Sankofa, a Ghanaian term from the Akan people meaning “to go back and get it,” conveys the need to learn from the past and recover what was lost to shape a more faithful and just future. The logo for the Boston Sankofa Journey is a bird turning backward to retrieve an egg, which symbolizes new life. The whole symbol, with its circular form, suggests that we need to recover what has been lost to discern a new beginning. This is especially vital in Boston, where we see the legacy of slavery and racial division continuing to wound our city interpersonally, institutionally, and systemically. We grieve how too often, the Bible has been misused to justify racism. Silence about this history allows sin to fester, dividing the body of Christ and distorting our witness. God calls us instead to remembrance, truth-telling, confession, and repentance, so that racial healing, justice, and shalom might take root in our communities today.
UniteBoston hosts a Boston Sankofa Journey cohort which seeks to cultivate a common memory and nurture the spiritual vitality that has sustained the Black freedom movement—past and present—rooted in the liberating heart of the gospel.
Boston Sankofa Journey Stories
In January 2026, our team set out to lift up and preserve the stories of twelve Black Christian leaders whose faith in Jesus has fueled the work of racial reconciliation, justice, and liberation in our beloved city. Through a series of sacred, site-based interviews, these powerful testimonies have now been captured and are now available to share with the wider community. These seek to:
- Highlight Spiritual Foundations: Nurture the spiritual vitality that sustained the Black freedom movement – past and present – rooted in the liberating heart of the gospel.
- Integrate Site-Based Storytelling: Capture interviews in locations that hold deep historical or personal meaning for each leader.
- Equip the Church: Share these stories via YouTube, social media, and specialized curricula to foster historical consciousness, common memory and deeper discipleship.
We interviewed:
- Karen (Katy) Haywood interviewed by Rev. Devlin Scott at Myrtle Baptist Church.
- Revs. Ray & Gloria White-Hammond interviewed by Rev. Mariama White-Hammond
- Rev. David Wright interviewed by Megan Lietz
- Drs. Larry and Virginia Ward interviewed by Rev. Kadeem Massiah
- Rev. Willie Bodrick interviewed by Jaronzie Harris at Twelfth Baptist Church.
- Rev. Valerie Copeland interviewed by Rev. Kelly Fassett
- Rev. Dr. Geoffrey Hicks interviewed by Geoffrey Hicks
- Rev. June Cooper interviewed by Dzidzor Azaglo
**We are incredibly grateful to partner with Lee Francois from FGX Studios to record these stories! Highly recommended as a videographer to work with! Email Lee Francois**
Take a glimpse behind the scenes of our video project as we capture the histories, wisdom, and lived faith of Black Christian leaders in Boston—stories that have deeply shaped our city and continue to influence the lives of our current Sankofa Journey cohort members. What began as a series of interviews has become something more: sacred exchanges across generations, rooted in remembrance, gratitude, and hope. As these stories are gathered and prepared to be shared, we invite you to witness the journey with us.
and Jaronzie Harris
Rev. David Wright
Dzidzor Azaglo
Rev. Dr. Geoffrey Hicks
Valerie Copeland
Following the completion of these interviews, the project hosted the Boston Sankofa Storytelling Showcase. This “Moth-style” storytelling event brought these testimonies to life through a powerful evening of spoken word, art, and communal reflection, inviting the broader community to sit at the feet of these elders and discern how we carry the work of truth, justice, and repair forward together.
Video testimonies from the above leaders were interspersed with live elements of spoken word poetry with Rose J. Piercy, Storyteller Sister Alma Wright, Storyteller Rev. Charmayne Cooke, a song by Minister Isaiah Briggs and Jaronzie Harris, and Storyteller Deacon Robin Nobles, with Dzidzor Azaglo as the event host. These are now posted on our growing Boston Sankofa Youtube Archive!
Join the Story-Collecting Movement
We invite you into this Story-Collecting Movement to engage in your own Sankofa practice: Looking back to the Christian leaders in Boston who have shaped your faith following Jesus, so we might cultivate a more just future together.
Below are some guidelines to participate in this journey. Whether you are a young person looking to honor a mentor or a church leader wanting to preserve your congregation’s legacy, here is how you can record, honor, and share these stories of God’s work in our city.
- Identify Your Person
- Position yourself as a student
- Be a faithful listener
- Capture a powerful story
- Treat every story as sacred
- Share the Story
Join in this city-wide season of story-collecting to record the living histories within their own neighborhoods. Select stories will be added to our growing Youtube archive.
Sankofa teaches us that we cannot move forward unless we look back. By honoring those who paved the way, we ensure that the leadership, faith, and spiritual vitality of the Black freedom movement continue to illuminate our path toward racial healing and shalom. We’re grateful for every story shared—and expectant for the legacy that is still being written.
