Episodes
-
How American English has borrowed, stolen, and evolved into an imperial language
Language is perhaps our most powerful tool. It has been improved, imposed and modified widely over time. From James Baldwin, to the first settlers in the Plymouth Colony, to beat poets, to hip-hop artists, American English in all its forms has become a global, and imperial language. "Words are never static, they go through changes, and in fact, change is the essential element for any language to thrive," said Ilan Stavans, professor of humanities and Latin American and Latino culture at Amherst College. "We borrow, we steal, that is in American English, from other languages, and also lend words to other languages and that give-and-take is essential." Language is at the forefront of many cultural debates. It both unites and divides us. What language should we use when educating our children? How should we classify cultural dialects or colloquial languages, like Black vernacular English? "There are people who are bringing other languages to English in ways that are not really happening with any other global language, like Chinese for example," said Patrick Cox, host of the popular Subtitle podcast and former editor and reporter for The World. "In that sense, I think it gives English the chance to evolve and transform and take on new, not just words, but phrases and thought patterns in a way that some of those other languages don't." From the ubiquity of English, to understanding how language might help explain our current political moment, we analyze how words both help and hurt our culture on this week's episode of Under the Radar with Callie Crossley guest hosted by Phillip Martin. GUESTS: Ilan Stavans, Professor of Humanities and Latin American and Latino Culture at Amherst College, and editor of a new book: “The People's Tongue: Americans and the English Language.” Patrick Cox, host of the popular "Subtitle" podcast and former editor and reporter for The World. Patrick is the winner of the Linguistic Society of America’s 2019 Linguistics Journalism Award. -
Boston local and saxophone prodigy, Grace Kelly, is only getting started
As a young girl, Brookline musician Grace Kelly dreamed of being Hollywood actress turned princess of the same name, Grace Kelly. The saxophonist told Under the Radar how movies have long inspired her musically: "Movies have always taken me into this other reality, and I think music is similar in that when you see amazing musicians on stage, working together, creating this amazing moment that gives that emotional release, like 'oh, this is just beautiful,' and I feel that way when I'm making music." The talented musician grew up to make a name for herself as a performer, playing alongside saxophone legend Phil Woods and as a soloist with the Boston Pops Orchestra at just 14. At 16, she performed at President Obama's 2009 inauguration. But professional musicians took note of her skill when she was only in middle school: "Back when I was starting professionally at 13 I didn't even know that could be a job ... I have had such incredible mentors ... starting with my first saxophone teacher who invited me to play at his jam session when I was 12-years-old, and I had never done that before." Now, at 30, the prodigy is showcasing her love for the movies in the East Coast premiere of a special concert: ‘At the Movies: Grace Kelly with Strings' featuring a 15-piece ensemble at the Berklee Performance Center on April 29. GUEST Grace Kelly, saxophonist, singer, songwriter, band leader, co-leader of the band 2saxy and composer of Under the Radar’s theme music -
LGBTQ News Roundtable: A record amount of anti-LGBTQ bills
417 anti-LGBTQ+ bills were introduced in several state legislatures this year alone, according to data published by the ACLU. That is a record amount, and more than twice the amount of anti-LGBTQ+ bills introduced last year. And private companies have become entangled in culture wars, including Bud Light as a transgender TikTok influencer and activist was featured in a social media ad promoting the beer. Plus, some activists continue to take to the streets. One LGBTQ+ group in New Hampshire, Rainbow Reload, is taking up arms for self-protection. Those stories and more on our LGBTQ news roundtable. GUESTS: Grace Sterling Stowell, executive director of the Boston Alliance of Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender Queer Youth, or BAGLY. Janson Wu, executive director of GLBTQ Legal Advocates and Defenders, or GLAD. E.J. Graff, journalist, author and managing editor of The Monkey Cage, an independent, political science–oriented blog at the Washington Post. -
Has the Boston cannabis industry really become more equitable?
When Massachusetts legalized marijuana back in 2016, the new law included a mandate enforcing the industry to offer opportunities to communities disproportionately affected by the war on drugs and consistent over-policing for cannabis. In doing this, Massachusetts became the first state to write social equity for the marijuana industry into law. The state also created the Cannabis Control Commission to help those who were eligible to open a dispensary. There were two programs new dispensary owners could go through: the Economic Empowerment Program and the Social Equity Program. But since these programs were introduced, many have found it difficult to get CCC approval for a distribution license. More recently, state officials announced the creation of the Cannabis Social Equity Advisory Board, a committee tasked with deciding how the state will dispense money to cannabis entrepreneurs. "A lot of people that look like me don't have the opportunity to enter this industry because the barriers are set up from the jump," said Dru Ledbetter, the CEO of cannabis delivery company Flower Xpress and owner and CEO of the Zeb Boutique dispensary. About 68% of the active marijuana establishment agents in Massachusetts are white, according to data collected by the Cannabis Control Commission. Only 8% are Hispanic or Latino and 6% are Black. As for gender, 63% of active establishment owners are men and 36% are women, according to the same data. "I believe that any person that has a marijuana offense, currently or in the past, that should be wiped from their record," said Tito Jackson, a former Boston city councilor and CEO of Apex Noire, "because there are companies who are operating in the state of Massachusetts who are making hundreds of millions of dollars, and I guarantee you none of the people currently locked up sold anywhere near as much as some of those companies." Has the industry actually become more equitable, and have these moves toward a more inclusive cannabis industry been successful? Ledbetter and Jackson joined Under the Radar to share their experiences and perspectives. GUESTS: Dru Ledbetter, CEO of Flower Xpress, a recreational cannabis delivery company, and the owner and CEO of Zeb Boutique, a cannabis retail dispensary in Boston Tito Jackson, former Boston city councilor and CEO of the new cannabis dispensary, Apex Noire -
Processing the Boston Marathon bombings, 10 years later
Ten years ago, tragedy struck Boston. On April 15, 2013, two bombs exploded near the finish line of the Boston Marathon, killing three and wounding more than 200. It will forever be remembered as a dark day for the city. But the day will also be remembered for the heroic actions that saved victims. "As Captain Bob 'Sarge' Haley said, 'Everybody ran the right way that day.' Meaning everybody ran towards where people needed help, where the bombs went off," Rich Serino, former chief of Boston EMS, told Under the Radar. "And that, I think, is what people were trained to do. And people made a difference and saved lives." Still, the impact of the explosion was felt far beyond the blast radius. From safety procedures to police surveillance, certain elements of the city will never be the same. And questions about the attack remain. "Who built the bombs? A fundamental question, right? Who built the bombs?" said Bruce Gellerman, former senior correspondent for WBUR. "[The federal prosecutor] said that the bombs were too sophisticated for the Tsarnaevs to have made. They had to have resources they didn't have, they must've had help ... they don't know who made the bombs. To this day they don't know." Ten years later, we are reflecting on this horrific event to understand the full impact of the bombing, how the city has healed, and what scars remain. GUESTS Bruce Gellerman, former senior correspondent for WBUR Rich Serino, Distinguished Senior Fellow at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, former Deputy Administrator for the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), and former Chief of Boston EMS -
Boston's new director of nightlife looks to change city's after-dark scene
Boston has often been ranked as having a notoriously poor nightlife. Most clubs have a two a.m. curfew and the trains stop running just after midnight. It's even hard to find a bar that closes after one a.m. despite the city being known as a bar-town. Boston was ranked as the thirteenth best city to travel to by several travel blogs and review websites. That's not a terrible rating, but we are nowhere near other cities, like New York City or Miami. What kind of toll does this take on the tourism and entertainment economoy here, and how can the city grow into a more social hub? Corean Reynolds is the newly appointed director of nightlife economy for the city of Boston. Her role is not only to help Boston stay awake later, but also to imrpove the city's nightlife and entertainment econommy. "We have 23 robust, unique, culturally diverse neighborhoods in the city of Boston, and we want to encourage not only fellow Bostonians, but folks who travel here to indulge in those neighborhoods," said Reynolds. "Part of that is looking for new policy and new ways to engage those neighborhoods." Reynolds' role also focuses on the retention rate of Boston residents, and encouraging the thousands of college students and tourists to think of Boston as more than a temporary location. "Folks go home, go to work, and go home, but we want folks to interact with each other and their community, and to build a sense of community. That's what will make people stay," said Reynolds. Mayor Michelle Wu and the Office of Economic Oppurtunity and Inclusion launched the SPACE Grant program last year, a program funded by the American Rescue Plan which aims to promote small business growth in Boston industries most impacted by the pandemic. Companies will be able to recieve three-year grants of up to 200 thousand dollars to help with startup costs. GUESTS: Corean Reynolds, the director of nightlife economy for Boston’s city government, previously the director of economic inclusion at The Boston Foundation. -
Boston has a decorated jazz history, but it's no longer as easy to find jam sessions
Jazz, one of America’s great art forms, has a decorated history in Boston. Charlie Parker performed here in the early '50s. Clubs from the Hi-Hat to Savoy Café lined the streets. And Miles Davis resuscitated his career here in 1981, playing a string of sold-out shows. Sue Auclair helped coordinate Davis' return. She described the moment she broke the news to Eric Jackson, who spearheaded decades of radio programming at GBH: "I said, 'You're not gonna believe this but Miles is coming to Boston.' I told him the details, he cut the music midstream — which no one ever does — and he announces this. ... We sold the thing out four nights." But the prevalence of jazz in Boston is not what it once was. From a change in culture to a lack of clubs and gentrification, Auclair and other Under the Radar guests discussed the past, present and future of jazz in Boston. Tessil Collins, host of the Jazz Gallery at GBH, laments today's lack of dedicated jazz venues. "When you look at these places, though, you're talking about playing jazz at a restaurant ... you're having a meal, people are talking, and there's a band over here in the corner doing background music," he said. "It's unfortunate that we have to settle for that." Gentrification and "nightclub apartheid" has impacted the scene as well, says George "Chip" Greenidge Jr., founder and director of the nonprofit Greatest MINDS. "12 years ago [I told a Boston Globe editor], 'Boston has this feeling where it's called nightclub apartheid.' ... You know, people of color are usually relegated on the Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday nights, and Friday, Saturday, Sundays will be given to, pretty much, white people," he said. "... So, we do have to talk about gentrification, we do have to talk about space and place and where people feel comfortable." Greenidge said there used to be more affordable entertainment options. Now, he says, there are few places to just "sit and enjoy yourself." GUESTS Sue Auclair, longtime jazz promoter and president of Sue Auclair Promotions, a Boston-based PR and marketing firm servicing the arts, entertainment and media industries Tessil Collins, host of The Jazz Gallery & managing producer of Jazz 24/7 online Radio at GBH George “Chip” Greenidge Jr., founder and director of the Greatest MINDS, a nonprofit that works with young students and professionals to become civic leaders -
Nguyễn Phan Quế Mai tells the untold stories of the Vietnam War in new book, "Dust Child"
The legacy of the Vietnam War is on their faces. The children of the American GI’s stationed in Vietnam during the war and the local women who bore them – left behind and overwhelmingly rejected. Author Nguyễn Phan Quế Mai braids together the stories of a young mother hoping for a life in America, an adult son searching for the father he never knew, and an American Vietnam war veteran looking for redemption. “Dust Child” is at once empathetic, devastating, and upbeat burnished with Quế Mai's stunning signature prose. "I think we are blessed with a life on this Earth so that we can uplift each other, and I really think every one of us has so much power inside of us that we can use for a good purpose," said Quế Mai when asked what she wants her readers to take away from her novel. Nguyễn Phan Quế Mai is the author of twelve books of fiction, poetry and non-fiction written in Vietnamese and English. Her work has been translated into twenty languages. Her first novel “The Mountains Sing”, the first written in English, was a runner up for the 2021 Dayton Literary Peace Prize and other awards including the 2021 Pen Oakland Josephine Miles Literary Award, and the 2021 International Book Award. “Dust Child” is her second historical novel, and it’s our April selection for “Bookmarked: The Under the Radar Book Club". -
50 years after the U.S. exited Vietnam, a new exhibit sheds light on the infamous 'Hanoi Hilton'
50 years ago, direct U.S. involvement in the Vietnam war officially ended as the last remaining combat troops and prisoners of war (POWs) returned to American soil. It was a complex moment for the country as the war was deeply unpopular and ended in defeat. More than 58,000 Americans died in the war, and three million Vietnamese. Fredrik Logevall told Under the Radar that Americans were ready for the war to be over: "I think they felt on some level, many of them, conflicted. They wanted these deaths to be justified, for this to matter." After the Paris Peace Accords were signed on January 27th, 1973, American POWs were sent home in February and March. “The prettiest thing I ever saw was when I looked out the window and saw the golden gate," one POW told KPIX in 1973, shortly after walking off the plane at an Air Force Base in California. "I want you all to remember that we walked out of Hanoi as winners. We’re not walking with our tail between our legs. We return with honor.” But the horrors of war can be hard to forget. Tim Sullivan spent about five years at the "Hanoi Hilton," an infamous Vietnamese prison, and described to Under the Radar what happened soon after his plane was shot down: "I ended up being interrogated right after I got there and went through probably three or four hours of basic interrogation. They were doing the, 'I'll ask you a question, you give me an answer, if I don't like it, I'll smack you until I get the answer I like.'" Now, a half century after [Operation Homecoming](htthttps://www.nationalmuseum.af.mil/Visit/Museum-Exhibits/Fact-Sheets/Display/Article/197496/operation-homecoming/), the prisoner experience at the "Hanoi Hilton" is recreated in a new Massachusetts exhibit. "The cells that we have are actual cells that came from the 'Hanoi Hilton' in Vietnam. So when you walk into them you're getting the feeling of what it was like to be in these cells, and one of the most powerful torture techniques is actually isolation. And the guys will tell you they spent sometimes four or five years in solitary confinement..." Under the Radar gets a first-person account of the POW experience and expert analysis as the country reflects on the 50 years since withdrawing from the Vietnam War. GUESTS Tim Sullivan, Vietnam War veteran and former prisoner of war Rob Collings, president of the American Heritage Museum Fredrik Logevall, professor of International Affairs at the John F. Kennedy School of Government and professor of History at Harvard University, author of the Pulitzer Prize-winning book, Embers of War: The Fall of an Empire and the Making of America’s Vietnam -
Encore: The sugar-filled history and legacy of Necco, the beloved local candy company
Necco, aka the New England Confectionery Company, was the oldest candy company in the United States at the time of its closure in 2018. Based here in Revere, Massachusetts, the company played a historic role in the world of American candy. Necco manufactured national favorites like Clark Bars, Candy Buttons, Sky Bars and Sweethearts. But their bestseller was without a doubt the Necco wafers, dating back to 1847. Interestingly, Necco marketed its wafers in a number of ways. Darlene Lacey, an author and curator of the Candy Wrapper Museum, told Under the Radar that the company wasn't really sure how to position the candy. "In the early times, they focused on them being the perfect treat for hostesses at afternoon teas. They had them described as a 'fairy feast' in a garden of delights. Very delicate, very romantic," she described. "... And then as time went on, they started to skew them a little bit more towards kids, and then later into the nostalgia market." The company was sold a handful of years ago to the Ohio-based Spangler Candy Company. But how did this shift impact the candy manufacturing world? Under the Radar talked with Lacey about everything from favorite sweet treats to the future of the candy production industry.
