE FEED THAT, AND WE ALSO NEED THE MOTIVATION.

AND BY THE VIEW, IN 20 -- AND BY THE MOTIVATION.

EKEI THINK THAT IS ANOTHER IMPORTANT PILL RARE PILLAR TO WHAT'S IMPONING ON AND WHAT IMARI IS DOING REFLECT OUR GENERATIONS AND MAKING SURE HAT WE MOVE THE CITY.

BUTT WAYSH I BELIEVE, ONE, BOSTON IS REALLY THE CALDRON OF THE WHOLE COUNTRY.

WE'RE BIG HUFF -- WE'RE SMALL YOU HAVE ABWE PUNCH WAY ABOVE OUR WEIGHT.

>> Crossley: YES, LONG-TIME BOSTON RESIDENT.

>> WE TID IT.

>> Crossley: IMARI, SPEAK TO THE IMMENSITY OF THE COUPLETURE.

>> THE 1965 TREE RALLY PLAYSIA IS DESIGNED BY A BLACKMAN FROM DESIGN GROUP.

THE SCULPTURE WHO IS A BLACK MAN, THE EMBRACE BOSTON AND THE DESIGNER IS A BLACK MAN.

FOUR OF THE FAVE FOPPERS ARE BLACK PEOPLE.

SO THIS ORGANIZATION, THIS MONUMENT FROM TOP TO BOTTOM WAS CONCEIVED BY PEOPLE OF COLOR WHO SHARED THE EXPERIENCES OF THE KINGS, RIGHT.

AND THE PLAZA IS DESIGNED THIS A GRID PATTERN AND IN A PATTERN THAT HACKERRICS TO THE AFRICAN-AMERICAN QUILTING TRADITION.

BOSTON IS ONE OF THE PHONE CALL DES FACINGS OR SEND TO HAST DESTINATION THIS SOME CASES ON THE UNDERGROUND RAILROAD AND SOMETIMES WE WOULD SEND MESSAGES TRUE OUR QUILTS, SOMETHING THAT FALL HIS USED ESPECIALLY IN SLAVE TAMES IN THE PRESENT AND PASSED THEM ON TO GENERATIONS IN THE FUTURE.

IT'S A TEXTILE EVERYONE PARTICIPATED IN.

>> Crossley: COMMUNAL.

IT'S COMMUNAL.

SO YOU WILL SEE THE PLAZA, AND IT'S A CHUNNEL PLAZA.

WE THOUGHT ABOUT THE BELOVED COMMUNITY AND KING'S RYAN IN LETTERS FROM THE BIRMINGHAM JAIL WHERE HE TALKED ABOUT THIS GARRETT OF DESTINY, AND EMBEDDED WITHIN THE QUILTS ARE MESSAGES AND WE HOPE THAT PEOPLE SEA THE MESSAGES IN THE QUILT.

THE NAMES ARE LAID IN A LABYRINTH OF THE LEADER, THE LABYRINTH TELLS A STORY AND ANOTHER MESSAGE IS EMBEDDED WITHIN THAT.

FINAL HI, I'LL SAY THAT THE FOPT THAT WE YOUD WAS CREATED BY ABROOK CREATOR CALLED MARTIN FONT.

SITH A FONT WHEN YOU SEE IT, YOU WILL SAY, HEY, THOSE LACK LIKE A CIVIL RIGHTS SIGNS ARE THE IF YOU HAVETIES AND '60s.

IT'S A MARTIN FONT AN A BLACK CREATOR CREATED THIS.

SO THROUGHOUT THIS PROCESS, IT'S BEEN COMMUNAL.

>> Crossley: OKAY.

WELL, EVERYBODY'S EXCITED.

NEW SEASON OF BOSTON STORY STORYTELLING, YES IS THIS.

YES.

>> Crossley: THANK YOU FOR JOINING ME.

THANK YOU TORE HAVING US.

>> CROSSLEY: THAT'S THE END OF OUR BROADCAST AND THE END OF OUR SHOW.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

NOW STAY WITH US AS WE CONTINUE OUR CONVERSATION ON OUR DIGITAL PLATFORMS, YOUTUBE AND FACEBOOK.

STWHRRCHLT CAPTIONED BY MEDIA ACCESS GROUP AT WGBH ACCESS.WGBH.ORG