Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s legacy as a civil rights leader extends beyond his achievements in racial justice. His model of non-violent protest has inspired numerous movements, including those led by women, Native Americans, unions, and marginalized communities. In my research to find Black Women Leaders for our Black Women Lead project, I came across Doris Bland. As we search for women for the next 200, please send us your nominations of women like Bland who had an impact on Boston.
Doris Bland and the Mothers for Adequate Welfare (MAW) in Boston exemplify how King’s methods could be adapted to confront systemic inequities in welfare, housing, and employment.
Mothers for Adequate Welfare (MAW) was founded in 1964 by women from Boston’s Dorchester and Roxbury neighborhoods. Emerging from the Dudley Street Area Planning Action Council (APAC), MAW elected Doris Bland as its president. The organization’s mission was to improve welfare conditions and challenge societal stereotypes about welfare recipients, particularly African American mothers. MAW emphasized that poverty, inadequate housing, and lack of access to quality education were interconnected issues requiring systemic solutions.
Under Bland’s leadership, MAW reframed welfare as a right rather than a privilege, emphasizing the dignity and agency of recipients. The group used direct action, legislative advocacy, and public demonstrations to demand change, modeling their efforts on King’s philosophy of non-violence.
One of MAW’s most notable actions was the 1967 protest at the Grove Hall Welfare Office. Frustrated by the demeaning treatment welfare recipients endured, MAW organized a sit-in to demand better services. The peaceful protest escalated when police intervened, sparking a three-day riot. The incident exposed the deep racial and economic tensions in Boston and brought national attention to the welfare rights movement.
Beyond protests, MAW played a critical role in shaping welfare policy. The organization participated in national demonstrations and successfully lobbied for the state to standardize welfare administration. This reform improved access to resources and ensured more equitable treatment of recipients.
Doris Bland’s activism extended beyond MAW. A co-chair of the Congress of Racial Equality’s (CORE) housing committee, she also worked with the Roxbury-North Dorchester Planning Council and helped found the Roxbury Community School. Bland participated in pivotal civil rights events, including the 1963 March on Washington and the 1965 Selma to Montgomery March. She joined Dr. King in a 1965 march from Roxbury to Boston Common to protest poverty, segregated schools, and housing discrimination.
By the late 1960s, Bland and MAW organized the Massachusetts contingent of King’s Poor People’s Campaign. This initiative brought national attention to economic inequality and demonstrated the interconnected struggles of race and poverty.
Bland and MAW’s activism highlighted how non-violence could be used to address systemic inequities. King’s philosophy empowered them to confront social injustices without resorting to violence, which often discredits movements. Their efforts not only brought attention to the plight of welfare recipients but also reshaped public attitudes and influenced policy.
In comparison, violent protests can undermine their causes. For instance, the Jan. 6 attack on the Capitol demonstrated how destructive actions erode public support and deepen divisions. In contrast, Bland and MAW’s peaceful tactics achieved tangible victories, such as improved welfare policies and greater public awareness of systemic inequities.
Doris Bland and the Mothers for Adequate Welfare redefined activism in Boston, demonstrating the power of women’s voices in grassroots movements. They expanded the civil rights movement’s focus to include welfare rights, housing, and education, challenging the stigma surrounding poverty and asserting the dignity of those affected.
Through their peaceful protests, MAW proved that systemic change is possible when marginalized communities assert their agency. Bland’s legacy, like King’s, serves as a reminder that non-violence remains one of the most effective tools for advancing justice and equality.
Their story underscores the ongoing relevance of King’s methods and the importance of addressing the interconnected struggles of race, poverty, and gender. The work of Doris Bland and MAW continues to inspire advocates to fight for systemic change with courage, determination, and peace.
Ed Gaskin is Executive Director of Greater Grove Hall Main Streets and founder of Sunday Celebrations.