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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.