Massachusetts, Boston, and Community Leaders Gather to Honor Solomon Northup at Unveiling of Hope Out of Darkness
BOSTON, MA — The Commonwealth of Massachusetts, City of Boston, and community partners gathered this week to celebrate the unveiling of Hope Out of Darkness, the first-ever bronze sculpture honoring 19th-century abolitionist Solomon Northup (1807–unknown), author of Twelve Years A Slave. The installation, created by Emmy and Oscar-winning sculptor Wesley Wofford, FNSS, was unveiled before an audience of civic leaders, artists, descendants, and residents at the Boston Harbor Islands Welcome Center on the Rose Kennedy Greenway on Wednesday.
The legacy of Solomon Northup was recognized by Massachusetts Governor Maura T. Healey, who presented a citation honoring the exhibit of the sculpture and reflecting on “Massachusetts’ history of Black and Indigenous slavery and slave trade, as well as the Commonwealth’s leading role in the abolitionist movement.” Mayor Michelle Wu issued a proclamation designating Wednesday, October 22, 2025, as “Hope Out of Darkness Day” in the City of Boston, honoring the sculpture’s unveiling and the enduring legacy of Solomon Northup.
Hope Out of Darkness depicts Northup emerging from shadow into light—a powerful metaphor for liberation, resilience, and the struggle for human justice. The sculpture has traveled on a five-city national tour. It will conclude its journey later this year in Marksville, Louisiana, where it will be permanently installed before the Avoyelles Parish Courthouse—the very site of Northup’s emancipation in 1853. A custom-designed plaza will accompany the final installation, incorporating symbolic elements inspired by his life and journey.
Sculptor Wesley Wofford says, “Hope Out of Darkness” represents Solomon Northup’s personal story of abduction, oppression, resilience, and perseverance. By highlighting Northup’s parallels to Indigenous communities and current events, our partners in Boston illustrate that Solomon’s story transcends the individual. Even now, in 2025, words such as “kidnapped”, “human trafficked”, and “disappeared” are still present in our reality, making the elevation of these legacies in public spaces even more important.
The event was co-hosted by the North American Indian Center of Boston (NAICOB) and the Greenway Conservancy, in partnership with Wofford Sculpture Studio, which commissioned the sculpture. Jean-Luc Pierite, President of NAICOB, acted as emcee, and opened the ceremony with a tribute to the land stating “This is the land that holds us and the land that sustains us.”
Pierite opened with a reading from William Lloyd Garrison’s The Liberator newspaper. In the March 23, 1855 issue, Henry C. Wright reported on Northup’s appearances at the Bethel on Commercial Street in North Square (now Sacred Heart Catholic Church, 12 N Square, Boston, MA 02113) and Meionaon Hall (now Tremont Temple, 88 Tremont St, Boston, MA 02108) in 1855. Both historic sites are within walking distance of the temporary installation (near the Boston Harbor Islands Welcome Center, 191W Atlantic Ave. Boston, MA 02110).
Speakers at the unveiling included members of the Northup family, representatives from the Solomon Northup Committee for Commemorative Works, Jean-Luc Pierite, Board President of the North American Indian Center of Boston; Kevin Peterson, founder of the New Democracy Coalition; L’Merchie Frazier, MIT MLK Visiting Scholar; Steffanie Lucas-Poellnitz of Mobile, Alabama, a Clotilda descendant; and Selma de Matos Rocha “Selminha Sorriso” of Beija-Flor in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
Each speaker at the unveiling reflected on Northup’s legacy as an abolitionist and orator, his historic visits to Massachusetts between 1854 and 1856, and the enduring relevance of his story today. L’Merchie Frazier specifically uplifted the life of Solomon’s wife, Anne Hampton. Attending at the invitation of North American Indian Center of Boston and Carnival Society of Boston, Lucas-Poellnitz and de Matos Rocha respectively spoke to the national and international impact of installation.
State Representatives Samantha Montano and Aaron Michlewitz also presented the Solomon Northup Committee for Commemorative Works with a resolution from the Massachusetts House of Representatives, honoring the committee for the arrival of the sculpture to Boston. Montaño remarked on the on-going civic dialogue around monuments and the need to fully recognize history.
Boston City Council President Ruthzee Louijeune and Councilor Benjamin Weber issued a resolution recognizing the historical and cultural significance of the installation. The City commended the project for illuminating the intertwined histories of slavery, abolition, and resilience that have shaped both Boston and the nation. Councilor Weber further presented the Solomon Northup Committee for Commemorative Works with a citation recognizing the significance of Northup’s contributions to the city and the greater anti-slavery campaign in the city.
Melissa Howell, direct descendant of Solomon Northup and board member of the Solomon Northup Committee for Commemorative Works, was invited to speak before the Boston City Council in recognition of her ancestor’s contributions to anti-slavery efforts across the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
Howell conveyed “Solomon’s visits to Boston places him within that living conversation on justice.” She further stated “by acknowledging this connection, the City of Boston honors not only the man but the moral community that believed in the power of words to transform a nation. As a descendant, I stand before you as living proof that his hope endured, and the fight continues to bear fruit in every act of justice & remembrance. May Solomon’s story remain a living reminder that freedom work is never done, and that Boston’s moral voice still matters. My ancestor once spoke here for justice. Today, I speak here for memory and gratitude.”
During his lifetime, Solomon Northup visited Massachusetts frequently, appearing before the Massachusetts State Legislature in 1855, led by Senator Charles Sumner, alongside Anthony Burns and young slave child Mary Mildred (Botts) Williams. These visits underscored Boston’s central role in the abolitionist movement and in the broader fight for civil rights.
The sculpture is set to be permanently installed in a custom designed plaza at the Avoyelles Parish Courthouse, in Marksville, Louisiana where Northup reclaimed his freedom on January 4, 1853.
On Sunday, October 26, a book talk with Irvin Weathersby, Jr., author of In Open Contempt: White Supremacy in Art and Public Spaces. This will be followed by a screening of the short film Written Out of History by Max Carocci and Simona Piantieri. The event will be held at Loring-Greenough House (12 South St, Jamaica Plain, MA 02130) in Jamaica Plain from 6:00-8:30 pm.
For more information about upcoming programming in Boston, visit the North American Indian Center www.naicob.org.
To learn more about Solomon Northup Sculpture project, visit www.snccw.com
More about Northup’s story, read “Twelve Years A Slave.”
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Exhibition Details
Title: Hope Out of Darkness
Artist: Wesley Wofford, FNSS
Dates: October 20 – December 10, 2025
Location: Rose Kennedy Greenway, Boston Harbor Islands Welcome Center, Atlantic Avenue, Boston, MA
Co-Hosts: North American Indian Center of Boston and the Greenway Conservancy
Commissioned by: Solomon Northup Committee for Commemorative Works
Photo credits:
IMG_5235 “Rep. Sam Montaño speaks” photo courtesy Raquel Halsey
IMG_5239 “Jean-Luc Pierite, L’Merchie Frazier, Selma de Matos Rocha, Melisas Howell, Stefannie Lucas-Poellnitz, Rev. Kevin Peterson” photo courtesy Raquel Halsey
IMG_5280 “Reggi Alkiewicz, Melissa Howell, Councilor Benjamin Weber, Jean-Luc Pierite, Janelle Sack-Pocowatchit” photo courtesy Jordan Frias
IMG_6318 “Jean-Luc Pierite speaks” photo courtesy Raquel Halsey
IMG_6330 “Melissaa Howell speaks” photo courtesy Raquel Halsey
IMG_9129 “‘Hope Out of Darkness’ by the Wofford Sculpture Studio” photo courtesy Jordan Frias
IMG_9141 “Stefannie Lucas-Poellnitz, Melissa Howell, Selma de Matos Rocha, L’Merchie Frazier, and Jean-Luc Pierite” photo courtesy Jordan Frias
IMG_9268 “Mayor Michelle Wu, Melissa Howell, and Jean-Luc Pierite with ‘Hope Out of Darkness Day’ Proclamation” photo courtesy City of Boston Mayor’s Office
IMG_9296 “Group photo during the October 22, 2025 Boston City Council Meeting” photo courtesy City of Boston City Council
IMG_9503 “‘Hope Out of Darkness’ by the Wofford Sculpture Studio” photo courtesy Raquel Halsey
IMG_9297 “Governor’s citation” photo courtesy Melissa Howell
IMG_8802 “Book talk and screening flyer” courtesy Jean-Luc Pierite
Day of Flyer “Unveiling Flyer” courtesy Melissa Howell
Link to photos:
https://drive.google.com/
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