Abigail McGrath Believes in theMagic of Martha’s Vineyard

By Fern Gillespie
Lifelong Martha’s Vineyard resident, Abigail McGrath, believes there is a special intellectual, cultural, and historical energy that attracts Black visitors to Martha’s Vineyard–especially during the summer.

In recent years, the island has swelled as a summer destination for Black visitors for events like the Martha’s Vineyard Black Film Festival, book and art shows, and HBCUs, sorority, and fraternity unions.

There are sightings of the Obama family and even a television drama and reality show dedicated to Black Martha’s Vineyard.

“In 1907 my family began visiting the island. At that time, it was a place where there was no pre-judging people of color. There was a sense of freedom that they did not have in Boston where many had their homes,” recalled Abigail, author, filmmaker, and playwright who is the founder of the Renaissance House Retreat for Writers and Artists.

“The island itself is so magical. People read books instead of watching television. It’s an intellectual dream come true.”

Over the last 24 years, the Renaissance House Retreat for Writers and Artists has gained a reputation as a space designed for issue-oriented writers, writers of color, and writers of social justice.

This June, Renaissance House is hosting two commuter weeklong writers workshops on June 17 and June 24, 2024. These Renaissance House Writer’s Workshops on Social Issues will be held in historic Oak Bluffs, Monday through Friday from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm.

The application deadline is April 22 to: Aplyrenhse@aol.com or contact Renaissancehse@aol.com
Renaissance House was inspired by Abigail’s Aunt Dorothy, Dorothy West, the author of the award-winning novel and Oprah Winfrey mini-series The Wedding, and Abigail’s mother renowned poet Helene Johnson, West’s cousin.

Both women were famous writers and part of the legendary Black literary elite during the Harlem Renaissance.

“These were two women who were already noted as being special writers. Yet, they had to take menial work because women of color simply could not get jobs that a White woman could get. Therefore, they had to take lesser jobs,” explained Abigail.

“Dorothy worked as a cashier in the restaurant and wrote a column for the Martha’s Vineyard Gazette. My mother worked as a correspondent for Consumer Reports. They would do their writing in their spare time at night.”

Abigail’s life was the inspiration for The Wedding, but former First Lady Jackie Kennedy Onassis was the Doubleday editor who brought the story to the public.

“If Dorothy had not written the column in the Gazette that Jackie Kennedy Onassis read, she still would not have been noticed to this day,” said Abigail. “That’s what we call magical. Thank God Jacqueline Kennedy had the insight to see that she was a good writer.”

At Renaissance House, writers pen their stories in a house where cousins Dorothy West and Helene Johnson would spend time writing.

“It’s a place where writers have the time to write. Our writers span different stages in their careers—from emerging writers who work at 9 to 5 jobs to notable award winners,” explained Abigail “They work on fiction, non-fiction, creative non-fiction, poetry, essays, scripts and issue-oriented works. At the workshops, writers will have one-on-one editorial advice, and most importantly–time.”

Renaissance House programs have featured writers’ workshops with Martha’s Vineyard literary giants such as Jill Nelson, Jessica Harris, Kate Feiffer, Susan Klein, Robert Hayden, and others.

Renaissance House is also renowned as a summer destination for the annual July 4 public reading of Frederick Douglass’ powerful speech “What to the Slave is the Fourth of July?” This year it will be held at the historic Trinity Park Tabernacle Pavilion in Oak Bluffs.

Readers of all ages are invited to help bring the words of Frederick Douglass to life. Each volunteer reader will recite different sections of the 10,000-plus word address Douglass wrote during American slavery in 1852.

Although it’s been over 170 years since Frederick Douglass delivered his Fourth of July speech at a convention in Rochester, New York, the message is especially resonating during today’s turbulent political era.

The director-editor-producer of Renaissance House’s annual Frederick Douglass speech is Makani Themba, a writer and social justice innovator in the field of change communications and narrative strategy.

The public is invited to the dramatic staged presentation, which begins at 11:00 am. Volunteer readers are requested to arrive by 10:30 am. Martha’s Vineyard Community Television (MVTV) will tape the presentation for a special broadcast on July 4th evening. Readers can register at Renaissancehse@aol.com

“Being at Trinity Park Tabernacle Pavilion we can hold the reading in all types of weather. We’re not weather dependent,” said Abigail. “The Tabernacle is haunted with spirituality. When Frederick Douglass came to the island it’s possible that he had gone to the Tabernacle at some point.”