Episodes
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60 years later, the March on Washington continues to shape America's identity
Sixty years ago, the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom inspired more than 250,000 people to gather for a public demonstration — at the time, one of the biggest marches in the country's history. The Reverend Martin Luther King Jr. delivered his now famous speech, “I Have a Dream” at the Lincoln Memorial, just weeks after President John K. Kennedy called civil rights a “moral issue.” "I thought it was a wonderful opportunity to put my feet where my heart was, to speak in support of civil rights, to join all the other thousands of people who wanted to see the United States make some moves toward civil rights," said Jane Bowers, a Boston resident who attended the 1963 March. But the original focus of the March was to be a public stand for jobs and freedom, and a push against a deeply segregated, racist America. "A month after this event, white people blew up a church and killed four children. And so I think it's very important that we make a distinction between the white people," said Byron Rushing, former Massachusetts state Rep. "Never say this [march] had an effect on white people. It had an effect on the moment, it seems. Maybe a majority of white people, but it certainly did not have an effect, except the negative concern by Southern white people." What is the legacy of this seminal event in this moment of continued efforts to roll back civil rights gains, and at a time of increasing violent racial tension? "We now see a determined resistance that's called MAGA, that is trying to go back to where they were again in the sense, which is make America great again for them," Courtland Cox, civil rights activist who helped organize the 1963 march, told Under the Radar. "Making America great depended on racial and economic exploitation of the African American community. ... And the good thing about today is that, while we only could protest in 1960 and '63 and '65, we can now be in power. ... We now have positions of power and we need to be able to really uphold the concepts of the Constitution and the Declaration of Independence." GUESTS Jane Bowers, a Boston resident who attended the 1963 March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom Byron Rushing, former Massachusetts state representative and president of the Roxbury Historical Society Courtland Cox, civil rights activist who helped organize the 1963 March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom -
A national Latino museum project gets caught in the culture wars
The National Museum of the American Latino may be years away from officially opening, but it's already caught in America's culture wars. The attack has been led in part by Latino Republican Rep. Mario Díaz-Balart, having proposed legislation to pull funding for the museum. "I'm okay with you criticizing how you view history. But do you have to vote to defund it?" said, Julio Ricardo Varela, president of Futuro Media Group. "Seriously, like, you can't even stand up for our community? You have to go down the 'woke politics' side?" Diaz-Balart has since said funding would not be pulled, but only after a meeting with Smithsonian leadership: “What we did is we cut the funding, and immediately [the Smithsonian] responded, and then we had a very positive meeting." Gov. Maura Healey announced a state of emergency this August due to the surge in migrant families arriving in the state and in need of shelter. A total of 20,000 people, made up of over 5,000 families with children, are currently living in state-funded shelters. And last month the long debated driver's license law for undocumented immigrants went into effect. The state saw roughly 100,000 requests for learner's permit appointments in the first three weeks of July. "They don't want to be in the shadows. They don't want to work under the shadows. They don't want to have to drive without a license," Marcela García, an opinion columnist at the Boston Globe, told Under the Radar. "What I've noticed is that for immigrants, this has been very symbolic, too, because it is giving them a sense of belonging, a sense of inclusion." That and more on our Latinx News Roundtable. GUESTS Julio Ricardo Varela, president of Futuro Media Group, co-host of the “In The Thick” podcast, founder of Latino Rebels, and MSNBC opinion columnist Marcela García, an opinion columnist and associate editor at the Boston Globe -
Hip-hop turns 50: A look at the past, present and future of the global phenomenon
50 years after its birth, hip-hop has become an integral part of mainstream American culture. With its roots in the voices of marginalized communities, hip-hop is reflected in everything from a rapping Pillsbury Dough Boy to dialogue in movies to speeches on the floor of Congress. "Hip-hop is a culture. It's a far-reaching culture. It's the most dominant youth culture on the planet," said Dart Adams, Boston-based writer and hip-hop expert. "It incorporates DJing, b-boying — or 'breaking,' as it's commonly called — emceeing is one aspect, and of course, you know, there's graffiti art. And all these aspects of the culture come together to form hip-hop. But people's idea of hip-hop is usually relegated just to rap music." What started as Kool Herc’s innovative DJ party groove in 1973 was amplified by new masters of ceremonies, or MCs, spinning and scratching at house and street parties. The new music genre quickly established its signature turntablism, breakbeat deejaying, and scat-style rhyming lyrics. Hip-hop artists would go on to express their tears and triumphs in their songs — they often spoke to political and social oppression. "Hip hop was the way we spread the word. It was the way we let people know that we were in solidarity across time and space," Dawn-Elissa Fischer, co-founder of the Hip Hop Archive and Research Institute at Harvard University, told Under the Radar. "I was actually in a rural area of the United States, the Ozarks in southern Missouri, at the time where there were a lot of various types of lynchings and police killings and other horrible, racist things happening that weren't being covered in the news. And so, to hear 'Public Enemy No. 1' ... and 'Fight The Power' and to see the video, the visual of the parade of people gathered; I felt protected and inspired." In the ’90s, America became the hip-hop nation. And in the ensuing years, hip-hop became the biggest and most influential global music genre in the world. "The hip hop of the '90s really captured the spectrum of Blackness. You go from 'Fight the Power' to 'Juicy,' which is the celebration of the comeuppance, not just of Biggie himself, but of his community who he is able to put on, but also Black people and hip-hop in particular," said Danielle Scott, professor at Berklee College of Music. "And then he says, 'You never thought that hip hop would take it this far.' Now hip-hop is in Harvard. Hip-hop is in Brown [University]. Hip-hop is no longer relegated to the pre-filming of the Grammys, it's on the Grammys' stages. It's in country music. It's all around the world. ... I think what Biggie said in that moment, just in that one little line, was prophetic, you know, in terms of how far hip-hop was going to take it." GUESTS Dart Adams, Boston-based writer and hip-hop expert Danielle Scott, hip-hop MC and professor at Berklee College of Music Dawn-Elissa Fischer, associate director and co-founder of the Hip Hop Archive and Research Institute at Harvard University -
These two humor writers look for comedy in turbulent times
If there ever was a time we all could use a good laugh, it’s now — as, all around us, the world seems to be on fire literally, and figuratively. For this special edition of “Bookmarked: Under the Radar Book Club," we’re delving into the world of humor on the written page — through the musings of contemporary humor essayists — those sharp and witty observers of everyday life who find the funny in the mundane. "I get embarrassed for being a person with basic tastes who does not interrogate things very deeply. A person who needs to be smacked in the face with the subliminal message, because I absolutely will not suss it out for myself," Samantha Irby writes in her book, "Quietly Hostile." "The embarrassment usually leads to my second guessing both myself and my interpretation of whatever it is we're talking about," she continues. "This then devolves into an even more embarrassing apology. I'm so sorry for not understanding what, quote, 'good acting' is. And that continues until I shrivel into a husk and die, vowing with my dying breath to never again publicly express joy or excitement." These authors use their own lived experiences as a lens to deconstruct the serious in service of the silly. "I don't have any original thoughts that are going to break the world open. I really just have my day-to-day life, my own stories," Blythe Roberson, author of "America the Beautiful?" told Under the Radar. "I really just wrote this book to make people laugh. Like, I didn't write it hoping I would change the hearts and minds of America. So, I hope they just enjoy it, really." GUESTS Samantha Irby, author of five books including her latest book of essays, “Quietly Hostile” Blythe Roberson, author of two books of humorous essays, her latest is “America the Beautiful? One Woman in a Borrowed Prius on the Road Most Traveled” Module -
The science and popularity of CBD, explained
Editor's note: This episode originally aired on Feb. 4, 2022. CBD — those three small letters have led to a billion-dollar industry. CBD, short for cannabidiol, is a compound from the cannabis plant that does not produce a high. People can consume it, vape it or apply it to their skin. Manufacturers are putting CBD in everything from lattes to lotions. Proponents say that CBD helps manage many health conditions, especially pain and anxiety. "One of the things that we've found that CBD is wonderful for is bringing your body closer to homeostasis, back to alignment. We know that that affects everything from stress to the ability to sleep, etc.," Malaika Jones, co-founder of Brown Girl Jane, said on Under the Radar. "Especially these days, folks are finding themselves, you know, feeling out of whack. So, our consumers really tell us that it [CBD] has been most helpful with anxiety, stress relief and sleep. ... The brand and the products have really resonated with people who need these everyday solutions to their life," she said. But many researchers insist that the substance may not work, let alone be touted as a cure-all. "One particular formulation of [CBD] was FDA approved in 2018 for the treatment of three types of seizure disorders," said Dr. Kevil Hill, an addiction psychiatrist. "But the reality is that probably 95% or greater of the CBD that people are using is not that formulation and it's not regulated by the FDA. And with that come a host of issues and those issues are related to the risk." Guests: Dr. Kevin Hill, addiction psychiatrist, director of the division of addiction psychiatry at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, and associate professor of psychiatry at Harvard Medical School. He is also the author of “Marijuana: The Unbiased Truth about the World’s Most Popular Weed” Malaika Jones, co-founder of BROWN GIRL Jane, a Black woman–owned company that offers broad-spectrum CBD products. She was named one of the most powerful women of 2020 by Entrepreneur Magazine -
Can a healthy diet treat disease? Why some argue food is medicine
Editor's note: This episode originally aired on Feb. 3, 2023. From heart disease to diabetes, chronic illness is the leading cause of death in the United States, and chronic disease is a major reason why the nation spends more than $4 trillion on health care every year. But a growing number of researchers believe reexamining our relationship with food is key to both improving our health and saving money. "When you provide medically tailored meals to people who are experiencing food insecurity and chronic illness, you'll see a 16% net cost savings — and that's monthly," said Jean Terranova, senior director of policy and research at Community Servings. "That's 49% fewer in-patient hospital admissions, 70% fewer emergency department visits, and 72% fewer admissions to skilled nursing facilities." Food is medicine, these advocates argue. But changing your relationship with food can be difficult, says Paul Hepfer, CEO of Project Open Hand: "That's part of why it's so important for us to have our education piece that accompanies the meal. So, it's not just 'Here's your meals for six months or a year. Good luck. See you later.' ... We give people the tools to start cooking that way themselves." Eating more whole foods — including fruits, vegetables and grains — and fewer ultra-processed foods is key to a healthier diet. "I think of it as almost a reintroduction," said Olivia Weinstein, director of nutrition innovation and implementation for Boston Medical Center. "So, this was something that once was and then kind of left our daily living, and we're reintroducing it back in." GUESTS Olivia Weinstein, director of nutrition innovation and implementation for Boston Medical Center Jean Terranova, senior director of policy and research at Community Servings Paul Hepfer, CEO of Project Open Hand -
NAACP's annual ACT-SO competition brings youth talent to Boston
Local Black high schoolers will face off in a special competition at the 114th annual NAACP National Convention in Boston. Young scientists, musicians, dancers, and more will compete in one of 32 categories of ACT-SO, or Afro-Academic, Cultural, Technological and Scientific Olympics. ACT-SO's categories are wide ranging, from visual and culinary arts to STEM, and business. "If I see all of these, like, white classical musicians, composers, just writing a bunch of music and we're just always playing that, why can't I just write a piece so that everyone else can play too?" said Sadie Caroll, an ACT-SO cellist participant. "I just had so much fun playing it, and it's great to share my work." The students' work will be on display at the NAACP hub at the Boston Convention Center July 28-30. The awards ceremony on July 29 is free and open to the public. Vice President Kamala Harris, as well as many other political and entertainment headliners, are scheduled to speak at the convention. This year's Olympics will draw participants from across the country. These competitors will be mentored in their selective fields and fight for a medal while being surrounded by supportive but competitive excellence. "When you show up at an actual competition, a national competition, you're being exposed to other young people who are just as bright, just as talented as you are," said Tanisha Sullivan, the president of NAACP Boston. "You are put into an environment where young people across all of the categories are committed to excellence. And when you're in an environment ... where there is rigor, you can't help ... but level up recognizing that there's a standard and that standard is excellence." ACT-SO is meant to uplift and applaud Black high school students for their academic and artistic achievements and is a signature event at the NAACP's convention. It's a competition that allows youth to be challenged, and then take those skills learned from the high-intensity environment and continue to develop them. "This is an opportunity to understand kind of your past and your history and the people that came before you in order to pour into everybody that comes after you," said Janay Trench-Lesley, a former ACT-SO poet participant. "[Understand] that this is bigger than yourself," Trench-Lesley said. "Kind of just [trust] your process, [trust] your talent and [trust] what you know, because that's how you got here in the first place." GUESTS Tanisha Sullivan, president of NAACP Boston Janay Trench-Lesley, ACT-SO former participant, poet Sadie Caroll, 2023 ACT-SO participant, cellist -
Hollywood's writers and actors strike together for the first time in over 60 years
Hollywood’s writers and actors are on strike, together. For the first time since 1960, the Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA), is striking alongside the Writers Guild of America (WGA). Without their labor, Hollywood productions have ground to a halt. "This is a moment of reckoning for the industry," said Michael Jeffries, professor of American studies at Wellesley College. "This is a moment where the old system of figuring out what shows were doing well, how much the job and the labor was actually worth, has evaporated. ... If they don't, as an industry, come to some sort of fair agreement, now, I think we're gonna continue to see upheaval. It's going to trickle down to what we, the customers, are able to access. It's going to totally shift the labor dynamics of that industry, and everybody is going to be worse off." Meanwhile, the "Barbie" flick was released this weekend alongside "Oppenheimer," a movie about the making of the atomic bomb. Some experts think the duo — “Barbenheimer,” if you will — could bring the biggest crowds to theaters since before the pandemic. "I think the two movies, even though the people who are making them seem so different in their artistic visions, I think they're actually really complementary to each other," Karen Huang, lecturer on history and literature at Harvard University, told Under the Radar. "To be able to experience these two completely different films in cinema, I think effectively is a really different and really contained form of escape that is completely divergent from how we experience streaming services, for example, because when you're sitting in a movie theater, there's a kind of a shared intimacy among moviegoers that you don't get as much when you're just watching a movie at home." That and more on Under the Radar's Pop Culture Roundtable. GUESTS Michael Jeffries, dean of academic affairs and professor of American studies at Wellesley College Karen Huang, lecturer on history and literature at Harvard University -
‘Barbie’-themed boat party in Boston is the latest burst of excitement over the 64-year-old doll
The nearly years of anticipations for the new "Barbie" movie has sparked widespread enthusiasm for the 64-year-old doll. From Barbie-themed parties to Barbie-styled clothing, to visits to Barbie’s life-sized Malibu DreamHouse, Barbie is everywhere. Barbicore — and the "Barbie" movie itself — has put related items in short supply, like Barbie’s signature hot pink paint color. "We hosted a Barbie boat cruise out of the Boston Harbor on June 30, and we had over 600 Barbie fans come to celebrate the release of the new movie," said Julie Russell, CEO of Fangirl Fantasy, which hosts events themed around fan-favorite artists and other phenomena. "[There were] long time Barbie fans [at the event]. ... And this event in this movie is just giving them an excuse to bring out their fan excitement." More than 60 years ago, Barbie’s creator, Ruth Handler, was inspired to design a 3D-version of a paper doll. It was an immediate bestseller in the 1950s and remains one of the best-selling toys in the world. "Oh, I had many Barbie dolls. ... My sister and I played with them for many years," said Emily Tamkin, who wrote "A Cultural History of Barbie" for Smithsonian Magazine. Handler, who co-founded the Mattel Toy Company with her husband, rejected criticisms of Barbie’s idealized body type. "I totally understand and hear all of those critiques," Tamkin said. "But... Ruth Handler said Barbie has always represented that girls and women have choices. ... We had our Barbies go to college. We had our Barbies take part in feminist protests. ... When I talk about the pull [that] this doll has and how powerful it is to have this plaything that you could project onto, I speak from personal experience." Now a new live-action movie, simply titled "Barbie," has whipped up enthusiasm from adults about all things Barbie. Barbie is an aspect of American culture that has became a global phenomenum. "I was born and raised in Japan, and when I was a little, I didn't have any Barbie dolls," said Azusa Sakamoto, a renowned Barbie collector. "[Now], I don't even know much about other doll brands or anything, but I just love Barbie as a brand. So when I first met her, she was already like a huge American pop-culture icon to me," Sakamoto said. "She always just gave me, like, some positive vibes... just telling me how to have fun being a girl." GUESTS Julie Russell, founder and CEO of Fangirl Fantasy, an event-planning company based in Greater Boston Emily Tamkin, journalist and author of the Smithsonian Magazine article, “A Cultural History of Barbie” Azusa Sakamoto, a renowned Barbie collector and founder of Azusa Barbie Module -
Offering free food and shade, 'food forests' are sprouting up in Boston
Cities across the country are dotted with vacant lots — often overgrown with weeds, full of trash or surrounded by dilapidated buildings. The unused spaces are at best an eyesore. But some community groups see those empty spaces as an opportunity for food forests: vibrant, public spaces that can also feed their community. "They're open to all visitors. Humans and non-humans alike are welcome to the produce," Orion Kriegman, founding executive director of the Boston Food Forest Coalition, told Under the Radar. "So, if you see an apple growing in a food forest, you're welcome to pick it and eat it, unlike in a community garden where that might create some tension. And the gardening really happens collectively." "It's something that happens through community workdays, through volunteer time, and people really have to plan that. And ultimately, it's something that we own together, which is a little bit of a stretch in our culture, to think of ownership as something we can do collectively," said Kriegman. They kick-started the program in 2013, and now Boston has 10 food forests offer everything from fig trees to mushroom logs to shaded park benches. The Boston Food Forest Coalition is aiming to develop a total of 30 by the end of the decade. The coalition edged closer to its goal when the Edgewater Neighborhood Association officially opened a new food forest in Mattapan this May. Vivien Morris, the association's chair, said there was already a community garden in the area, but all the plots were taken. They wanted a space where everyone could have access to food, while also reflecting the diversity of the community and restrictions of cold weather. "Our neighborhood is largely Afro-Latino, Black, Afro-Caribbean, people from southern roots. That makes up the large majority of our neighborhood. And yet we are in New England, right? So, we had to select plants that will grow well here, as well as hoping to grow plants that people would want to see." Morris was pleased to see that there were already several black walnut trees on the plot of land, but it was a learning process to figure out what could grow together. "And as a person who grew up in the south and grew up eating black walnuts, that was great. On the other hand, what we found is that many of us thought, 'Oh, let's plant some apple trees.' And it turns out that apple trees can't grow near black walnut trees," said Morris. "We did plant cherry trees, pear trees, grapevines, raspberries, other things like that. But we listened to what people wanted to see grown as well as what was possible to be grown." GUESTS Orion Kriegman, founding executive director of the Boston Food Forest Coalition Vivien Morris, chair of the Edgewater Neighborhood Association Module
