DRP highlights historical Rutland natives in honor of Black History Month

February 10, 2023

By Sydney White, DRP Intern

As Americans, but more importantly Vermonters, we are joining communities across the country in observing and honoring Black History Month. It is our responsibility to stand alongside our neighbors not only in celebration of them, but as advocates, aids, and friends.
This month is a time to recognize the many contributions Black Americans have made to our country and continue to make every day. As we come together to celebrate Black history and culture this February, we wanted to highlight a few influential Black trailblazers and leaders who have called Rutland home.

Rutland native Ernie Royal owned Royal’s Hearthside Restaurant from 1964 to 1993. Not only was he Vermont’s first Black restaurant owner, he was also the first Black board member of the National Restaurant Association Board. Another Rutlander, Martin Henry Freeman was the first Black president of an American college, The Allegheny Institute, which would later be known as Avery College. He attended Middlebury College in 1845 where he battled racism and prejudice, but persevered and delivered his Salutatory address at the commencement of his 1849 class. There is a marble statue commemorating Freeman’s memory and achievements in Center Street Marketplace Park.

In 2020, long-time Pittsford resident Bob Harnish approached Al Wakefield of Rutland with distress related to the murder of George Floyd and brutal human rights events unfolding across the country at that time. The pair decided it was time to act. Thus, Vermont’s Declaration of Inclusion was born. Rutland was the first city to sign it into effect in April of 2021, not long after the bill was proposed. The Rutland chapter of the NAACP praised the Chamber’s diligence while also remaining cautiously optimistic that there was still a long way to go from there.

Today in Downtown Rutland and beyond, we encourage you to not only celebrate Black strength and resiliency this month but to remember that there’s still work to be done. We ask that you do your part: engage in politics to build a more fair and just society; support Black-owned businesses to help close the racial wealth gap; stand up for your friends in the face of injustice, and always use your voice in honoring everyone’s history.