Let's look at this historically and factually, NOT EMOTIONALLY or getting ourselves trapped in the "politically correct" answer.
1. African Lodge No. 459 had a bona fide charter from the Grand Lodge of England. The same source of the charter that formed the St. John's Provincial GL.
2. St. John's Provincial Grand Lodge were the initiators of the formation of the Grand Lodge of Massachusetts in 1792.
3. John Rowe (Provincial Grand Master of the St. John's Provincial Grand Lodge) issued the permit that indicates that St. John's PGL or at least their Provincial Grand Master RECOGNIZED African Lodge No. 1 (1781-1782).
4. African Lodge No. 459 was not invited to be a participating Lodge in the formation of the GL of Massachusetts, even though they were "recognized" by PERMIT. This was the FIRST DOCUMENTED and NOTABLE Separate but Equal moves even with "recognition" in place.
5. If the Grand Lodge of Massachusetts would have invited African Lodge to take part in her formation, there would be NO SUCH THING AS PRINCE HALL. There would be ONE GL PER STATE.
6. The recognition variable was a means of dealing with the "Negro Masonry" issue without allowing them into the Lodges of predominately white chartered Lodges.
7. While recognition could be a FIRST PHASE TO WHAT SHOULD BE INEVITABLE IN FREEMASONRY, whether the hold up is PHA or Grand Lodge of State, recognition was a means to keep the Grand Lodges separate but equal.
You don't believe me, read the resolutions of every proposition for Recognition, it will state these words:
"...desire to remain sovereign and independent within themselves."
While recognition may set each Grand Lodge as equal, it still remains SEPARATE (irregardless of which Grand Lodge is the hold up).
We cannot act as if recognition brought the Grand Lodges into unity or oneness, I have too much documentation to the contrary...
Jurisdictions differ and the relationships are different...The strategic plan begins with actually UTILIZING MUTUAL RECOGNITION and INTERVISITATION where it exists...Where it has existed, then put DUAL MEMBERSHIP ON THE FLOOR...
This is a start...