Episodes
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A New Justice: The Supreme Court Nomination of Ketanji Brown Jackson
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. -
The Oscars, Diversity and Representation
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, -
Missing Black Girls
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. -
Elizabeth “Mum Bet" Freeman and Her Fight/Triumph for Freedom
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: Affirmative Action, Harvard Admissions and The Supreme Court
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. -
Reading, Writing, and Banning Children's Books
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. -
Voting Rights: Making Every Vote Count
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: The Legacy of bell hooks and Lani Guinier
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: Community Health Centers: On the Frontlines
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. -
Mentoring New Leaders
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.
