Basic Black Podcast: Recent Episodes
GBH
Produced live at WGBH Studios in Boston, Basic Black is the longest-running program on public television focusing on the interests of people of color. The show, which was originally called Say Brother, was created in 1968 during the height of the civil rights movement as a response to the demand for public television programs reflecting the concerns of communities of color. Each episode features a panel discussion across geographic borders and generational lines with the most current stories, interviews and commentaries.
Basic Black: March on Washington and New Bay state Banner Owners
Our show on Friday we will recognize the upcoming 60th anniversary of the March on Washington and the new owners of the Bay State Banner. In many ways the Bay State Banner may have not happened if it wasn’t for the March on Washington. The March for Freedom, Civil Rights and jobs along with the passage of 1964 Civil Right Act, inspired editor and publisher Melvin Miller to start the Banner, covering local and national stories affecting Boston’s African American community. Now the torch has been passed to two new Black owners of the Bay State Banner, and we’ll learn what they have in store for the 58-year-old newspaper.
Panelists:
Ronald Mitchell, Co-Owner, Editor and Publisher, Bay State Banner.
Glynn Lloyd, Executive Director, Mill Cities Community Investments, lead investor for the Bay State Banner
André Stark, Co-Owner and C-O-O, Bay State Banner.
Callie Crossley hosts.
The Economic Growth of Seaport Boston.
We are on location at Grace by Nia, a new Black-owned supper club in Boston’s Seaport District. From what was a thousand acres of scrubby vacant land and parking lots, the seaport district has developed into a sparkling prime location for retail, housing, and entertainment. But businesses of color have struggled to gain a foothold in the area the Boston Globe’s spotlight team once described as, a “brand new Boston, even whiter than the old.” that was six years ago—what’s changed? And will the future bring more diversity?
Nia Grace Owner, Grace by Nia AND board member, Meet Boston.
Corean Reynolds, Director of Nightlife Economy, City of Boston.
and Richard Taylor, Managing Director, Nubian Square Development, LLC AND Chairman, Taylor Smith Group; part of the joint venture development of the Omni Boston Hotel at the Seaport. Welcome to you all.
Basic Black: Rachael Rollins and Haitian Heritage Month
At the top of the show, we will discuss the resignation of Mass. US Attorney Rachael Rollins. Then, a conversation about Haitian Heritage month – the significance of the celebration, what it means for the third largest Haitian population in the U.S. living here in Massachusetts, as well as issues that plague the country---from weather disasters, the President Moïse’s assassination in his home to the number of Haitian immigrants finding their way to Boston.
Rahsaan Hall, Principal, Rahsaan Hall Consulting AND former Director, Racial Justice Program, ACLU of Massachusetts.
Rev. Dieufort J. Fleurissaint, President & Executive Director, True Alliance Center, Inc.; AND Chair, Haitian Americans United, Inc.
Marie St. Fleur, Principal, St. Fleur Communications AND former State Representative, 5th Suffolk District, she was the first Haitian immigrant to hold public office in Massachusetts.
Alix Cantave, PhD., Senior Program Officer, W.K. Kellogg Foundation. He is a former Associate Director, William Trotter Institute at UMass Boston
Callie Crossley Hosts.
5/12 BLACK THEATRE
Black Theatre is having more than a “moment.” On the stage, more actors and artists of color are presenting outstanding work and stories about African American life. AND more plays. It’s a much different story from the early days of the pandemic when theatre shut down. The protest movement following the murder of George Floyd convinced theatre owners to adopt equity initiatives and opportunities for diverse artists of color. As we enjoy the range of our stories being told on the stages here in Boston, where is Black theatre headed, who is coming to watch and how will building community relationships help sustain the artform?
Dawn Meredith Simmons, Co-Founder and Co-Producing Artistic Director, The Front Porch Arts Collective
Kristen Greenidge, Playwright and Associate Professor, Boston University AND Artist-in-Residence, Company One Theater.
Lyndsay Allyn Cox, Producing Director, The Huntington Theatre Company.
Olawumi Akinwumi Deputy Director-Programs, ArtsBoston AND Founder, AfroDesiaCity.
Philip Martin, Sr. Investigative Reporter, GBH News Center for Investigative Reporting hosts.
Finding an affordable home is a challenge in Greater Boston and in many parts of the country. Residents are feeling the pinch of the high cost of housing. In Greater Boston, there are affordable housing lotteries available for people looking to apply. While the number of apartments and homes are limited, what are the highs and lows of applying to a housing lottery?
Linda Warren Cato, a financial analyst and the home buyer educator with Financial Education Associates.
Tayla Andre, realtor, Thumbprint Realty.
Renee Taylor, Economic Opportunity Director, Somerville Community Corporation. She oversees their First Time Homebuyers and Financial Literacy Programs.
Sabrina Antoine Correia, Vice President, Corporate Responsibility, Chase Bank.
Paris Alston hosts.
Public Art: The Muralists
The Greater Boston area is becoming something of a mecca for murals. From Roxbury and Worcester to Salem and Boston, streets and buildings have been adorned with massive, colorful creations by local and national Black Indigenous artists. But as artists and members of the community welcome the murals, it has also raised concerns around the preservation of the paintings and whether the artwork may invite gentrification in predominantly communities of color.
Guest Panelists:
Silvia López Chavez, muralist, and Artist-in-Residence at MASS MoCA
Marquis Victor, Founder and Executive Director, Elevated Thought, an art and social justice organization based in Lawrence, MA.
Rob “ProBlak” Gibbs, Muralist, Co-Founder and Director of Artist Fellowships for Artists for Humanity.
Callie Crossley hosts.
This week on Basic Black, we discuss how the results from this mid-term election cycle will impact communities of color. During this mid-term election cycle, we have seen a number of new faces—Black and Brown candidates running for state and national office around the country. Andrea Campbell became Attorney General-elect for the Commonwealth, the first Black woman to hold that office. In Maryland, Wes Moore became the first Black governor; Robert Garcia will be the first out LGBTQ immigrant elected to Congress in California, and Maxwell Frost, 25 will be the first member of Generation Z elected to Congress in Florida.
Panelists:
Tanisha Sullivan Esq., President of the NAACP Boston Branch, she is also a member of the GBH Board of Advisors, and she ran in the Democratic primary for Massachusetts Secretary of State
Rahsaan Hall, Principal for Rahsaan Hall Consulting, and former Director, Racial Justice Program, ACLU of Massachusetts, he also ran for Plymouth County DA during this election cycle
Dr. Paul Watanabe, Professor of Political Science and Director of the Institute for Asian American Studies, UMass Boston
Dr. Tatishe Nteta, Provost Professor of Political Science, UMass Amherst and Director of UMass Poll
Callie Crossley hosts.
This week on Basic Black, we discuss how quiet quitting impacts communities of color. Several surveys confirm millions of American workers are quiet quitters. A hot topic of interest as many people are returning to the office, for some employees that feel undervalued and underpaid are adopting this quiet quitting mindset of disengagement and dissatisfaction while remaining on payroll. However, not everybody can afford pulling back from the job, for workers of color that already feel they face mistreatment and inequities in the workplace, including bias performance reviews, lack of feedback from managers, and being tasked with undesirable projects.
Panelists:
Melissa James, Chief Growth Officer at IBIS Consulting Group
Lauren Hunter-Dyson, Chief People and Diversity Officer for the New England Aquarium
Malia Lazu, founder and CEO of The Lazu Group and lecturer at the MIT Sloan School of Management.
Callie Crossley hosts.
This week on Basic Black we will discuss rap lyrics used in court cases as evidence, the bias toward hip hop and rap --the biggest music genre, and how do you separate the art/artistic expression from the artist. But rap artists have ended up charged and jailed — singled out by prosecutors who have claimed their lyrics reveal criminal intent. California Governor Gavin Newsom recently passed a bill saying that lyrics cannot be used in court cases. There is also a federal bill, the RAP Act, looking to do the same nationally. Why is their freedom of speech not protected? And will this criminalizing of rap influence other kinds of creative expression?
Guest Panelists:
Renée Graham, Associate Editor and Opinion Columnist, The Boston Globe’s op-ed page
Michael P. Jeffries, Ph.D., Professor and Dean of Academic Affairs, Wellesley College. He is also the author of, “Thug Life: Race, Gender, and the Meaning of Hip-Hop.”
Danielle Scott aka “Queen D.” MC, vocalist, songwriter, producer, PhD candidate at Brown University AND Professor, Hip-Hop Jazz Ensemble, Berklee College of Music
Traci Griffith, Director, Racial Justice Program, A-C-L-U of Massachusetts (via remote)
Callie Crossley hosts.
This week on Basic Black we will be discussing sickle cell disease. It’s one of the most known inherited blood disorders that largely affects Black and brown people. A debilitating disease for those who have it, along with the strain on their families, sickle cell “warriors” live in constant pain. Life-threatening medical issues include stroke, eye damage, infection and pulmonary issues, making Covid very risky for those with sickle cell disease. Currently, the only cure for SCD is a bone marrow or stem cell transplant. Many companies are conducting clinical trials. Advocates hope there will be more focus and attention on SCD to increase services and ultimately find a cure.
Guest Panelists:
Dr. Charl Azar, Medical Director, Comprehensive Sickle Cell Disease Treatment Center at Mass General Hospital
State Representative Bud Williams, of the 11th Hampden district in Springfield AND Chairperson, Joint Committee on Racial Equity, Civil Rights, and Inclusion
Carissa Juarez, a mother of child living with sickle cell disease. She is also a Patient Ambassador for Massachusetts Sickle Cell Association.
Dima Hendricks, Health Advocate, Activist, Author, and a Sickle Cell “Warrior”
Crystal Haynes hosts.
Over the summer, Gov. Charlie Baker passed the Creating a Respectful and Open World for Natural Hair, or CROWN Act, intended to protect against hair discrimination and bias based on hair texture, that’s historically associated with someone's race. Once the bill is passed in the Senate, it would make hair discrimination based on the texture of natural hair illegal in the workplace and in K-12 public and charter schools.
Still, many states do not have these laws protecting against discrimination, resulting in stories of Black men, women, and children being punished for their hair and in some incidents of having their hair cut off. This controversy has sparked a rise in the natural hair movement, first originated during the 1960s in the U.S., and now more people of color are finding each other online and sharing their natural hair journeys, including; awareness about natural hair care products, natural treatments, hair loss and scalp conditions, and finding local salons and natural hair stylists.
On this episode of Basic Black, we discuss the impact of the CROWN Act and rise in the natural hair movement. Host Kristen L. Pope will be joined by: Nike Okediji, owner of The Curated Curl and Deputy General Counsel at GBH; Celeste Viciere, therapist and podcast host; Sharita Payton, owner of The LOFT Hair Studio; Dr. Deborah Scott, Co-Director, Hair Loss Clinic at Brigham and Women’s Hospital.
Over the summer, Gov. Charlie Baker passed the Creating a Respectful and Open World for Natural Hair, or CROWN Act, intended to protect against hair discrimination and bias based on hair texture, that’s historically associated with someone's race. Once the bill is passed in the Senate, it would make hair discrimination based on the texture of natural hair illegal in the workplace and in K-12 public and charter schools. This week on Basic Black, we discuss the impact of the CROWN Act and rise in the natural hair movement. Host Kristen L. Pope will be joined by: Nike Okediji, owner of The Curated Curl and Deputy General Counsel at GBH; Celeste Viciere, therapist and podcast host of, “Celeste the Therapist”; Sharita Payton, owner of The LOFT Hair Studio; Dr. Deborah Scott, Co-Director, Hair Loss Clinic at Brigham and Women’s Hospital.
June 24: Roe v Wade has been overturned. In a highly controversial decision, the Supreme Court overturned the landmark decision from 1973 that gave people the right to have an abortion. The panel discusses what happens next regarding the ruling’s impact on birthing individuals of color as well as issues affecting same sex marriages, trans rights, teaching health and wellness in schools, the ability to cross state lines, cost and finding health services.
Panelists:
Renée Landers, Professor of Law, Faculty Director of the Health and Biomedical Law Concentration and the Master of Science in Law: Life Sciences program at Suffolk University Law School in Boston
Iván Espinoza-Madrigal, Executive Director for Lawyers for Civil Rights in Boston
Renée Graham, Associate Editor and Opinion Columnist for the Boston Globe’s op-ed page
Chastity Bowick, executive director of the Transgender Emergency Fund of MA
Callie Crossley hosts.
The road to motherhood raises a range of emotions and questions from what to expect when expecting to people telling soon-to-be moms, “You glow.” But the joy of motherhood for Black and other women of color is fraught in continual racial disparities in maternal healthcare. Research suggests having a health practitioner of color or using a doula provides improved outcomes and an easier pregnancy. However many women and people of color face the risk of dying in childbirth. What can be done to help them to receive the medical care necessary?
Panelists:
Dr. Ndidiamaka (IN-DeeDee-AH-mah-KAH) Amutah-Onukagha (AH-muh-TAH – OH-noo-KAH-GAH) Assistant Dean, Associate Professor, and Founder of the Center for Black Maternal Health and Reproductive Justice at Tufts University.
Ketura’h Edwards-Robinson, MSN, Nurse Practitioner and Manager of the Maternal Child Health Program at the Dimock Center in Roxbury, Massachusetts.
Rep. Liz Miranda, State Representative for Suffolk County’s 5th District. Her district comprises parts of Roxbury and the Dorchester neighborhoods of Boston. She is also running for State Senator for the Second Suffolk district.
Callie Crossley hosts.
The rise of race-based violence, hate and discrimination
This week the episode will look at recent mass shooting deaths of African Americans in Buffalo as well as Africans and African Americans caught in Russia's conflict with Ukraine and how the globalization of discrimination, bigotry and hate, intersects in our lives. We’ll also discuss treatment of refugees when they are resettled in the U.S. How are people of color impacted by the rise of devastating race-based violence, hate crimes, and discrimination both here and abroad?
Panelists:
Iván Espinoza-Madrigal, Executive Director, Lawyers for Civil Rights in Boston.
Dr. Sandra Mattar (MAH-tar), Clinical Psychologist, assistant professor, AND Director of Training at the Immigrant and Refugee Health Center, Boston Medical Center.
Dr. Clarence Lusane, Professor of Political Science and Director of the International Affairs program, Howard University.
and by PHONE, EVA CASTILLO, Director of the New Hampshire Alliance for Immigrants and Refugees for MIRA, the Massachusetts Immigrant and Refugee Advocacy Coalition.
Phillip Martin hosts.
May 13
Basic Black: Food Justice in the Community
This week, a conversation about the lack of accessible, affordable, and culturally relevant food in communities of color and its intersectionality into health, economic development, and day-to-day living for people.
Panelists:
Hae In Kim, Deputy Director of Planning & Development, The Mayor’s Office of Food Justice
Vivien Morris, RDN, LDN, MPH, MS, Founder, Mattapan Food & Fitness Coalition
Cassandria Campbell, Co-Founder, Fresh Food Generation
Patricia Spence, President, and CEO, Urban Farming Institute
Callie Crossley hosts.
African American writers tell stories that celebrate and document the black experience, allowing readers to reflect and learn about the history of African American life. The removal of books by authors of color from libraries and black-owned bookstores closing raise concerns over preserving Black books. What happens if these works from African American culture disappear for good? First, Prof. Renee Landers from Suffolk University School of Law discusses the implications of what the leaked opinion to overturn Roe v. Wade could mean for Black women and women of color.
Panelists:
Carmen Fields is an award-winning TV host, journalist, and writer AND is being honored for contributing her collection of books written by Black authors to the Salem State University Library.
Marita Golden, is a literary consultant, writing coach, and an award-winning author of many books including her book, “The Strong Black Woman,” and the co-founder of The Hurston/Wright Foundation.
Kim McLarin, Professor and Interim Dean of Graduate and Professional Studies at Emerson College. She is also an award-winning author of several books. Her latest is, "James Baldwin's Another Country: Bookmarked."
Caroline Kautsire, Professor, at Bunker Hill Community College and author of, "What Kind of Girl?
This week the episode will discuss William Monroe Trotter, the co-founder and editor of the Boston Guardian newspaper. Trotter was known for his rigorous, sometimes sharp debate. He wasn’t shy about having challenging conversations with his peers and the President of the United States. Trotter’s discourse matched his deep investment in exposing and doing away with racial inequity at the time. He grew up in Hyde Park and was the first African American man to earn a Phi Beta Kappa membership at Harvard. The episode will discuss the civil rights activist as well as how his actions influence and impact a new generation of activists.
Guest Panelists:
Reverend Cornell William Brooks, Professor and Director for The William Monroe Trotter Collaborative for Social Justice at Harvard Kennedy School’s Center for Public Leadership. He is also the former President of the NAACP.
Dr. Paula Austin, Assistant Professor of History and African American Studies at Boston University
Deborah Douglas, Co-Editor-in-Chief of The Emancipator.
Lalou Trotter Dammond is the Director for Craftwork Production and a direct descendent of William Monroe Trotter.
Crystal Haynes hosts.
Building Community Wealth
Community wealth building is an economic model that provides neighborhoods and communities a seat at the table, where they can invest –and utilize their time and talent to create an equitable community for all. Can community wealth building help close the racial wealth gap and increase economic prosperity?
Teri Williams, President and C-O-O of One-United Bank. She is also the Board Chair, Black Economic Council of Massachusetts (BECMA).
Nia K. Evans, Executive Director of the Boston Ujima Project
Nia Grace, owner of Darryl’s Corner Bar & Kitchen, The Underground Café + Lounge, co-founder of the Boston Black Hospitality Coalition
Turahn Dorsey, Co-founder of the Jazz Urbane Cafe development in the historic Bolling Building. He is also a member of the GBH Board of Advisors.
Callie Crossley hosts.
In advance of the Boston Marathon, we’ll speak with runners and organizers of community events
helping to expand running programs, not only for health and wellness in communities of color but also
as a powerful vehicle for social justice. Included in the discussion, we’ll also address how organizers of
the marathon have faced criticism around the lack of diversity and inclusion, and how they are working
with groups to create partnerships and community engagement.
Our Panelists:
Adrienne Benton, member, B.A.A. Board of Governors, member of the National Black Marathoners
Association and a Black Girls RUN! member
Thaddeus Miles, founder of Hood Fit. He is also an award-winning photographer and Director of
Community Services at MassHousing
Ruben Sança, a 2012 Olympian and Assistant Athletics Director for Administration at UMass Lowell. He
is also a USATF Level 1 Certified Coach, co-chair for the Adult & Youth Running Cohort, Boston Running
Collaborative.
Charles Anderson, M.D., MPH, MBA, President & CEO, Dimock Community Health Center
Callie Crossley hosts.
This week the panelists will discuss issues around affordable housing--rent costs, neighborhood
gentrification, the housing boom and people moving away from Boston to neighboring cities due to the
cost or priced out of neighborhoods. The group will also discuss racial gap in homeownership.
Our Panelists:
Emilio Dorcely, CEO of Urban Edge in Roxbury and a member of Boston’s Rent Stabilization Advisory
Committee
Chrystal Kornegay, Executive Director of MassHousing in Boston.* joins via post-show
Malia Lazu, CEO & Founder of The Lazu Group and Lecturer at the MIT Sloan School of Management
John B. Cruz III, President and CEO of Cruz Companies in Roxbury.
Crystal Haynes hosts.
There are 240 African American Judges on the Federal Courts, all are over 65, and only four are women.
If confirmed Ketanji Brown Jackson is set to become the first African American woman, and one of the
youngest to hold a seat on the Supreme Court. The Senate Judiciary Committee is scheduled to vote on
Monday, April 4. What’s in store for Judge Jackson as she moves a step closer to potentially becoming
the new Associate Justice of the Supreme Court?
Panelists:
Renée Graham, Associate Editor and Opinion Columnist for the Boston Globe’s op-ed page
Renée Landers, JD. Professor of Law, Suffolk University Law School in Boston
Tracey Maclin, JD. Professor of Law, Boston University School of Law
Cecil Webster Jr., MD. an Adult, Adolescent, and Child Psychiatrist & Psychotherapist
Callie Crossley hosts.
Basic Black
We gather local artists of color to discuss diversity and representation in filmmaking on the weekend of
the Oscars. Massachusetts is one of the top locations for film and television production, and many
award-winning films were shot in the Commonwealth. We’ll also discuss if much has changed since
oscarssowhite and whether the awards program has tarnished its stature due to inequity and inclusion,
along with its relevance as artists have found diverse spaces and opportunities elsewhere to create their
work beyond the traditional film establishment.
Panelists:
Thato Rantao Mwosa is a writer and filmmaker. Her first feature film, “Memoirs of a Black Girl” won
Best Feature Film award at the 2021 Hamilton Black Film Festival and the 2021 Roxbury International
Film Festival.
Lisa Simmons, Artistic Director of the Roxbury International Film Festival
Sabrina Avilés, Executive Director for the Boston Latino International Film Festival
John Oluwole ADEkoje, is a director, writer and Artistic Director at the Boston Arts Academy.
Oscar nominee Callie Crossley hosts,
Basic Black
This week a discussion about missing Black girls and women and the lack of coverage around their disappearances. Data collected by the FBI show the large numbers of missing girls and women of color reported annually. However despite the numbers—somewhere in the neighborhood of 40%, outside of family and friends, the public barely knows their names. Black girls are often classified as runaways, which presents a distorted narrative as well as decreasing the chances of finding them. Many are also victims of kidnapping, exploitation and human trafficking. We’ll address the bias reporting of “Missing White Girl Syndrome” and its impact for not creating enough awareness for missing persons within communities of color as well as missing Indigenous girls and women.
Our Panelists:
Boston City Councilor Tania Fernandes Anderson, representing District 7 consisting of Roxbury,
Dorchester, Fenway, and part of the South End.
Rahsaan Hall, principal at Rahsaan Hall Consulting. He is also running for Plymouth County district
attorney
Alexandria Onuoha, Director of Political Advocacy at Black Boston and a Ph.D. candidate in Applied
Developmental Psychology at Suffolk University.
Gaétane Borders, President; CEO of Peas in Their Pods, a national organization based in Atlanta.
Phillip Martin hosts.
Basic Black
Elizabeth Freeman is not a household name, at least not yet. There’s no talk about putting her on a 20- dollar bill or a postage stamp but she did a brave act. As an enslaved woman who could not read or write in the late 1700s, she decided to take a bold step to gain her freedom. She went to court in 1781 and brought forth a lawsuit—a freedom suit—to win her right to be free. She won her case and became the first enslaved African American woman in Massachusetts to do so, ruling that slavery was illegal based on the state’s 1780 constitution. She was called “Mum Bett” or “Bett,” but after winning her freedom, she chose to call herself Elizabeth Freeman. Her case was significant because it helped set a legal precedent in another freedom suit and thereby ending slavery in Massachusetts.
Guests
L’Merchie Frazier, a Visual Activist and Director of Education for the Museum of African American
History in Boston and Nantucket.
Sophia Hall is the Deputy Litigation Director for Lawyers for Civil Rights in Boston.
and Kyera Singleton, Executive Director of the Royall House and Slave Quarters in Medford
Callie Crossley Hosts.
Basic Black
A follow up to an episode we did in 2018 about the Harvard University admissions lawsuit and if the university was discriminating against Asian Americans. The case, which has been going on for a number of years, was struck down in lower courts--siding with Harvard, but now the Supreme Court will hear the case and decide if Harvard along with UNC Chapel Hill discriminated against white and Asian American students in the admissions process. The case will debate race and may put affirmative action in peril, and thus potentially wiping away diverse college campuses around the country. What will the Supreme Court do? What action will colleges and universities take?
Our Guests:
Dr. Paul Watanabe, Director, Institute for Asian American Studies and Professor of Political Science,
UMass Boston.
Jessica Lewis, a Staff Attorney for the ACLU of Massachusetts.
Dr. Natasha Warikoo, Professor of Sociology at Tufts University.
Bethany Li, Senior Attorney and Director of the Asian Outreach Unit at Greater Boston Legal Services.
Callie Crossley hosts.
Basic Black
About half of all American children are non-White. Until the last few years, children of color rarely saw themselves in the pages of children’s books. But an increase in the number of authors, including authors of color, writing about the cultural lives of kids of color has resulted in a children’s media slightly more diverse than adult content. Now that progress is threatened by a national book banning campaign targeting books by authors of color. What is the damage done by preventing these stories to be read?
Our panelists:
Jabari Asim, Professor, Emerson College and author of several children and adult books including his recent novel, “Yonder”
Mia Wenjen, co-founder of Multicultural Children’s Book Day and author of books for kids, including her picture book, “Sumo Joe”
Denise Adusei, a preschool founder and teacher, and the co-founder of Latinx Pitch and Black Creators Headquarters.
Dr. Rajani LaRocca, author of many novels and picture books, including her award-winning book, “Red, White, and Whole”
Callie Crossley hosts.
Basic Black
In his eulogy for the late civil rights leader, Representative John Lewis, former President Obama said, “all voters have the power to choose their politicians, not the other way around." Clearly, we are seeing those in power show a blatant disregard for the democratic process to make every vote count. Next door in New Hampshire, legislators are trying to push Georgia-like voter suppression laws inspired by Trump's BIG LIE. Congress has yet to pass the John Lewis Voting Rights Bill, but when the right to vote is Basic Black season 54 - podcast entries 6 suppressed, invalidated, or taken away what happens then? Has it affected voters’ trust and faith in our democracy? Do we feel that our vote counts?
Our Guests:
Renée Graham, Associate Editor and Opinion Columnist for the Boston Globe’s op-ed page.
Iván Espinoza-Madrigal, Executive Director for Lawyers for Civil Rights, Boston.
LaTosha Brown, co-founder of the Black Voters Matter Fund.
Cheryl Clyburn Crawford, Executive Director of MassVOTE.
Phillip Martin, hosts.
Basic Black
Two Black women powerhouses in law and literature who used their talents in the fight for justice for African Americans. Harvard Law Professor Lani Guinier and acclaimed writer bell hooks were pathbreakers---rising to the top of their fields despite formidable racist barriers. Now Lani Guinier and bell hooks are among the ancestors. And we admirers of their outstanding intellectual and cultural contributions pay tribute…
Our Panelists:
Margaret Burnham, University Distinguished Professor of Law and Africana Studies and Director, Civil
Rights and Restorative Justice Project at Northeastern University
Kim McLarin, Professor and Interim Dean of Graduate and Professional Studies at Emerson College
Marita Rivero, Principal of Rivero Partners. Ms. Rivero is also the former director of the Museum of
African American History and the former VP and GM for Radio and Television at GBH.
Darren Duarte, Director of Communications and Outreach, Brockton Police department and a former
Host, of Say Brother and Basic Black, 1994-2004.
Callie Crossley hosts.
Basic Black
Dorchester’s Columbia Point opened its doors six decades ago with a mission to offer health care to patients of color and the poor. Massachusetts’ first community health center is now part of a group of community health centers in the state serving racial and ethnic minorities and low-income residents. Today more than one million patients a year—one in 7—get health care at a community health center. During the Covid crisis, these health centers made sure that communities of color got equal access to testing and vaccines. And the new omicron variant has put these centers back on the frontlines-- picking up the slack from hospitals slammed with an overflow of sick patients. How are they managing through the ongoing pandemic, while preparing for the next battle?
Dr. Charles Anderson, President and CEO of the Dimock Center in Roxbury.
Gregory Wilmot, Interim President and CEO of East Boston Neighborhood Health Center.
Dr. Guy Fish, President and CEO, Greater Lawrence Family Health Center.
Callie Crossley hosts.
Basic Black
Mentorship and money --the two biggest obstacles facing entrepreneurs of color. Leaders who are BIPOC -- Black Indigenous People of Color --have long had to navigate on their own to create opportunities and inclusion. But things are changing-- as corporations, institutions, and individuals pledge leadership expertise and funding in new and innovative ways. Can the high-level support help overcome structural racism? And what does career success for these few top directors and owners mean for communities of color?
Our panelists:
Colette Phillips, President, C-P-C Global and founder of the Get Konnected or GK Fund.
Michael Omenazu, Vice President, Visible Hands, a Venture Capital investment firm.
Dr. Shakenna Williams, Founding Director Black Women’s Entrepreneurial Leadership Program and
Executive Director Center for Women’s Entrepreneurial Leadership at Babson College.
Andres Holder, Executive Director, the Boston Children’s Chorus and a sponsor in the Network for Arts
Administrators of Color, Boston.
Callie Crossley hosts.
Basic Black
It’s a new year but Covid-19, along with the Delta and Omicron variants are still with us. Consumer good prices are up. Over 4 million people quit their jobs in November. In politics, more people of color emerged and won races in cities like New York, Pittsburgh and here in Boston, with Michelle Wu becoming Mayor. Debate over voting rights, implementation of President Biden's infrastructure bill and the US Capitol investigation continues. It's been more than a year since the murder of George Floyd, that caused the world to stop, watch and listen to issues about police violence and structural and systemic racism. However, Covid, racial reckoning and economic loss has impacted communities of color greatly, making 2021 not one but three pandemics for people of color to battle. Will the events of last year motivate or spark positive change in 2022 for people of color?
Guest Panelists:
Renee Graham, Associate Editor and Opinion Columnist for the Boston Globe’s op-ed page
Rahsaan Hall, Principal at Rahsaan Hall Consulting and the former Director for the Racial Justice Program at the ACLU of Mass.
Phillip Martin, Senior Investigative Reporter, GBH News Center for Investigative Reporting.
Malia Lazu, CEO & Founder, The Lazu Group
Callie Crossley hosts.
Basic Black
Black and brown households are large avid watchers – in fact, people of color accounted for the majority
of opening weekend, domestic ticket sales for six of the top 10 films released in theaters in 2020
according to the recent UCLA-Hollywood-Diversity-Report-2021. Plus, with all the streaming
opportunities, viewers do not have to head to the theatres—they have options. After the complaints
about the Oscars - #OscarsSoWhite regarding the lack of representation and diversity in both
nominations and membership a few years ago, there are a number of films with people of color in front
of and behind the camera available this holiday season.
Daniel Callahan, a Multimedia Artist and Filmmaker.
Dr. Michael Jeffries, Dean of Academic Affairs and Professor of American Studies at Wellesley College. He is also the author of, “Paint the White House Black: Barack Obama and the Meaning of Race in America.”
Andrea Lyman, an actress, singer and producer. She’s also a member of the Screen Actors Guild and the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists.
Maurice Emmanuel Parent, an actor, singer, dancer, educator, and co-founder and Executive Director of "The Front Porch Arts Collective. “
Lisa Simmons, Director of The Roxbury International Film Festival and President/Founder of The Color of Film Collaborative hosts.
When was the last time you thought about the meaning or origin of your name? Does it hold clues about your heritage, your culture or your family? This week on Basic Black -- we are talking about names, and the power of your name.
A growing number of investors are seizing the opportunity to get in on the ground floor of the next digital goldmine and tracking the volatility of cryptocurrency. Our program will provide the details and discuss the rise in Black and Brown people investing in cryptocurrency. But what exactly is cryptocurrency...and is it truly a path to acquiring generational wealth for people of color?
During the nearly two years of combatting COVID, lingering mistrust of the health care system slowed vaccinations. And fears about the pandemic led patients of color to delay or avoid medical care for diseases like cancer. Now, doctors are alarmed by the high rate of advanced disease–especially among African-Americans and Latinos.
Basic Black
The panelist discuss the Boston mayoral race between Michelle Wu and Annissa Essaibi George. How will the historic run for mayor change the perception of Boston and what issues will impact communities of color?
Dr. Paul Watanabe, Professor of Political Science and Director of the Institute for Asian American Studies at UMass, Boston
Tanisha Sullivan, Esq., President of the NAACP, Boston Branch. She is also a member of the GBH Board of Advisors.
Phillip Martin, Senior Investigative Reporter, GBH News Center for Investigative Reporting.
Mehreen Butt, Wakefield Town Councilor
Careers in the STEM field have continued to grow, however people of color continue to be underrepresented in the field. How do we motivate kids of color to pursue STEM/STEAM careers and increase diversity in the field? Guests: Dr. Renee Richardson Gosline, Shalaya Morissette, Dr. Nettrice Gaskins and Olu Ibrahim
How a legal framework has been used and distorted regarding teaching children about systemic racism in school. As discussions continue, what happens to American history? And is there a chance that African American history will be watered down or rewritten?
Basic Black returns. Over the summer there have been a range of incidents with the most recent being the mass shooting in El Paso where it was believed that Latinos were targeted. The President made the comment, “Go Back,” about four Congresswomen, sparking outrage with many calling the comment racist. Comments about citizens’ and their race to the recent small anti-straight protest in Boston.
We all have some kind of fear. After all it is supposedly healthy. It can keep us safe—it’s our internal warning signal for danger. But what happens when fear overtakes you and is intermingled with hate or people that do not look like you, speak like you, live like you or love like you?
Headlines around people being targets and identifying individuals as other, something separate from one group or the other. But what does that mean and who is the other? As the country becomes a majority-minority country, how is the notion of separation or fear affecting the way we live and interact with our families, coworkers, neighbors and everyday people?
What is it like living abroad? Expats and former Expats of color share their experiences living abroad and what you need to know before you decide to move abroad.
It’s been a year since the killing of George Floyd. His death was on display in an endless loop on social media and the news, leaving many traumatized and terrorized over the brutal death. His family was awarded a $27 million settlement with the Minneapolis police department and former officer Derek Chauvin was convicted of his murder, but what has changed? Have police policies improved, do people feel safer? Is there hope for better conversations on racism or as a society, are we further apart?
How are race relations and cultural identification changing after the murder of George Floyd? Is there a climate of racial reckoning? And how does one group or groups make space for others as they may adopt and imitate?
How do you reframe/reclaim the cultural identity that are beloved by groups after being adopted by others?
How do employees define a workplace, company dynamics and how do societal issues influence companies and its culture?
Recently, there have been a number of articles raising the issue of women specifically Black women in the workplace and the issues around fitting in, acceptance, microaggressions and discrimination. Several articles also popped up about misogynoir, a loathing of Black women and how it plays out in the workplace. In the wake of the pandemic people are reexamining how and the way and where they will work. soon to be college graduates are out and about looking for job opportunities.
Why is cultural fit so important? How does cultural fit determine your success or failure in the workplace?
It's been a year since the pandemic, altering our lives in so many areas. Small businesses and especially businesses owned by people of color have been hit hard with many closing their doors for good or trying to meet the demands of the Covid safety guidelines, maintaining a staff as well as customers. We wanted to follow up with some of our guests that have been on the program to see what a year of covid has changed their lives and businesses and what tips they can provide to help other small businesses.
This seems like the perfect opportunity to celebrate and discuss Black love since Valentine’s day is this weekend. As much as we will discuss that, the episode will delve into the history of the Black family – from the roots of slavery where families were sold and torn apart, Moynihan’s debated report on “The Black Family,” to free love, AIDS and how those pieces of history present themselves today. So we’ll talk about that and what Black love looks like today in all of its shapes and forms.
Code-switching is not new. W.E.B. DuBois wrote about the complexities of duality, or double consciousness— and how Black people walked between two worlds. And for many folks it was...and still is, a necessity for their advancement, survival and physical well-being…
BUT as more people of color describe themselves as “authentically” or “openly" Black, we began to wonder in this time of racial reckoning... if Black and brown people have become more comfortable expressing themselves— their FULL selves freely to others without code-switching? And most importantly, how and what will those conversations look and sound like?
The presidential election and the first female Vice President of Asian and African American descent.
Funding art and social justice; how the new fund will change the landscape of how we see work, what type of art people are exposed to as well as ways to create a funding pipeline for Black and Brown organizations. It also provides a deeper discussion on Black/brown philanthropy.
This week the show will discuss the Covid vaccines and how to move beyond fear, history and distrust of the medical community amongst people of color. It’s no secret that there has been a painful history that Black people have endured within the medical community, from the high-profile stories of the Tuskegee study to Henrietta Lacks. However, beyond those stories are the health disparities and everyday encounters poc have with the medical establishment. This has not necessarily changed with the pandemic. Those concerns linger at a time when getting a vaccine is important. We’ll speak with four doctors about the covid-19 vaccines and how to instill trust and hopefully break the cultural barriers surrounding trust issues for taking the vaccine and believing the medical community. We’ll also have Phillip Martin provide a short debrief on the breach at the US Capital.
Year of COVID, Racial Unrest, and an unprecedented Election. What do we take from everything that has happened and how we move on—and expect in 2021? Thoughts from an investigative radio reporter, an opinion columnist, a professor, and a therapist.
Rent. Food. Bills. What stays, what goes. How do you move forward in stressful economic times? Which bill do I pay first?
Elections—who won? After the election: What now? Where do we go from here? The path toward the future.
A few days are left. Some people have already sent their votes in and some are still making up their minds. But no matter who you vote for, in the words of Michelle Obama, it’s time to vote as if your life depends on it.
Black anger and how it is misunderstood, dismissed or an emotion that society has said it is not acceptable for BIPOC to express. If BIPOC do, they are shunned, labeled, excluded and/or physically and fatally harmed. The show episode will explore in the context of what has happened this summer – deaths, protests, COVID and the upcoming election.
Protests sparked by the death of George Floyd saw an outpouring of people across the world demanding an end to police-involved shootings and an end to systemic racism---while COVID-19 continues. The protesters willingly took to the streets—and continue to do so—voicing their outrage.
But we also saw how activism has evolved, with activists who are multicultural, predominantly younger and users of social media and technology...
What does activism look like today and what are the differences and commonalities from movements in the past, and how can people involved move from protesting to effecting real visible change?
Since the first cases of Covid 19 were identified in the US-- just four months ago, people of color have suffered the greatest number of infections and deaths. The global health pandemic, in turn, triggered a devastating economic blow to communities of color. And that grim backdrop was the context for the shocking on camera killing of George Floyd at the hands of Minneapolis police. In the month since Floyd's death, protestors have taken to the streets demanding justice that includes police reform and the dismantling of systemic racism. While many people of color are buoyed by the recent public support, they have also been buffeted by ongoing emotional trauma. Can they find healing and hope? And is there a critical role for religion and faith in this moment?
George Floyd’s life was snuffed out on the streets of Minneapolis, Armaud Arbery was gunned down on a Georgia road, and Breonna Taylor shot to death in her sleep. Millions have taken to the streets in multiracial worldwide protests declaring that Black Lives Matter. Celebrity athletes, corporations, and ordinary Americans are demanding police reforms and systemic solutions to racism. And then last week--more trauma - Rayshard Brooks died with 2 bullets to the back. Against this bloody backdrop, African Americans gather today to commemorate Juneteenth, the day the last enslaved people on these shores were declared free. But, as we look forward, is there real hope for the future?
Over the last few months everyone has been gripped by COVID 19, and now we are faced with a reckoning, ripping at the heart of Black America and the world, about police-involved shootings resulting in the deaths of black people. The disturbing killing of George Floyd sparked outrage, anger and protests. Will the death of George Floyd change how African Americans are treated and open up a serious dialogue about race in this country?
It’s been a little over two months since Massachusetts’ stay at home advisory forced non-essential businesses to close their doors. As we’ve seen, minority businesses not only lost income, but most were shut out of stimulus funding. Governor Baker’s four phase plan for reopening kicked off last week. But will some minority companies never reopen? And how will the ones still standing manage a new costly way of doing business?
No longer up for debate communities of color have suffered the worst health and economic losses because of the coronavirus. Less understood– how that vulnerability is linked to a history of segregated policies. Cities like Pittsburgh and Milwaukee have offices that regularly evaluate racial inequities– a model Boston is discussing. Could that ensure more equity in accessing aid and resources? And what does that have to do with the crisis happening at this moment?
The Paycheck Protection Plan or PPP was supposed to be a lifeline for small businesses struggling to survive during the COVID 19 crisis. But 90 percent of small businesses of color were left on the sidelines after the multi-billion-dollar stimulus funding was quickly gobbled up. Now Massachusetts Attorney General Maura Healey is demanding an overhaul of the forgivable loan program. And this week Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley joined Senator Kamala Harris proposing a 124-million-dollar grant program targeted to microbusinesses, and especially small minority businesses. Two local minority business owners joined us in March right after the shelter at home advisory. Tonight, an update on their status, and a question—How can small businesses of color get their fair share in the economic recovery?
COVID 19 has revealed hard truths about America’s many divides --- none wider than the huge gap between those with access to technology and those without. Two decades ago, the nation’s technological revolution-- the so-called information superhighway --- bypassed most communities of color. Now those same communities are struggling to function in a world that requires technology still out of reach for so many. With so much at stake, will COVID 19 deliver another blow to communities of color already reeling from high rates of infection? Or be a real wake up call to close the digital divide?
It’s an economic setback not seen since the Great Depression. Back then minority workers suffered huge job losses, and now because of COVID 19 people of color today are experiencing higher rates of unemployment. A Pew Study reports that 49 percent—nearly half of all Latinos say someone in their household has taken a pay cut or lost a job. A Morning Consult poll this week found that 15 percent of all African American households include at least one person who has lost work. And small business owners of color are still struggling to get their fair share of the recently approved federal financial aid. How can communities of color survive during this economic crisis?
Over thirty thousand Massachusetts residents are infected and more than 1000 have died from the coronavirus. But the COVID 19 pandemic continues to ravage the most vulnerable. The rising numbers confirm that African Americans and Latinos are contracting and dying of coronavirus at higher rates than other groups. Especially alarming—the high rates of infection in Chelsea and Lawrence, two cities with large minority populations. Given the reality, should enhanced testing and other health care resources be specifically targeted to communities of color? And looking forward -- will the COVID 19 crisis help overcome a legacy of racial bias in healthcare?
COVID-19 has changed our daily lives. How should we balance our mental health during these uncertain times?
It’s been about 3 weeks since Governor Charlie Baker declared a state of emergency to slow the spread of the coronavirus -- urging all residents to shelter at home. But coping with the isolation and fear of this new normal has caused an uptick in depression and anxiety. Mental health issues are taking an even greater toll on people of color who face a devastating combination of health care inequities, financial losses, and racial bias ….
More than 3 million Americans applied for unemployment insurance this week, a number that experts say is likely an undercount, particularly in communities of color. Those communities have lost massive income with small businesses and individual proprietors forced to close their doors. And while hospitals are bearing the brunt of caring for rising numbers of COVID-19 victims, it’s community health centers that are where residents in communities of color turn to first. And they are struggling to meet the increased demand. The crisis has highlighted structural inequalities that already existed, and nowhere is that clearer than at the grass roots level in communities of color.
The number of people who have contracted the virus continues to rise in Massachusetts, around the country, and around the world. Scattered testing sites have just opened, but hospitals and medical staff are already overwhelmed. And most experts predict it will get far worse before it gets better.
Everybody is hurting, but communities of color have been hit harder —
With a disproportionate loss of income, and fewer health care resources. And how can communities of color -- already grappling with day to day racism---deal with race specific misinformation, as well as cope with increased racism and xenophobia?
South Carolina voters will finally have their say tomorrow, Saturday. African Americans are one third of the voters in the palmetto state. Their ballots will both catapult some candidates forward and end the campaign for others. South Carolina’s primary will also set the table for Super Tuesday – when voters in 14 states including mass. go to the polls. There’s a lot at stake for democratic frontrunners Bernie Sanders, Joe Biden, and our own Elizabeth Warren all of whom have been intensely wooing voters of color. Who will win their votes?
Two giant historical figures in African American history who rose to prominence fighting for the rights of Black Americans. Both men had sharply different visions for African Americans’ pathway to full citizenship.
Booker T. Washington, born into slavery in the South, urged vocational education and accommodation within the boundaries of segregation, while the Mass. born W.E.B. Dubois pushed for leadership by those deemed most talented, as well as active protests against segregation.
Panelists
Paula Austin, Ph.D., Asst. Prof. Of History & African American Studies at Boston University.
Kim McLarin, Assoc. Professor at Emerson College
Tanisha Sullivan, Esq, President of The Boston Branch of the NAACP. She is also a Member of the WGBH Board of Advisors.
Phillip Martin, Senior Investigative Reporter, New England Center for Investigative Reporting here at WGBH News.
It’s recognized as one of the most vile slurs directed at African Americans. But the N word has a complicated legacy. Linked to America’s history of enslavement, it is also urban slang used in society and pop culture. Should it be banned or can the movement to reclaim it diminish its sting? And why does the N-word remain relevant today?
WARNING: A warning to those of you watching and listening. This is a sensitive topic, so please know that the full word will be used during this discussion.
Panelists:
Nathaniel McLean-Nichols, program coordinator for teen empowerment, a local youth organization. He is also a senior at UMass Boston.
Nicole Dutton is a poet. Managing Editor of "Transition Magazine" and "the Dubois review," at the Hutchins Center for African & African American Research at Harvard University.
Susan X Jane, principal of Navigators Consulting. She has over 25 years of experience working in the field of culture, diversity and inclusion.
Rahsaan Hall, Director of The Racial Justice Program for the A-C-L-U of MASS.
Nubian Square is the new name of the Roxbury community formerly known as Dudley Square. The change came after a five-year community campaign, a ballot initiative, and finally, a unanimous approval from Boston’s Public Improvement Commission. So now what? Will the name change be more than a point of cultural pride? And will the rebranded Nubian Square offer an economic future for those who live in the community now?
Panelists:
Phillip Martin, Senior Investigative Reporter, New England Center for Investigative Reporting, WGBH News.
Sadiki Kambon, chair of the Nubian Square Coalition and Director of The Black Community Information Center.
Marita Rivero, Principal of Rivero Partners. She is also the former president and C-E-O of the Museum of African American History as well as a former Vice President And G-M for Radio and Television, GBH.
Richard Taylor, Managing Director, Nubian Square Development.
Supporters of criminal justice reform have fought against policies promoting harsh sentences and mass incarceration. In recent years there has been movement toward new policies on the federal and the state level. Other states are modeling their reforms based on the Massachusetts criminal justice reform bill, passed two years ago, which includes alternatives to prison and re-entry programs. Still, many who are caught up in the system are at risk for wrongful convictions, with people of color at greatest risk.
Panelists:
Rahsaan Hall, director of the racial justice program for the A-C-L-U of Massachusetts
Ivan Espinoza-Madrigal, Executive Director of The Lawyers for Civil Rights in Boston.
Phillip Martin, Sr. Investigative Reporter, New England Center for Investigative Reporting, GBH News
Sean Ellis. Ellis was wrongfully convicted of a 1993 murder of a Boston police detective. After having spent nearly 22 years incarcerated, his conviction was overturned in 2015.
A new decade and a new year. In 2020 America will experience a major demographic shift. Americans under 17 years old who are minorities will become the majority. What are the other indicators – economic, cultural, political — which may predict how this new decade will impact communities of color? Guest Panelists:
Dr. Numa Perez, a surgical resident at mass general hospital and healthcare innovation research fellow at the health care transformation lab.
Glynn Lloyd, Executive Director of The Foundation for Business Equity
Renee Graham Associate Editor and Opinion Columnist at The Boston Globe
Dr. Renee Richardson Gosline, senior lecturer at M-I-T. She is also a principal research scientist at
M-I-T'S initiative on the digital economy.
Nearly half of Americans report living without meaningful social interaction—they are lonely. Experts have declared chronic loneliness an epidemic, and social isolation a public health issue. New research reveals that loneliness shortens life, leads to higher rates of diseases like high blood pressure, and is linked to suicide and other mental health issues. For people of color already grappling with racial and ethnic discrimination, loneliness hits even harder, creating greater anxiety and depression.
This week, Massachusetts state legislators approved a big boost in K-12 school funding. Now awaiting Governor Baker’s signature, the Student Opportunity Act would pump 1.5 billion dollars in schools which have been chronically underfunded.
The history of education has been ripe with controversy…from the legacy of busing and issues around disparity to opportunities to attend exam schools and reports of re-segregation. How do educators
build success for students and close the achievement gap?
Callie Crossley hosts
Phillip Martin, Sr. Investigative Reporter, NECIR and WGBH News
Edith Bazile, President of BEAM - Black Educator’s Alliance of Massachusetts
Milly Arbaje Thomas, C-E-O of Metropolitan Council for Education Opportunity Inc, or METCO
Dr. Brenda Cassellius, Superintendent, Boston Public Schools.
Will the impeachment hearings make a difference in the mind of citizens and will it impact the upcoming election?
Panelists:
Phillip Martin, Sr. Investigative Reporter, WGBH News
Marcus Walker, a humanities and history teacher at Fenway High school. He also teaches at Harvard University
Prof. Paul Watanabe, Professor of Political Science and Director of the Institute for Asian American studies at UMass Boston
Ivan (EVON) Espinoza- Madrigal, Executive Director of the Lawyers for Civil Rights
Callie Crossley hosts
The courting of the Black Women's vote. Both Democrat and the President are looking for votes from women voters — in particular female voters of color. Will both parties take this important voting bloc serious of merely take them for granted?
Parson Hicks. She was a 2016 elected At-Large Massachusetts Delegate to the R-N-C Convention and is currently a Registrar for the City of Manchester.
Sharon Stout, Deputy Treasurer for the Mass. Dems. She is also the co-chair for the Newton Democrats and a board member of the Emerge Massachusetts chapter, an organization that helps women prepare and run for office
Kim McLarin, Assoc. Prof. of Writing, Literature and Publishing, Emerson College
Callie Crossley Moderates
The 400th anniversary of the first enslaved Africans to arrive to America and Harriet Tubman -- the most well-known conductor on the Underground Railroad, and her amazing story, now portrayed in a newly released film, "Harriet."
Panelists:
Marita Rivero, President and C-E-O of the Museum of African American History. She is also a former VP and General Manager of Radio and Television, here at WGBH
Dr. Kellie Carter Jackson, Asst. Prof. of Africana Studies at Wellesley College. She is the author of, "Force & Freedom: Black Abolitionists and the Politics of Violence"
Renee Graham, Assoc. Editor and Opinion Columnist for The Boston Globe
Kim McLarin, Assoc. Prof. of Writing, Literature and Publishing, Emerson College. She is also a columnist, for the Washington Post's "The Lily."
Callie Crossley, hosts.
Recent films like "Get Out," "Us," "Ma" and the upcoming remake of "Candyman" Black horror genre is on the rise. Now, with the explosion of the genre has come new opportunities for actors of color and for Black filmmakers to express their visions and for audiences of all kinds to see new and complex reflections of Black life, all through the lens of horror.
Guest Panelists:
Actor, Naheem Garcia. He is also a Director & Educator
Arjun Singh, Producer, WGBH, Boston Public Radio, 89.7
Lisa Simmons, Founder and artistic director of the Roxbury international Film Festival. She is also the President of the Color of Film Collaborative
Filmmaker and Director, Vladimir Minuty
Kim McLarin, hosts
Massachusetts, along with 11 other states, have legalized marijuana opening up business opportunities in product production and sales. Communities of color were dis-proportionately impacted by past drug policies, and have long argued that they should benefit from the fast growing trade. Who gets a seat at the table and will more entrepreneurs of color get into the growing industry?
Chauncy Spencer, Founder of High Tech Farms. He is also an economic empowerment applicant
Cynthia Mompoint, is an economic empowerment applicant and the co-founder of Danbala Group along with her husband Moor Stringer
Tito Jackson, C-E-O of Verdant Medical, a vertically integrated-recreational marijuana organization that plans stores in Boston, Provincetown, and a store and cultivation facility in Rowley, Mass
Richard Harding, Co-founder of Real Action for Cannabis Equity, or R-A-C-E, and President of the Green Soul Foundation
Callie Crossley hosts
Golden State Warrior basketball player Steph Curry made a donation to Howard University to help revive their golf program. What is the history and legacy of the game? Who takes up the sport and what are the barriers to entry for both professional and novice players of color?
Keith McDermott, 3 Point Foundation
Sekou Morrison, co-producer of the Morrison Golf Classic, an annual African-American amateur golf tournament on Cape Cod
Dr. Traci Parker, Asst. Prof. of Afro-American Studies, UMass Amherst
Marcos Baugh Founder, Urban Golf Club Corp.
Chris Collins hosts
In August, Golden State Warrior basketball player Steph Curry made a donation to Howard University to revive their golf program. It got us thinking about the history of golf and the legacy of the game. Who plays? Who takes up the sport and what are the barriers to entry for both professional and novice players of color?
Panelists: Keith McDermott, Director of Development (3 Point Foundation); Sekou Morrison, Co-Producer (Morrison Golf Classic); Marcos Baugh, Founder (Urban Golf Club Corp.); and Traci Parker, Ph.D (UMass Amherst).
The panel discusses a number of incidents from the summer from President Trump’s “go back” comment to four Congresswomen of color, a shooting in El Paso, Texas to the Straight Pride Parade in Boston and the impact on people of color who feel targeted.
Phillip Martin, Senior Investigative Reporter, WGBH News
Michael Jeffries, Associate Professor of American
studies at Wellesley college. He’s also the author of, “Paint the White House Black: Barack Obama And the Meaning of Race in America.”
Dr. Cecil Webster, Jr, a psychiatrist & psychotherapist. He is also a lecturer in psychiatry at Harvard Medical School
Ivan Espinoza-Madrigal, Executive Director of The Lawyers for Civil Rights
A wrap-up of the first Democratic Presidential Debates and reaction. There were 20 candidates split over two nights presenting their reasons why they are the best choice for president. Despite the number, there were a few candidates that stood out from the pack. Also, did the 2020 candidates vying for the presidency address important issues that impacts communities of color?
Panelists:
Rahsaan Hall, Director of the Racial Justice Program at the ACLU of Massachusetts
Michael Jeffries, associate Professor of American studies at Wellesley College. He’s also the author of, “Paint the white house black: Barack Obama and the meaning of race in America.”
Paul Watanabe, Director of the Institute for Asian American studies and Professor of Political Science at the University of Massachusetts, Boston.
Kim McLarin, Associate Professor of Writing, Literature and Publishing at Emerson College. She is also the Author of the Book, “Womanish.”
Basic Black highlights the 2019 Roxbury Film Festival with guest filmmakers. Lisa Simmons, Vladimir Minuty, Jennifer Sharp & Clennon King join the panel.
Chris Collins joins panel to discuss how communities of color are navigating entrepreneurship. Guests Tj Douglas, Betty Fransisco, Claudia Thompson and George Foreman III discuss their experiences.
Within various racial groups- Again, Black, Hispanic or Latino- There are many things that unite us together, but equally as much, there are unique cultural differences. Cultural identity runs deeper than what the eye can see. Host Callie Crossley is joined by Meghan Irons, Kellie Carter Jackson, Julio Ricardo Varela and Andrew Leong.
Basic Black discusses the importance of having a diverse population of doctors. Callie Crossley talks with Arun Singh, M.D, Imoigele Aisiku, M.D, Numa Perez, M.D and Ariana Vora, M.D.
Basic Black explores the realities of reparations. Why has it reemerged in the mainstream and what would it look like in 2019? Chris Collins sits with Phillip Martin, Kim McLarin, Joyce Hope Scott and Tanisha Sullivan to discuss.
Basic Black discusses the job landscape for new graduates. Chris Collins talks with panelists Carolyn Tidwell, Jabril Robinson and Aisha Francis.
Basic Black explores the challenges and opportunity that comes with the growing marijuana industry. Speaking to current components in the field- Callie Crossley talks with Tito Jackson, Sieh Samura, Kobie Evans and Kim Napoli.
Basic Black examines how the student loan debt crisis is affecting people of color during school and post graduation. Callie Crossley joins panel with Teri Williams, Marsia Hill-Kreaime, Kevin Fudge and Meera Oliva.
The 2020 presidential campaign is heating up with a swarm of eager candidates. Basic Black takes a look at the candidates running and how their platforms may impact communities of color. Callie Crossley is joined by Phillip Martin, Rachel Kemp, Renee Graham and Steve Tompkins on the panel.
Basic Black explores police clearance rates and the disparities for communities of color. Guests include Monalisa Smith, founder and CEO of Mothers for Justice and Equality, MA State Rep Russell Holmes, Rahsaan Hall, director of the Racial Justice Program at the ACLU in MA, and Suffolk County District Attorney Rachael Rollins.
Blackface has resurfaced into the spotlight in recent weeks. Basic Black explores why it is still a sensitive issue.Tanisha Sullivan, Esq., Pres. NAACP Boston Branch, WGBH Board of Overseers. Social Justice & Race Reporter, The Boston Globe, Meghan Irons, Michael Jeffries, Associate Prof. of American Studies, Wellesley College. Tracy Strain, Documentary Filmmaker & Professor, Northeastern Univ.
Several movies that feature people of color are nominated for several awards at the 91st Academy awards. Basic Black explores why. Panelists: Daniel Callahan, Multimedia Artist & Filmmaker, Naheem Garcia, Actor, Director & Educator, Andrea Lyman, Actor, Singer & Board Member of New England SAG & AFTRA, Kim McLarin, Associate Professor of Writing, Literature & Publishing, Emerson College.
Basic Black examines the Black and Brown hair experience within communities of color. Guest Panel: Sotonye Imadojemu, M.D., Hair Stylist, Erinn Pearson, Kellie Carter Jackson, Ph.D., & Master Barber, Lex A. Daluz.
Basic Black examines how prevalent skin complexion is among communities of color today. Guest Panel: Jabari Asim author & Emerson College Professor, Psychologist, Dericka Canada-Cunningham, Singer, Actress & Educator, Lovely Hoffman & Ph.D. candidate Christina Douyon.
Basic Black discusses R. Kelly and the slew of allegations he's faced throughout his career. We also talk about the surge in online videos featuring Black Americans facing unwarranted police calls or humiliation. Guest Panel: Phillip Martin of WGBH News, Kim McLarin of Emerson College, Psychologist, Charmain Jackman & Rahsaan Hall of the ACLU.
Basic Black discusses R. Kelly and the slew of allegations he's faced throughout his career. We also talk about the surge in online videos featuring Black Americans facing unwarranted police calls or humiliation.
Guest Panel: Phillip Martin of WGBH News, Kim McLarin of Emerson College, Psychologist, Charmain Jackman & Rahsaan Hall of the ACLU.
Basic Blacks dives into an epidemic affecting communitites of color, diabetes. We are joined by a panel of experts to discuss ways to improve living with the disease. Guest Panel: James Morton of YMCA, Dana Barros of the Celtics, Monet Bland of Joslin Diabetes Center & Tracey Brown of American Diabetes Assoc.
Basic Black explores the circumstance of being the only person of color in various settings. How it affects a person's psyche, how prevalent is it on the job or in academia? Guest Panel: Maureen Alphonse-Charles of Koya recruiting, Justin Kang of City Awake, Aisha Frances of Benjamin Franklin Institute & Renee Graham of Boston Globe.
This week, Basic Black explores unique challenges that men of color face when addressing mental health issues. Panelists: Gary Bailey, professor of practice at Simmons School of Social Work; Marty Martinez, chief of Boston's Department of Health and Human Services; Charles Daniels, therapist and CEO of Fathers' Uplift; and Rev. Dr. Emmett Price III, founding pastor of Love Christian Fellowship.
The 116th Congress is sworn in, and with it comes a younger, more democratic and diverse Congress—the most diverse ever in its history. As issues from immigration to healthcare continue to be on the minds
of many Americans, how will this new Congress address the needs of constituents of color?
Panelists:
Sonia Chang-Díaz, MA State Senator for the 2nd Suffolk
District
Phillip Martin, Senior Reporter for WGBH News
Andrew Leong, Associate Professor at UMass Boston
Kim McLarin, Associate Professor at Emerson College.
During the holidays family and friends gather—often around the dinner table. This week, we talk to Boston-area chefs, owners and food experts about the historical, cultural and food traditions.
Panelists:
Tony Barros, Owner of Restaurante Cesaria
Irene Li, Chef and co-owner, Mei Mei Restaurant &
Street Kitchen
Dr. Fred Opie, Professor of history and foodways at Babson
College
Josue Louis, Chef de Cuisine at Bistro du Midi.
This week, we discuss the spike in mental health challenges in college students, with a
distinct focus on the struggles of students of color.
Panelists:
Dr. Cherita Cloy, Crisis Intervention Counselor at Boston University, Dr. Pam Eddinger, President of Bunker Hill Community College, Charmain Jackman, MD. Psychologist, Christina Douyon, doctoral candidate at Boston College.
This week we discuss the midterm elections and the impact the results have on people of color. We will examine some key local races and national races with women, minorities and other groundbreaking politicians looking to break the glass ceiling.
Framingham Mayor Yvonne Spicer
State Representative-Elect, Liz Miranda, (MA-5th, Suffolk
district)
Suffolk County District Attorney-Elect, Rachael Rollins
State Representative-Elect, Nika Elugardo, (MA-15, Suffolk-Norfolk
district)
The wealth gap for people of color compared to Whites is widening with each passing year. This dilemma leaves future generations of people of color with fewer assets to get ahead. In this episode, we discuss current trends for the wealth gap widening, what it means for future generations of people of color and communities they live, and possible solutions to reverse the alarming trend.
Glynn Lloyd, Executive Director of the Business Equity Initiative at Eastern Bank specializing
in entrepreneurs and small businesses.
Mary Coleman, Senior Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of Economic Mobility Pathways or EMPATH,
a poverty disruption organization.
Teri Williams, President and Chief Operating Officer of OneUnited Bank. She’s also the Chair of the Black Economic Council of Massachusetts,
Xiomara Lorenzo, Financial Wellness Advocate
Harvard’s admissions practices are in the spotlight as its inclusion of race has some prospective Asian-American students crying discrimination. Harvard denies the discrimination claims. Figuring race into the profile of prospective students has been hotly debated for decades. Now that this case could go all the way to the Supreme Court, affirmative action could be on the line.
Phillip Martin, Senior Investigative Reporter, WGBH News
Dr. Paul Watanabe, Political Science Professor and Director
of The Institute for Asian American Studies, UMass Boston
Bethany Li, Senior Attorney and Director, Asian Outreach
Unit at Greater Boston Legal Services
Dr. Natasha Warikoo, Author and Associate Professor, Harvard
School of Education.
The new movie, “The Hate U Give” tackles several issues including race, class, crime and more. The main storyline about a young girl who sees her childhood friend killed by a police officer struggles to find her voice and speak up. In this episode of Basic Black, we examine all of the issues the movie brings forth that serves as a reflection on modern society for people of color.
Throughout history, many athletes have taken a stand for social justice issues. Recently, activism by athletes has increased from taking a knee, wearing a t-shirt with a message to appearing in public service announcements, and some brands and companies that employ star athletes are supporting their social justice causes. Is this a smart business strategy? a discussion about what happens when athletes engage in activism. Chris Collins serves as guest host.
Panelists: Donna Latson Gittens, Founder and CEO of MORE Advertising; Rahsaan Hall, Director of the Racial Justice Program at the ACLU of MA; Dana Harrell, member of the Syracuse 8; and Saida Grundy, Assistant Professor at Boston University.
What does it mean to have power? Having and holding power
does not necessarily require money or a particular station in life. The idea of power can
take on many forms both positively or negatively, and throughout the summer
issues around who holds power, who has it and how it is used raises issues of
debate around power structures in society and the cost within communities of color.
Panelists: Phillip Martin, Senior Investigative Reporter
at WGBH News
Renée Graham, Associate Editor and columnist at the
Boston Globe
Kim McLarin, Associate Professor at Emerson College
Michael Jeffries, Associate Professor at Wellesley College.
Host Callie Crossley speaks with some of Boston’s leading artistic director and choreographers about the challenges of running a company, working in Boston and inspiring the next generation of dancers when resources and opportunities can be limited.
Kanye West, Childish Gambino, and Bill Cosby. What do they tell us about the intersection of art, celebrity status and politics in the era of Trump and #MeToo?
It’s been 50 years since ‘Say Brother’ first aired, highlighting voices from within the black community during the civil rights movement. Since then, the show has broadened its scope to issues affecting other communities of color, and changed its name to Basic Black. But some things still remain the same.
Basic Black takes a look at the Suffolk County district attorney race -- the first competitive one in more than 15 years. Callie Crossley speaks with guest panelists Yawu Miller of the Bay State Banner, Rahsaan Hall of ACLU Massachusetts, attorney Jose Lopez of the Massachusetts Association of Hispanic Attorneys, and WGBH senior investigative reporter Phillip Martin.
A look at the lasting impact of Hurricanes Irma and Maria in Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Guests: Dr. Pedro Reina-Pérez, Harvard’s Puerto Rico Winter Institute; Julio Varela, founder of LatinoRebels.com; Phillip Martin, WGBH; and Juan Carlos Morales, Surfside Capital Advisors. Also featured: a pre-taped interview with Dr. David Hall, president of the University of the Virgin Islands.
A look at the lasting impact of Hurricanes Irma and Maria in Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Guests: Dr. Pedro Reina-Pérez, Harvard’s Puerto Rico Winter Institute; Julio Varela, founder of LatinoRebels.com; Phillip Martin, WGBH; and Juan Carlos Morales, Surfside Capital Advisors. Also featured: a pre-taped interview with Dr. David Hall, president of the University of the Virgin Islands.
Callie Crossley sits down with educators from across the greater Boston area to discuss the state of teaching today and their experiences as teachers of color.
Our panel discusses mentoring young men and boys of color. Our guests are Robert Lewis Jr, founder of The Base, President and CEO of the YMCA of Greater Boston, James Morton, Rev. Dr. Emmett G. Price III from BPR’s “All Revved Up,” and Shawn Brown, Executive Director of Boston BAM – Becoming a Man.
Cotillions, Quinceanera, and Debutantes
Guests:
Marita Palavicini, co-manager of Vlima's Boutique.
Chenita Daughtry, president of AKA Boston Chapter.
April Effort Eugene, former Debutante.
Kathy Lucas, vice president of Boston Pearl Foundation.
Callie and the guests talk about LGBT communities - what challenges do they face? What should the focus be? Healthcare, Housing, and Policing are among the issues discussed.
Guests
- Dwayne Steward, director of community affairs at Fenway Health.
-Madina Agenor, assistant professor of social behavioral sciences at Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health.
-Chastity Bowick, director of Transgender Emergency Fund.
- Neelam Vashi, director of the Boston University Center for Ethnic Skin. Dr. Vashi is also the assistant professor of dermatology at BU's School of Medicine.
Mental Illness and Communities of Color
Guests
-Christine Crawford, M.D., M.P.H., child psychiatry resident at MGH/McLean Psychiatry.
-Kwame Dance, clinical psychology doctoral student at William James College.
-Xenia Johnson Bhembe, MD, assistant professor of psychiatry at Harvard Medical School.
-Carolyn Reynolds, mental health and substance therapist at Whittier Street Health Center.
Basic Black discussed the first year of the Trump presidency for communities of color. Panelists: Ivan Espinoza-Madrigal, Executive Director, Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights and Economic Justice; Dr. Saida Grundy, Assistant Professor, Boston University; Dr. Paul Watanabe, Director of the Institute for Asian American Studies at UMass Boston; Kim McLarin, Associate Professor at Emerson College.
This week, Basic Black discusses the Second Amendment, African-American gun ownership, and gun violence in communities of color. Panelists: Ayanna Pressley, Boston city councilor at-large; Dr. Chaitan Narsule, trauma surgeon at Boston Medical Center; Rachael Rollins, attorney and former prosecutor; and William Roach Jr., a certified firearms instructor at the Boston Gun and Rifle Association.
This week, Basic Black covers the Boston Globe Spotlight team's much-discussed series on racism in Boston. Panelists: Akilah Johnson, reporter and member of the Boston Globe's Spotlight team; Renee Graham, Boston Globe opinion columnist; Tanisha Sullivan, president of the Boston NAACP; and Phillip Martin, WGBH News senior investigative reporter.
This week, Basic Black discusses legendary playwright Lorraine Hansberry, who wrote 'A Raisin in the Sun.' Panelists: Lisa Simmons, director of the Roxbury International Film Festival; Tracy Heather Strain, producer of 'Sighted Eyes/Feeling Heart,' a documentary about Hansberry; Kim McLarin, associate professor at Emerson College; and Michael Jeffries, associate professor at Wellesley College.
Basic Black discusses the #MeToo movement within communities of color. Panelists: Isa Woldeguiorguis, executive director of the Center for Hope and Healing; Dr. Cherita Cloy, crisis intervention counselor at Boston University; Carla Reeves, employment attorney; Duane de Four, senior prevention specialist at MIT and member of the Governor's Council to Address Sexual Assault and Domestic Violence.
Basic Black discusses the Massachusetts legalization of weed and how across the country few people of color have access to the cannabis industry. Tina Martin is joined by Brandon Banks, Saida Grundy, Rahsaan Hall and Shanel Lindsay talk about the community moving forward in the industry.
Guest host Chris Collins hosts a discussion on the politicization of sports in the era of Trump and anthem-kneeling. Panelists: Renee Graham, Boston Globe opinion columnist; Kim McLarin, Associate Professor at Emerson College; Gary Washburn, NBA writer for the Boston Globe; and Robert Lewis Sr., founder of The BASE, a non-profit that provides student-athletes with baseball and academic training.
Is President Trump working to dismantle President Obama’s legacy or just setting his own agenda for the country? Panelists: Renee Graham, Boston Globe opinion columnist; Phillip Martin, WGBH News senior investigative reporter; Dr. Keith Maddox, director of Tufts University's Social Cognitition Lab; and Julio Ricardo Varela, co-host of the national politics podcast "In The Thick."
Basic Black takes a look at Trump's decision to overturn DACA and what that means for Dreamers. Panelists: State representative and Congressional candidate Juana Matias; Dr. Ahmed Ragab, associate professor at Harvard's Divinity School; Phillip Martin, senior investigative reporter for WGBH News; and Kim McLarin, associate professor at Emerson College.
Basic Black discusses Puerto Rico two weeks post-Hurricane Maria. Phillip Martin, investigative reporter for WGBH News; Julio Varela, co-host of politics podcast "In The Thick"; Dr. Pedro Reina-Pérez, Harvard’s Puerto Rico Winter Institute; and Dr. Marcos Luna, professor at Salem State University. With live audio from Puerto Rico by Luis Valentin, public finance editor for Caribbean Business.
Basic Black discussed 2017 local elections featuring candidates of color who had to appeal to majority-white voting blocs: Yvonne Spicer, Lydia Edwards, and Tito Jackson. Panelists: Kim McLarin, associate professor at Emerson College; Phillip Martin, WGBH senior investigative reporter; Ken Cooper, WGBH senior editor; and Kevin Peterson, founder/executive director of The New Democracy Coalition.