Center for the Study of Race and Democracy engages with Tufts’ convoluted connections to slavery

SLAVERY continued from page 4 that community and students and faculty here.”

The presence of the local slave market was palpable. A French visitor, whose observations are preserved by the American Antiquarian Society in Worcester, Mass., stated that “you may … own Negroes and Negresses. … There is not a house in Boston, however small may be its means, that has not one or two. There are those that have five or six.”

Nowhere was the power of local slavery more evident than in the Royall House and Slave Quarters, a part of the Ten Hills Farm that is just short of a half-mile walk from the Joyce Cummings Center. Greenidge detailed the origins of the House’s founder, Isaac Royall Sr., who bought the house in 1732.

“We know that the Royall family … was part of this Atlantic world [of slavery],” Greenidge said. “[Isaac Royall Sr.] migrated from Antigua, where he was a slave holder, and he moved to the area of what is now the Royall House and Slave Quarters. … The building that [currently exists] is probably … one-eight of the actual size of the Royall plantation.”

Greenidge further discussed the Royall family and the questions that are remaining regarding the slaves that resided at the Royall House.

“The Royalls were loyalists, so they actually ended up fleeing at the end of the Revolutionary War,” Greenidge said. “We know that formerly enslaved … African American people lived in the area that we now think of as West Medford and Tufts after slavery formally ended. One potential … project on the relationship between Tufts and slavery … would [focus on] what happened to those people. Did they own land? Where did they live? And how does that relate to … Tufts’ commitment to, or not, to educating that very vibrant com -

Simon’s Coffee Shop

Originally published Feb. 7

If you’re a Tufts student, you may not know about Simon’s Coffee Shop (located at 1736 Massachusetts Ave. in Cambridge). It’s a bit of a hike from campus (about a 40 minute walk or a 20 minute T ride), but it’s worth venturing to because the cozy vibes are off the charts.

Simon’s has the best latte art of any coffee shops I’ve seen in the area so far (and I’ve seen a lot of munity of color that lived in the area?”

The Ten Hills Farm was influential in the founding of Tufts. As the farm was still operating, a man named Peter Tufts, who immigrated to the United States from Malden, England in 1638, purchased 3.5 acres from another man named John Cary in 1696. These acres constituted Walnut Hill, which surrounded the farm due to a 1685 deal that established land boundaries for individual proprietors.

Charles Tufts, a descendant of Peter who was a farmer and brickmaker, owned 20 acres of farmland that included the Somerville side of Walnut Hill. These acres would ultimately be the basis of College Hill, which is now the location of Ballou Hall. Although the farm ceased activities after Massachusetts abolished slavery in 1783, the land boundaries it formed allowed for large land parcels to become available, which enabled Charles Tufts to dedicate his acreage to the university.

This history of Tufts’ connections to slavery is convoluted, and there are clear historical gaps that need to be filled. However, that does not mean that this history has not impacted Tufts students.

Zoe Schoen (LA’19), a project administrator for the African American Trail Project, attested to how important this history is to her as a member of the Tufts community and resident of the area.

“I feel like, as a former student who now has been involved with the [Center for the Study of Race and Democracy] as an alum, … I wish that I had been more plugged into the work as a student,” Schoen said. “It has really oriented me towards living here and feeling more of a sense of where I am and what this institution is.”

Schoen also detailed how other universities are handling their connections to coffee shops, hence the column).

Aesthetic rating: 10/10. The environment is homey, housed in a small space with 12 tables inside (seating two people each) and two tables outside. My favorite spot is at the window table, ideal for people-watching.

A huge win for Simon’s is their Post-it note wall. This little space is covered in notes, and there’s a shelf containing every color of pens and Post-its so you can add your own (I’ve added a few now, so I feel a special attachment to the wall).

Some of my favorite notes read: “you should get a dog,” “go to therapy” and “Happy New Year” with a drawing of two snails in love.

The music choice is really funny because they’re blasting early 2000s pop music at all times, but somehow it compliments the vibes. It’s a lively spot in the mornings, but tends to be quiet- slavery. Harvard University, for instance, released its “Report of the Committee on Harvard & the Legacy of Slavery” in April 2022.

“I think it’s interesting that we are in a moment where these kinds of official reports from universities have become more popular in recent years,” Schoen said. “I think we are thinking about how … important it is that a more formal project would need to recognize the work that has always been going on.”

As the long tradition of scholarship on this connection between Tufts and slavery continues, the Center for the Study of Race and Democracy is reflecting on the work that has already been done and looking toward future opportunities to further examine this history.

Schoen reflected on the importance of the Center’s er in the afternoons. The workers are personable and fun to chat with, and sometimes I catch them dancing or singing along to the blasting music (think: Bruno Mars and Kesha — like I said, a funny mix).

Overall, the environment gets a 8/10, but unfortunately, the coffee is only a 4/10 for me. I wish I liked the coffee more, because the environment is so cute and welcoming that I could stay here — and have stayed here — for hours. The latte I tried just isn’t anything special, to be honest. Simon’s chai, however, is a solid 7/10. And the prices are much lower than other cafes I’ve visited nearby; my chai latte was around $5 for a small, but it came in a mug that could’ve been a large.

I was so excited to try one of their poppy-seed muffins, but the ratio of muffin to poppy seed work on making students feel grounded.

“I think that ideally, every student who comes [to the Center for the Study of Race and Democracy] … feels a grounding in the place that they are in, regardless of whether you study history or engineering,” Schoen. “[Ideally] it would enhance [one’s] experience here and enhance [one’s] sense of purpose … at Tufts.”

Field discussed initiatives the center operates, which include a first-year orientation program that allows Tufts students to take a bus tour featuring African American Trail Project sites such as the Royall House and Slave Quarters.

“During first-year orientation, there [was] an optional part of the orientation in which Dr. Greenidge and I would take students to the Royall House and immerse them in that, wasn’t great. I love poppy-seed muffins, but eating this one felt like taking bites of pure poppy seed. I had my friend try it, and she agreed that it was simply too much poppy seed.

Simon’s gives big “regular customer” energy; I’ve recognized some customers who are here every time. I asked two of the regulars to share their thoughts and they raved about Simon’s, saying that they’ve “been coming every day for six years.” When I asked them to rate Simon’s on a scale of one to 10, they quickly answered “10.”

On Facebook, Simon’s boasts an impressive 4.9/5, which is interesting compared to Diesel (the coffee shop I reviewed last week), which has a 4.4/5 rating. While I gave Diesel an 8/10, I think Simon’s earns a 7/10 from me, simply because I wish the coffee and orientation is a perfect time to do that,” Field said. “It is really powerful, and we have had such amazing students … who were protesting, for instance in 2015 and 2016, police violence following the murder of Michael Brown. … [Orientation] shaped how they engaged with our current historical moment.”

Field also talked about what the future holds for the Center in examining this integral part of Tufts’ history.

“We are part of a larger group of faculty and others across campus who are working with the University to drill down … on the historical chronology and details related to the history of slavery and colonialism … in this place, prior to and including the establishment of Tufts,” Field said. “That project has been ongoing, but it is gaining a larger audience.” was better. However, I still come here often to hang out in the warm atmosphere.

When you google “Simon’s Coffee Shop,” a description pops up which reads, “Coffee shop is a warm space for artfully presented lattes, plus cider, sandwiches, tea & tunes.”

I completely agree with this description; the environment is warm, the lattes “artfully presented,” and the “tunes” complete the vibe. I’ll skip the coffee and muffins, but will happily sip on a chai latte, enjoy the cozy energy and leave some ost-its on the wall.

See you next week for more “Caffeinated Commentary!”