Bill Strickland: A long life of teaching, inspiring and activism
“You’ve been acquainted with personal reserves you never knew you had,” he added. “That can create a certain image that can also work against you, because you can start to believe you are invulnerable.

After fleeing, Haitian migrants find a temporary home in JP
Fontin is one of thousands of Haitian immigrants who have fled the country’s long-running crisis in recent years and settled in Massachusetts. While many Haitians have been deported from the U.S.

Gaza protests engulf local college campuses
“There’s been a hard crackdown on pro-Palestinian organizing at colleges across the country,” she said, standing at the entrance to the Boylston Place alley where, in the early hours of the following day, Boston police would arrest 118 of her fellow students, throwing students to the ground and sending at least two to the hospital.

Filmmaker Ava DuVernay on her film ‘Origin’
“When I finally picked it up, I was so grateful for it, because it gave me language to organize my thoughts,” she told the audience at an April 24 talk at the Harvard Kennedy School.

New Rainbow PUSH Coalition president steps down after only three months
“I remain committed to honoring the rich history of [the Rainbow PUSH Coalition] and the legacy of its esteemed leader, the incomparable Reverend Jesse L. Jackson Sr., and, most significantly, to the calling and pursuit of social justice,” Haynes said in a statement to Chicago’s ABC7, at the time of his resignation in April.

Non-violent student protests are the conscience of our nation
Student protests over deadly Israeli military strikes in Gaza have roiled college campuses across America, resulting in fierce debates over free speech, the right to assemble and the responsibility of college administrators to ensure the safety of all its students, faculty, staff and the surrounding community.

“There’s power in protest. Let’s hope the world is listening.”
“There’s power in protest. Let’s hope the world is listening.”.

IN THE NEWS
Paris Alston, co-host of GBH’s “Morning Edition,” was recently named a recipient of the 2024 Black Excellence on the Hill Award.

Black workers are being left out of the clean energy boom
The Environmental Protection Agency recently announced $7 billion in grants for solar energy programs in residential communities. It is the latest round of public funding for the clean energy sector, which has seen $464 billion in investments since 2022.

Forcing polluters to clean up their mess means new hope for communities
This is good news for Ortiz’s family and countless others, including the 30 million people who get their drinking water from the Great Lakes. Coal ash contains toxic pollutants like mercury, arsenic and cancer-causing polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) that leach into groundwater.

Art show to identify barriers to safer hair care products
Community members learn about the potential impact of chemicals in hair care products at the RESTYLE Community Art Show, April 25. The show, held at the Substation in Roslindale, was part of community-focused research by Harvard public health PhD candidate Marissa Chan, into barriers to access of safer hair care products.

Hunger in Africa as drought hits the south and famine hits Sudan
The prolonged dry spell, which the U.N. said is the worst in decades, is the result of El Niño, a weather phenomenon that disrupts weather patterns. During the growing season, the region received less than half of its normal expected rainfall, shriveling crops and killing off livestock.

Low-income solar marred by complex billing and inavailability
According to figures from the state, only about 2,000 low-income households subscribe to community solar arrays out of a potential client base of 400,000, an abysmally low penetration rate of .5 percent.

Fighting erasure of our culture
“This is precisely the time when artists go to work. There is no time for despair, no place for self-pity, no need for silence, no room for fear. We speak, we write, we do language. That is how civilizations heal, “ wrote Toni Morrison, in “No Place for Self-Pity, No Room for Fear.

BECMA report: 117% increase in grants in ’23
The Black Economic Council of Massachusetts issued twice as many grants in 2023 than the year before, according to the organization’s most recent annual report.

Black insurance professionals look to increase numbers in industry
Members of the National African American Insurance Association said the largest barrier to entry in the insurance industry was a lack of general knowledge and awareness of opportunities in a field that collects revenues from virtually every household in America.

NFL draft makes history with Black QBs in first two picks
Last week’s draft marked a historic moment in the National Football League. Caleb Williams and Jayden Daniels — both winners of the coveted Heisman Trophy — became the first Black quarterbacks to be selected as the top two picks in pro football history.

Black Unicorns increase ranks of marathoners of color
“Being a Black marathoner is a subculture. Many of us find each other on Facebook. Through social media channels, you can find someone who not only understands what you’re doing, but the training involved. It’s a place of safety, but also serves as a place to get information and education,” she said.

Brandeis basketball program continues to struggle with race issues
Due to recent developments that took far too long to come to light, the university bearing the name of one of this country’s most extraordinary legal minds is reeling under reports of scandalous behavior by varsity basketball coaches and the administrators who are supposed to be governing them.

The 1930s come alive in ‘Jiggin’ at the Jug’ at the Strand Theatre
Melvin Murphy was born with a song in his heart. The self-taught musician learned to love music in church choir and honed his skills for decades. Now he’s ready to share something new with Boston.

Fashion and jewelry are threaded together in ‘Dress Up’ at MFA
Dressing up is steeped both in fantasy and reality. Children dress up as cops and queens and bring their fantasy selves to life with badges and tiaras. In adulthood, sartorial choices tend to be less about play and become more pragmatic.

‘A Strange Loop’ brings queer Black representation to the stage
When Dorchester native Kai Clifton saw “A Strange Loop,” it was the first time he had ever seen a queer Black character represented at the heart of a musical. After years of studying and participating in theater, Clifton finally felt like he belonged.

Celebrating 65 years, Ailey breathes new life into past productions
Running from May 2-5 at the Boch Center Wang Theater downtown, the dance performances will introduce audiences to premieres by Amy Hall Garner and Jamar Roberts, celebrate Alvin Ailey’s extensive repertoire with the classics, and bring the past into the present with restagings of works by Alonzo King and Ronald K.

‘Ethiopia at the Crossroads’ at Peabody Essex Museum surveys 2,000 years of art
Ethiopia is one of the world’s oldest nations and served as a crossroads of diverse cultures and religions in the ancient world. This long and rich history is now on display in Salem at the Peabody Essex Museum.

JAMES PERRY IN CONVERSATION WITH ARTIST Rob ‘Problak’ Gibbs
This is the 19th interview in a weekly series presenting highlights of conversations between leading Black visual artists in New England. In this week’s installment, artist James Perry talks to artist Rob “Problak” Gibbs. The interview has been condensed and edited for clarity.