RCC celebrates its 50th anniversary
A panel discussion with alumni, commencement exercises and a block party last week punctuated Roxbury Community College’s year-long celebration of its 50th anniversary. The college opened its doors to students in September 1973 in Grove Hall and had several homes before moving in 1988 to its current campus in Roxbury Crossing.

New book chronicles Black Bostonians
Historian Jacqueline Jones, a Concord resident who retired from the University of Texas after teaching at Wellesley College and Brandeis University, unearthed the histories of Black activists and laborers and the whites who employed them in her book, “No Right to an Honest Living,” published this year by Basic Books.

Advocates push for medical civil rights
Following the death of Freddie Gray in police custody in Baltimore eight years ago, Leonore Dluhy and her physician father, Dr. Robert G. Dluhy, began to wonder what right to health care people have when they encounter police officers.

Black candidates stay in Dorchester Council race
Since it was created in 1983, District 3 has always been represented by a white councilor even as residents of color have become a majority of its population. It has been drawn as an “opportunity district” to allow voters of color a chance to elect the candidate of their choice.

Film, TV writers’ strike enters 3rd week
The East and West branches of the Writers Guild of America (WGA) represent 11,500 writers for television and film. Hundreds of writers and supporters are currently picketing outside of the traditional Hollywood studios of Disney, NBCUniversal, Paramount, Sony, Warner Bros.

More military mental health services could curb violence
So here we are once again, looking at the death of an unarmed Black man at the hands of a white man. And once again, our justice system was slow to react when it came to holding accountable the white man for the seemingly senseless murder. It took multiple days and protests that stopped many subway lines in the New York City transit system cold.

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“Black Women Lead” project at the Statehouse
“Black Women Lead” is a project to honor the collective accomplishments of Black women, in every area of life, in the greater Boston area since the 1700s. The project celebrates community and self-efficacy, and is a first step in educating children on the legacy and changing the narrative concerning Black women.

IN THE NEWS
Noelle Trent comes to MAAH from the National Civil Rights Museum in Memphis, where she served as the director of interpretation, collections and education.

Rip current of total disregard
The recent revelations that Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas accepted expensive gifts, lavish vacations and a property purchase, and that Neil Gorsuch had a real estate transaction with entities that had issues appearing before the court — and that they failed to report them — do not bolster our confidence.

An authentic taste of San Juan in Roxbury
The pulsating sound of merengue reverberated from the jukebox. It was a rhythmic love song playing for the crowd just in time for Valentine’s Day. Some of the customers swayed to the tune. They raised bottles of Heineken as they laughed and plunged into the food in front of them.

1866 Action Fund working to elect more Black ‘down-ballot’ candidates in Mass.
Reynolds Douglass Graves, CEO of The Graves Group lobbying firm, is hoping to help elect more Black Democratic candidates to local government offices in Massachusetts.

What rising interest rates mean for your wallet
rates have a bigger impact on your wallet than you may realize. With rates forecasted to continue rising in 2023, you can expect to pay more on things like credit card debt, mortgages, car loans, and other everyday purchases.

Ardent fans greet Terry McMillan at Mattapan Library
Admirers and diehard devotees of Terry McMillan gathered to hear the best-selling author speak at the Mattapan Branch of the Boston Public Library earlier this month. Some travelled to Boston from as far away as New Jersey, Baltimore and Washington, D.

New Roxbury center will lift up Black and Latino arts and culture
Although many programs that uplift arts and culture exist in Roxbury, the planned center will be the first physical space in the neighborhood specifically designated for artists and creators of color to interact. Other spaces nearby include Hibernian Hall, which hosts theater performances, and the Museum of the.

‘Don’t Cry for Me, Argentina’
Argentina’s legendary first lady Eva Perón has a life story that was always destined for the stage. From an impoverished childhood in the 1920s she found a passionate romance and became one of the most powerful figures in Argentine history, both beloved and reviled.

Dorchester Open Studios
Semi-annually, local artists throw open their studio doors and welcome the public into their creative spaces. Dorchester Open Studios provides an opportunity for community members to meet artists, learn about their practice and purchase their work in an informal setting.

’Tis the season to Savor the Square
Every month from April to October, The American City Coalition (TACC) will host vibrant cultural and community events in Nubian Square as part of the Savor the Square initiative. Music festivals, a book fair, local shopping and family celebrations are intended to bring the neighborhood together and increase economic development in the square.

Bridge Awards
For over 25 years, the company’s performances have taught about social justice, challenges and triumphs during a time to be known as the Harlem Renaissance Era. The program was restarted after a one year hiatus due to the COVID pandemic..