My Time in Boston

Alicia Humphrey
Class of 2017

Boston, Massachusetts is a city of enormous importance to the United States, especially for the role it played during our revolutionary period. As a key shipping harbor, it was vital for the occurrence of the Boston Tea Party. It is also known as the site of the Boston Massacre, a key point in the Revolutionary War. In fact, many consider Boston to be the father city of the American Revolution. Because of its rich historical significance, related museums and monuments can be found around nearly every corner. However, many—myself included—often forget that the city boasts a position not only key in the American Revolution, but also one important in the fight for African-American freedom.

On a free morning during our visit to Boston as a part of the Edward Kennedy Institute, a friend and I chose to skip the Fenway Park tour and to instead visit the Museum of African-American History. Although it was small, I was impressed by all it had to offer, from a small school room that used to serve African-American children to a congregation room African-American leaders met in during the fight for freedom from slavery and mistreatment. To quite literally trace the footsteps of greats in this important movement was inspirational, to say the least.

I am extremely grateful to the McConnell Center as well as the Edward Kennedy Institute for making trips like this possible for me and my fellow McConnell Scholars. It is opportunities like this that help expand our education past the classroom and create impact on us that will last a lifetime.

Alicia Humphrey is a junior McConnell Scholar at the University of Louisville. She studies political science and English.