News
Company One brings 'A New Era' of Black suffragist stories to the stage
2+ hour ago (911+ words) Boston is a city defined by its revolutionary past. Stories of the American Revolution, abolition and the fight for women’s suffrage are woven into school lessons, walking tours and museums. Playwright Miranda Austen ADEkoje grew up in Boston and, like…...
Juneteenth celebration in Boston marks day of joy and resistance
3+ week, 3+ day ago (609+ words) Joy was on full display on the North Slope of Beacon Hill Friday during a Juneteenth celebration and outdoor festival that featured a Juneteenth flag-raising, live music and remarks from city officials. “We have celebrations from Beacon Hill to Roxbury,…...
In Provincetown, Womxn of Color Weekend celebrates 20 years
1+ mon, 1+ week ago (724+ words) Provincetown has long been a home for LGBTQ+ individuals, families and businesses. This week, Womxn of Color Weekend returns to the Cape Cod enclave to celebrate the organization’s 20th anniversary of bringing together LGBTQ+ women and people of color. The milestone…...
Boston’s 'Line Dancing Queens' want to see you on the dancefloor
1+ mon, 2+ week ago (665+ words) It’s the second day of The WBUR Festival! We’ve got sessions with authors, ambassadors and experts happening across Boston University’s campus today. But if you don’t have a ticket, don’t worry. You can still join us at the free Street…...
Benjamin Swan, a Springfield civil rights leader and former state rep, dies at 92
1+ mon, 2+ week ago (420+ words) Civil rights icon for the city of Springfield and former State Representative, Benjamin Swan, died Monday at age 92. From Selma, Alabama to Springfield, Massachusetts, Ben Swan has been called a pillar of his community by national figures like Reverend Dr....
How Sen. Charles Sumner — who was attacked in 1856 for opposing slavery — was 'ahead of his time"
1+ mon, 3+ week ago (131+ words) In 1856, a slave-owning representative from South Carolina used a cane to attack and beat Massachusetts Sen. Charles Sumner, who was vehemently opposed to slavery and spoke out against it. In the 1850s, the U.S. Congress was bitterly divided over the issue of…...
Life expectancy gap grows between Black Bostonians and others
4+ mon, 2+ week ago (565+ words) The gulf in life expectancy between Black Bostonians and all other races has doubled in the last decade, a new analysis finds. “ We cannot claim Boston as a beacon of health care while entire communities are left in the dark,…...
Mayor Wu names Boston's first Black fire chief
2+ mon, 3+ week ago (517+ words) Boston Mayor Michelle Wu has appointed Rodney Marshall as the city’s next fire commissioner. He is the first Black fire chief in the department’s nearly 350-year history. Marshall, 58, will replace Commissioner Paul Burke, who was appointed by Wu in 2022. He…...
Before Billie Jean King, Arthur Ashe and the Williams sisters, there was Althea Gibson
5+ mon, 3+ day ago (473+ words) To mark the 250th anniversary of the United States, we’re cataloging 25 objects that define the country’s history. Before Arthur Ashe became the first Black man to win Wimbledon, and before Billie Jean King won the famous “Battle of the Sexes,” there…...
Trailblazing Black and Indigenous sculptor left her mark on Boston
4+ mon, 1+ week ago (767+ words) At Mount Auburn Cemetery, on the Cambridge-Watertown line, there’s a hill at the bend of a path. On top is a sculpture that marks the family plot of Dr. Harriet Hunt, the first woman to practice medicine professionally. The sculpture…...