Remember Black April: 50 Years of Vietnamese Diaspora
A Community-Rooted Commemoration of Memory, Resilience, and Legacy
By Ngoc-Tran Vu, Lead Artist and Project Director of the 1975: A Vietnamese Diaspora Memorial
This year marks a powerful milestone: the 50th anniversary of Black April—April 30, 1975—when the Fall of Saigon ended the Vietnam War and began a global wave of displacement that continues to shape Vietnamese and Southeast Asian communities today. For those of us in the diaspora, this anniversary is not only a time to mourn the losses of war, but also to honor the strength, resistance, and contributions of Vietnamese refugees who have rebuilt their lives in new lands.
In Boston, where the largest Vietnamese community in New England calls Dorchester home, a coalition of Vietnamese-led organizations is coming together for a transformative, intergenerational commemoration. Led by the 1975: A Vietnamese Diaspora Commemoration Initiative, in collaboration with partners like Boston Little Saigon, Vietnamese American Community of Massachusetts, VietAID, Cultural Empowerment Organization, and the Massachusetts Vietnamese Scouts Association, this community-rooted series of events uplifts the voices of those most impacted by war, displacement, and survival.
“Remembering Black April: 50 Years of Vietnamese Diaspora” will take place across multiple days, with flagship events including:
April 26th – A large-scale community gathering at Boston College High School, featuring cultural performances, an immersive exhibition, keynote reflections, and storytelling across generations.
April 27th – Film Screening and Bilingual Panel: On Healing Land, Birds Perch in collaboration with the JFK Presidential Library & Museum.
April 30th – Flag-raising ceremonies on April 30th at Boston City Hall Plaza and the Dorchester Vietnam Veterans Memorial, offering public recognition of our journey and presence.
At the heart of this commemoration is the belief that memory work must be led by the communities it represents. Each program centers Vietnamese cultural bearers, youth, elders, artists, and organizers who continue to build and dream across generations. Through traditional music, oral histories, personal artifacts, and public art installations, these events not only reflect on the trauma of forced migration, but also celebrate the strength and cultural vibrancy that lives on.
This 50th year is also a call to action. We are laying the foundation for the 1975: A Vietnamese Diaspora Memorial—a permanent, community-led public artwork rooted in Dorchester’s Town Field Park. This memorial will honor the Vietnamese refugee experience while creating a space for healing, belonging, and intergenerational dialogue. As we gather this April, we’re building the momentum and public will to bring this vision to life.
In partnership with SEARAC’s mission to uplift Southeast Asian American communities, this anniversary serves as a reminder: Our histories are not marginal—they are central to the American story. Black April is not just about the past; it’s a living, breathing legacy of resilience and collective care.
Join us in remembrance. Stand with us in building toward a future that honors where we come from—and where we’re going. For more information, please visit www.1975VietDiaspora.com | @1975VietDiaspora.