Episodes
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Basic Black: 2022: The Year Ahead
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. -
Holiday Films and Representation
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. -
The Power of Your Name
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. -
Black Cryptocurrency
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? -
The Other 'C'
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. -
The Next Mayor of Boston
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 -
Kids, Tech, & STEM
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 -
Critical Race Theory
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? -
Fear of The Other
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? -
Living Abroad
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.
