As can often be the case when researching Black history, historians hit roadblocks in the archives. Despite our best efforts, this is the only currently known historical record about Richard. More often than not, as illustrated in this case, Black and Indigenous individuals appear in records about them, rather than written in their own hands or in their own words. The limited documentation and the difficulty of tracking down these histories highlights the necessity of actively and consciously seeking out more information about all those enslaved. Even uncovering a single name or mention of an individual speaks to their existence in history and the humanity their enslavers tried to deny them. Thus, while little is known at this time about Richard and his life in 18th century Boston, it remains important to lift his name from the archives, having been overlooked for centuries.
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