Vandal Sprays 'White Lives Matter' on Boston's Black Market

BOSTON, MA – Someone spray painted the words "White Lives Matter" on a black-run Roxbury business that aims to help black entrepreneurs — just days before its Spring Grand Opening — prompting the owners to take to social media in protest.

Kai and Christopher Grant, the owners of Black Market in Dudley Square said they knew this was coming when they spotted the words across the back of their building Wednesday.

"It’s unfortunately no surprise to us. We live in a city with history so deeply rooted in racism and division, its’ not a shock to us that this ... occurred. Especially as our community gets more and more gentrified. It is proof that it is getting more difficult to stay culturally-rooted and grounded in our own Roxbury neighborhood," they posted to their Facebook page.

The retail pop-up in Dudley Square was established by the local entrepreneurs with the aim to revitalize Boston's Black Creative Economy and as such Black Market hosts a variety of African American vendors. The idea is that by highlighting local they will help local black businesses grow and eventually open up in nearby vacant store spaces. The couple has been battling graffiti outside on the fencing beside their business for two months and has been working with the City of Boston Roxbury Neighborhood Constituent Service Representative, Josh McFaddin on figuring out solutions they posted to social media.

Earlier this week, Chris was taking a series of pictures of the graffiti when he discovered that in the background of some of the photos, the business’s wall was littered with hate speech, including the "white lives matters," phrase.

The owners, both longtime Roxbury residents, took to Facebook in a long post and in that open letter announced they refuse to let this stop them from trying to help their community.

"We believe this person is simply suffering from what we deem as 'White privilege syndrome'. We perceive that they may be enraged by the positive impact and effect that Black Market is having in our community without dependency or a handout from him/her. Perhaps he sees himself not benefiting directly from the outcomes of our Business," reads the post.

Boston Police are working to determine if the incident is a hate crime, and the mayor said this type of thing won't be tolerated.

"Any defacement of other people's property is a crime, and will not be tolerated. I know we have it in us to do better, as I saw this weekend during One Boston Day -- and as Bostonians we need to continue striving towards acting with kindness and goodwill every day of the year," said Mayor Marty Walsh in an emailed statement to Patch.

City Councilor Kim Janey, who represents parts of Roxbury, Dorchester, South End and Fenway and heads the Small Business and Consumer Affairs Committee said she was outraged.

"I am outraged, saddened, and yet not surprised by this racist graffiti. It is particularly despicable that this vandalism has targeted a business with the stated mission of promoting economic justice. This incident is yet another example of how far we still have to go as a city," she said in a statement. Janey is also Grant’s sister.

Black Market is located at 2136 Washington St. in Roxbury

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Image at the top via Google Maps Screen Grab