Dudley Square (Roxbury)

Dudley Square, a major commercial district in the predominantly Black neighborhood of Roxbury, Massachusetts, was renamed to Nubian Square in 2019 after a years-long campaign by local activists. The square was previously named after Thomas Dudley, the 17th century governor of the Massachusetts Bay Colony, whose family was involved in the slave trade. Activists argued this was inappropriate and the new name Nubian Square better reflects the area’s Black community. In addition, the MBTA’s nearby Dudley Station was renamed Nubian Station to align with the new square name.