3 November 2011

Black Activism: Yesterday & Today

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State Rep. Byron Rushing joined local community activists at Hibernian Hall Oct. 19 to discuss the history of the 45-year-old Madison Park Development Corporation, as well as highlight the roots of black activism in Boston. It was an enlightening conversation among elder activists that showed that change is possible when all people organize as one around a common agenda and goal.

So it was interesting when Occupy Boston activist Brian Kwoba got up during the discussion to ask the panelists what tips the current Occupy Movement could take away. Panelist and Dudley Main Streets executive director Joyce Stanley said that unlike the Roxbury activists of the 1960s who organized around not allowing the I-95 to be built in the community, the Occupy Wall Street movement doesn’t have a clear agenda nor has it made any specific goals for their protest.

“If you don’t have clear goals when you are organizing a movement, eventually people start to lose interest in what you are protesting about,” Stanley said.

Watch the video here

17 September 2011

Interview with NAACP chairman Roslyn Brock

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Roslyn McCallister Brock, chairman of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) national board, was the keynote speaker at the centennial gala for the Boston Branch on September 17. Last year she succeeded Julian Bond, becoming the fourth woman and the youngest person to serve in the position. In recent years, the organization has been accused of lacking relevance and not addressing the concerns of younger African Americans. However, during the gala, it seemed like there was an explicit effort to redress these complaints.

Watch the video interview here

1 September 2011

Interview with Randal Pinkett

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Dr. Randal Pinkett was a speaker at the National Urban League conference in Boston July 27 – 30. The former “Apprentice” star has dedicated his life to improving the lives of other black males by writing books and doing motivational speaking nationwide. I found him to be a very impressive person. He is the complete package – tall, dark, handsome, smart, articulate, educated and runs his own business.

Watch the video interview here

10 August 2011

Boston: Perceptions Beyond Race

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After a year of preparations, the National Urban League conference came through Boston without a hitch. State and local officials as well as leaders from the city’s communities of color went above and beyond the call of duty to make sure NUL attendees not only had a satisfactory conference, but would also leave with the best possible impression of the city.

For the last 30 years, Bostonians have suffered with this unfortunate reputation of being “racist.” However, after speaking to numerous attendees on and off camera about their experience in town, some of these attitudes might be changing.

Watch the video here