Roxbury Library Branch Now Carries Sarah-Ann Shaw’s Name
The Roxbury branch of the Boston Public Library will now be known as the Shaw-Roxbury Branch, honoring legendary journalist Sarah-Ann Shaw. She was Boston’s first Black TV reporter, best known for covering stories that mattered deeply to Black neighborhoods.
Shaw passed away in March 2024, but her legacy still speaks loudly. She worked at WBZ-TV for more than 30 years and used her platform to highlight issues like unfair housing, homelessness, and racism in banking.
“Books and Sarah fit perfectly together. Libraries let minds run wild with ideas — that’s exactly what Sarah-Ann stood for,” said Peter Brown, one of her former colleagues.
Sarah-Ann Shaw Fought for Literacy and Local Voices
This branch opened in 1978 by merging the Mount Pleasant and Fellowes Athenaeum libraries. Shaw strongly supported the merge and pushed for more funding to help local students and families.
Her daughter, Klare Shaw, said the renaming would have meant everything to her.
“She would just want to encourage people to come to the library, to get books, to be literate… and to support programs at the library for the community,” Klare shared.
The new name was approved by the Boston Public Library Board, and the city hopes it inspires generations to come.
Mayor Michelle Wu Praises Shaw’s Work With Young Journalists
Boston’s Mayor, Michelle Wu, also supported the decision. She praised Shaw for mentoring future leaders in media and education.
“Throughout her career and long after her retirement, she created opportunities for education and community to thrive,” Wu said.
Shaw not only reported the news but built pipelines for others to follow in her footsteps. Her influence remains visible across Boston’s media and civic spaces.
‘Say Brother’ and a Legacy of Truth-Telling
Shaw hosted the groundbreaking show Say Brother (now called Basic Black), which centered on Black voices and real community issues. She didn’t shy away from hard conversations and brought national attention to struggles Black Bostonians faced daily.
Her work earned her the Lifetime Achievement Award from the National Association of Black Journalists — one of the highest honors in her field.
Roxbury Library Continues to Honor Black Leaders
The newly renamed Shaw-Roxbury Branch also seeks to honor other community figures like Mamie Jones, a civil rights advocate, and Francine Gelzer, the branch’s first Black bookkeeper. There’s also growing support to add “Nubian” to the library’s name to reflect the area’s updated identity as Nubian Square.
Visitors can stop by the Shaw-Roxbury Branch at 149 Dudley Street to see the tribute in person.
