“Ever feel like you’re walking through history?” That’s exactly what it’s like here at the Raytheon Amphitheater. This venue is part of Northeastern University. It has hosted many events. It has a maximum capacity of 200 people.
The Raytheon Amphitheater is located within the Egan Research Center. The venue provides a space for lectures. It is also used for discussions and performances. The amphitheater has seen its share of important moments.
Douglas Blackmon, a Pulitzer Prize-winning author, once spoke here. He discussed his book “Slavery by Another Name”. The book explores the re-enslavement of Black Americans after the Civil War. Blackmon’s appearance sparked a campus-wide discussion about race. He invited students and faculty to participate.
Blackmon’s talk touched on missing periods in history. He highlighted the era between the 1860s and 1890s. During this time, there was a coordinated effort to curtail reforms. These reforms could have changed the future for African-Americans in the South.
Laws were crafted that criminalized Black life. Arrests and convictions disproportionately targeted Black men and women. Black people faced jail time for minor offenses. They could be arrested for speaking loudly near a white woman. They could also be arrested for selling agricultural produce after dark.
These unjust laws led to a system of forced labor. Black men were arrested in groups. They were convicted en masse. Then they were leased to corporate businessmen. These businessmen exploited their labor in mines and lumberyards. This system resembled slavery.
The Roosevelt administration eventually addressed these issues. They passed federal anti-lynching laws. They also investigated reports of slavery in the South. In 1943, a man and his daughter were imprisoned. This was for keeping a Black man as a slave for 15 years.
Blackmon called this case the legal end to slavery. He emphasized that injustice continues. Enemies still block reform. Bystanders still fail to stand up for what is right.
Today, the Raytheon Amphitheater at Northeastern University offers various amenities. These include AV capabilities and internet access. It provides lighting and staging areas. The venue is wheelchair accessible. Northeastern University External Events & Conference Programs offers the Raytheon Amphitheater as a meeting space.
So, remember the Raytheon Amphitheater. It is not just a venue. It is a place where important conversations happen. It is a space where history is discussed. It is a place where we can learn from the past. It inspires us to work towards a more just future.