Basic Black ONLINE EXCLUSIVE: The Future of Black Print Media

Arts & Culture | Black Boston | Education | Politics

(Originally broadcast March 25, 2010)  After the broadcast, our panelists turned their attention to a recent article about the troubles facing the iconic magazine, Ebony, and whether it signals a crisis for African American print publications.

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Capturing Black Life: A Conversation with Photo Historian Deborah Willis

Arts & Culture | Politics

Photographer and photo historian Deborah Willis discusses her life and work.

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Choreographer Bill T. Jones

Arts & Culture

Choreographer Bill T. Jones is the guest.

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Poet Elizabeth Alexander

Arts & Culture

Elizabeth Alexander reads from American Sublime, and her latest collection, Miss Crandall's School for Young Ladies and Little Misses of Color.  Alexander was selected to compose and read a poem at Barack Obama's inauguration ceremony; she is the fourth poet in history to have been chosen for the honor.

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Basic Black Live: The Future of the Boston NAACP

Black Boston | Business | Education | Politics

(Originally broadcast November 18, 2010)  This week Basic Black looks at the future of the Boston NAACP in a conversation with the candidates vying for the presidency of the chapter.

UPDATE:  On November 29, 2010, Michael Curry won election to the Boston NAACP presidency.

Our panelists: Callie Crossley, host of The Callie Crossley Show, WGBH 89.7; Latoyia Edwards, anchor and reporter, New England Cable News; Phillip Martin, senior investigative reporter, WGBH Radio; and the contenders for leadership of the Boston NAACP: Michael Curry, attorney and activist, and former State Senator, Bill Owens.
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Basic Black Live: The Future of the Boston NAACP

Black Boston | Business | Education | Politics

(Originally broadcast November 18, 2010)  This week Basic Black looks at the future of the Boston NAACP in a conversation with the candidates vying for the presidency of the chapter.

UPDATE:  On November 29, 2010, Michael Curry won election to the Boston NAACP presidency.

Our panelists: Callie Crossley, host of The Callie Crossley Show, WGBH 89.7; Latoyia Edwards, anchor and reporter, New England Cable News; Phillip Martin, senior investigative reporter, WGBH Radio; and the contenders for leadership of the Boston NAACP: Michael Curry, attorney and activist, and former State Senator, Bill Owens.
more

Basic Black Live ONLINE EXCLUSIVE: The Future of the Boston NAACP

Black Boston | Business | Education | Health | Politics

(Originally streamed on November 18, 2010) After the broadcast our converation continued with the candidates vying for the presidency of the Boston NAACP.

UPDATE:  On November 29, 2010, Michael Curry won the election for the Boston NAACP presidency.

Our panelists: Callie Crossley, host of The Callie Crossley Show, WGBH 89.7; Latoyia Edwards, anchor and reporter, New England Cable News; Phillip Martin, senior investigative reporter, WGBH Radio; and the contenders for leadership of the Boston NAACP: Michael Curry, attorney and activist, and former State Senator, Bill Owens.
more

Basic Black ONLINE EXCLUSIVE: The Census Results and Massachusetts Communities of Color

Arts & Culture | Black Boston | Politics

(Originally streamed March 25, 2011)  After the broadcast, our panelists turned their attention to the recently released census results which showed an increase in the population of people of color in Massachusetts.
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Basic Black: A Look at Secure Communities; Race in the Classroom

Arts & Culture | Black Boston | Education | Politics

(Originally broadcast May 18, 2012)

The Secure Communities program is now officially in place in Massachusetts, despite objections from many state officials, including Governor Deval Patrick. Under Secure Communities, fingerprints from local jails are matched against a federal immigration database; Immigration and Customs Enforcement then the local jail detain people they think are here illegally. Supporters of the program see it as a tool in the fight against crime while opponents charge that the program encourages ethnic profiling.

Later in the show, we turn the discussion to race in education. In Boston, three City Councillors are pushing for more teachers of color and the integration of black and Latino studies into the curriculum. Basic Black poses the question: does the race of a teacher matter in learning the fundamentals? On a national level, last week there was a huge controversy about an article written in the Chronicle of Higher Education which advocated for elimination of Black Studies as a course of study in colleges and universities; the author described black studies as "left-wing victimization clap-trap." 6,500 petition signatures later, the author was fired. But what were the real lessons of this episode?

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Basic Black After The Broadcast: The Relevance of Black Studies(?)

Black Boston | Education | Politics

(Originally streamed on May 18, 2012)

After the broadcast, we turn the discussion to race in education. In Boston, three City Councillors are pushing for more teachers of color and the integration of black and Latino studies into the curriculum. Basic Black poses the question: does the race of a teacher matter in learning the fundamentals? On a national level, last week there was a huge controversy about an article written in the Chronicle of Higher Education which advocated for elimination of Black Studies as a course of study in colleges and universities; the author described black studies as "left-wing victimization clap-trap." 6,500 petition signatures later, the author was fired. But what were the real lessons of this episode?

more