O.J. Simpson, 76, dies of cancer
Orenthal James Simpson, the hall-of-fame running back and pitchman supreme whose acquittal on charges of double-murder proved a racial Rorschach test on perceptions of justice and police misconduct in America, died April 10 of prostate cancer at his home in Las Vegas.

2024 Boston Marathon
Boston Marathon 2024 winners Sisay Lemma and Hellen Obiri share their trophy, with Obiri’s daughter looking on. See page 14 for more marathon coverage..

James Brown tribute concert packs the Strand
“James Brown himself got involved … and said, ‘Mr. Mayor, you don’t want to cancel this concert. And in fact, you really want this concert to happen because you would rather have people listening to my music and being inside versus on your streets, destroying your city,’” said Darryl Settles, president of Catalyst Ventures Development.

Upcoming election season heats up
Black voters heading to the polls later this year in Massachusetts will have the opportunity to weigh in on not only the 2024 presidential race — a rematch between incumbent President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump — but a contested race for the U.

TrailblazHers files suit over ’23 Boston Marathon incident
Members of a Black-led running group filed suit on the cusp of this year’s Boston Marathon alleging racial discrimination by race organizers and Newton police for the way they were corralled and surrounded while trying to cheer on their friends along the course at Heartbreak Hill during last year’s race.

Democratic leaders call for urgent action in Haiti
Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley was among a group of Democratic leaders, advocates and heads of Haitian-led organizations calling for U.S. elected officials during an April 11 press call to take “critical action” in addressing the escalating humanitarian crisis in Haiti.

The felonies have finally caught up to Donald J.Trump
On April 15, jury selection began in The People of the State of New York v. Donald Trump. This is the first-ever criminal trial of a former president of the United States, and it is one of four criminal and civil cases against Trump that are percolating before the presidential election of 2024.

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IN THE NEWS
Bryant’s through line began in South Africa, where, as a Northeastern grad student, she was part of the team that launched the Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academy for Girls. Back in Boston, for five years she taught AP history and led a winning Model UN program at Hyde Park High School’s Social Justice Academy.

The whitewashing of education – and how to stop it
No matter how much the right derides the word, the Black community needs to stay woke. In recent years, we’ve witnessed a disturbing trend that threatens the foundations of our democratic society: the rise of book bans, curriculum censorship and attacks on historical narratives in our educational institutions.

Investing in tomorrow: Clean energy as the path to prosperity for all
The crowd was about 10,000 people. I was there representing the Student Environmental Action Coalition (SEAC) and joining national leaders from the environmental and labor movements.

Black teachers: longer hours, lower pay, better attitude
Working longer hours, typically in under-resourced schools, Black teachers often climb up the rougher side of the educational mountain compared with their white peers.

Brockton School Board adds experienced educator
The Brockton NAACP hosted a candidate forum last week to help fill a vacancy on the school board at a time when the city’s schools are navigating a financial crisis and mounting frustration from parents over the state of public education in the majority-Black city.

MIT Sloan looks to boost hiring of people with criminal backgrounds
Speakers at the conference noted that there are between 70 million and 100 million Americans with criminal records, and many face stigma when applying for jobs, even when many industries are facing a dire shortage of workers.

Strategies to help you save
“I’m concerned,” Tomas Philipson, a professor of public policy studies at the University of Chicago and a former acting chair of the White House Council of Economic Advisers told CNBC. “People are hit on both fronts — lower real wages and higher rates.

Debit and credit card safety
The FDIC says to report lost or stolen cards immediately. The agency recommends calling your financial institution or using the app as soon as the card goes missing. You’re not responsible for charges or withdrawals after you report the loss, according to federal law, but you need to act fast.

Disney fends off anti-diversity board contender
Anti-woke activist and investor Nelson Peltz has lost his bid to gain a seat on Disney’s board, landing a blow to recent attacks against Disney’s commitment to inclusive characters.

Second round of SPACE Grants awarded
On April 3, 2024, Mayor Michelle Wu announced the second round of Supporting Pandemic Affected Community Enterprises (SPACE) Grant awardees. These local entrepreneurs will receive American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funding to help them expand their businesses and move into vacant storefronts.

Obiri wins back-to-back, Lemma wins first Boston title
The 128th edition of the Boston Marathon played to the script as male and female runners of color continued the current trend of dominant performances in this event.

Dartmouth hoopsters vote for union
“To be able to go out there and vote today, and do what we did and technically make history, and then come in here today and get the win and still be focused for that, is huge,” said McRae, who attended Kimball Union Academy in Plainfield, New Hampshire.

L’Merchie Frazier
his is the 17th interview in a weekly series presenting highlights of conversations between leading Black visual artists in New England. In this week’s installment, artist L’Merchie Frazier talks to artist Napoleon Jones-Henderson.

Comics in Color Festival highlights comic artists!
The center’s typical runners and basketball players will be replaced with superheroes, steampunk warriors and anime adventurers during the annual Boston Comics in Color Festival celebrating stories by and about people of color.

The Boston Public Quartet offers ‘A Radical Welcome’
On a recent evening, the jolting sounds of string instruments filled a room that was half dance studio, half gym. A quartet stood in the center of a mat-covered section of the space, each member stationed behind a music stand.

Colette Phillips’ Get Konnected! celebrates 16th birthday
Hundreds of attendees joined Colette Phillips at the JFK Library March 26 to celebrate the 16th birthday of Get Konnected! The evening also focused on the importance of diversity, equity and inclusion in corporate America and beyond. A panel discussion on DEI today was moderated by GBH television and World Channel General Manager Liz Cheng.

Banner hosts Boston high school champions at a Celtics Game
More than 30 students from Cathedral High School, Charlestown High School and New Mission High School — all winners of their respective basketball championships this season — commemorated their victories at the game during a trip sponsored by the Bay State Banner.