HISTORY IS MADE IN MASSACHUSETTS

I have lived in Massachusetts all of my life and have been both proud and disappointed in the state of my birth. For better or for worst, the Commonwealth of Massachusetts has made history since the beginning of American history. For example, the following “firsts” occurred in Massachusetts:

l The first Thanksgiving was celebrated in Plymouth

l Boston Common became the first public park in America

l The first American public secondary school, Boston Latin Grammar School, was founded in Boston

l Harvard, the first American university, was founded in Newton (now located in Cambridge)

l The first American printing press was set up in Cambridge by Stephen Daye

l The first free American public school, the Mather school, was founded in Dorchester, a neighborhood of Boston. Also, the first post office in America was Richard Fairbanks’ tavern in Boston

l The first American public library was founded in Boston. The first regularly issued American newspaper, The Boston News-Letter, was published in Boston

l The first state to legalize same-sex marriage

In addition to the above, Massachusetts established the first State Constitution. Built the first American railroad, and became the place where both basketball and volleyball were founded.

Massachusetts has played a significant role in African American history. It was here that slavery was first legalized. It was also the first state to abolish slavery. John V. Degrasse, a member of the Massachusetts Medical Society was the first African American admitted to an American medical society. Sergeant William Carney of the 54th Massachusetts Infantry was the first African American to win the Congressional Medal of Honor. James Rock of Massachusetts was the first African American lawyer admitted to practice before the U.S. Supreme Court. Massachusetts was also the first state to elect an African American to the United States senate when Edward Brooke won the office as a Republican in 1966.

Last month, Massachusetts made history again. The voters of the commonwealth made Deval Patrick the second African American governor since Reconstruction. The first, L. Douglas Wilder, of Virginia, left office in 1995. Patrick's election was a watershed for Massachusetts as well. He became only the second black elected to statewide office in Massachusetts since Brooke was elected attorney general in 1962 and U.S. senator in 1966 and 1972.

Patrick's election ends 16 years of Republican rule. He defeated Kerry Healey and succeeds Mitt Romney who did not seek a second term and is widely expected to run for president. Healey rightfully stated that, "Barriers have been broken, and we should all be grateful for that."

Patrick, who grew up poor on Chicago's South Side, won in his first attempt for elective office, completing an unlikely political journey that included stops in the federal government and Forbes 500 boardrooms. After winning election, Patrick stated, "You are every black man, woman and child in Massachusetts and America, and every other striver of every other race and kind, who is reminded tonight that the American dream is for you, too." Few gave him a chance to win the Massachusetts Democratic primary in September, let alone win the corner office.

In a previous column I asked the question “Is Massachusetts ready to elect a Black governor?” This year’s election was a defining moment in the political history of Massachusetts.The citizens of the Commonwealth answered my question on November 7, 2006 by electing Patrick as their governor. This is one time my state has made me proud. Go Massachusetts! n