City awards first new liquor licenses under 2024 legislation
Now, the restaurant is preparing to start serving wine and beer, as well as an expanded menu, after being awarded a liquor license, part of 225 new permits allocated under legislation passed by the State House and pushed by the city government last year, targeting licenses toward communities of color.

‘It’s not too late’: Health commission pushes for more vaccination in face of flu uptick
That was down from the week before, when the trend hit a peak at nearly 12% of visits, but still above last year’s 6.27% and the baseline of 1.9% — a value determined by the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention that serves as a benchmark for what qualifies as higher-than-normal levels of influenza.

New state initiatives aim to connect vets with more, increased benefits
Attendees listen at a Veteran Lunch and Learn event hosted by the Harvard Street Neighborhood Health Center’s Veteran Outreach Center, Feb. 20. The event explored a new veteran benefits estimator tool, released by the state, aimed at connecting veterans with more benefits, part of a statewide effort to increase support for the community.

Remembering the indelible Roberta Flack
Zion Church by playing hymns and spirituals on piano. She also enjoyed going to the “Baptist church down the street” to listen to contemporary gospel music including songs performed by Mahalia Jackson and Sam Cooke..

Beyond Tulsa: Uncovering America’s forgotten Black Wall Streets and their legacies today
In the early 1900s, the Greenwood District flourished with over 100 Blackowned businesses, from restaurants and grocery stores to hotels and hospitals. Brick office buildings lined the streets with Black doctors, lawyers, and dentists ready to serve their communities.

Boycotting companies that abandon DEI commitments
The most famous boycott in the history of the Civil Rights Movement began in Montgomery, Alabama, in 1955 after seamstress Rosa Parks, an active member of the local NAACP, refused to surrender her seat to a white passenger and move to the back of the bus.

“If they don’t want us, then they don’t need our money.”
“If they don’t want us, then they don’t need our money.”.

IN THE NEWS
Corey Thomas was recently named chair of the board of directors of Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts. Thomas is currently chairman and CEO of the Boston-based software company Rapid7, a leading public cybersecurity software company valued at about $3.

DEI is not dead — and these state AGs tell us why
The election of Donald Trump has, as expected, put diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) in the crosshairs. By executive order, signed the day of his inauguration, Trump has mandated the “termination” of “diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility (DEIA) mandates, policies, programs, preferences and activities in the Federal Government.

Health care’s fragile foundation: What happens when we ignore the underserved?
Imagine two neighborhoods just a few miles apart. One is a picture of prosperity, with lush parks, fresh produce and topnotch healthcare, where residents benefit from an environment that promotes well-being and longevity.

We are here because of all the ancestors who tried
The power of Dorothy Height’s words, “I want to be remembered as one who tried,” strikes at the heart of Boston’s Black legacy. We are here because of all the ancestors who tried, those whose triumphs were blocked, those who persisted and those who succeeded.

Reflections on Black History
As a very difficult February comes to a close, we conclude another Black History Month in America, in the face of a direct assault on our Black history and cultural value. This celebration of our history and heritage has long roots that can be traced back to Harvard scholar Dr.

A stark contrast: The backlash against racial progress
As we enter this Black History Month, we find ourselves in a moment of sharp contrast. In the morning, we celebrate Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and his “I Have a Dream” speech — a call for racial equity and unity.

Code switching: Making history our greatest weapon
Each year when the calendar flips to February, we as a nation train our collective focus on the stories of Black people in American history, highlighting some of the myriad achievements, accomplishments and contributions we’ve made, indispensable fibers woven into the great tapestry that is the United States.

My father, my first and favorite Black history hero
My father, Bob Hayden, served many roles in our community: president of Boston’s NAACP, executive director of METCO, a regular columnist for the Bay State Banner, assistant superintendent of Boston Public Schools, a professor of African American...

We don’t need Trump’s permission to celebrate us
In kicking off Black History Month in 2017, Trump hosted a “listening session” at the White House, leaving attendants scratching their heads wondering if he knew Douglass — a self-liberated former enslaved male turned abolitionist — died in 1895.

Who is afraid of Black Power?
On the second floor of the Metropolitan Museum in New York, within the Contemporary and Modern Art wing, I noticed a sphinx’s nose displayed on a shelf in the gift shop.

We must preserve our history
I have always been curious about African American history because when I was growing up, the inquisitive kid that I was, there was no mention in my textbooks that we as a people individually or collectively contributed to anything. We saw Indians depicted as savages and the cowboys always won, but Black people were invisible.

Looking back to now: This moment in Black history
Looking back, will they see the first quarter of the 21st century as a pivotal moment of retrenchment, comparable to the imposition of Jim Crow after the promises of the post-Civil War era of Reconstruction? Will Donald Trump be viewed as the Roger...

Our history is what shapes us
I came to Boston first as a college student and then as a young adult exploring a media career. This seemed to be a state where people were interested in working on the cutting edge of their fields. History and storytelling became my tools, and I believed there was power in curiosity and in learning.

Exploring our past, envisioning our future, creating community through film
As we celebrate Black History Month, we honor the rich, diverse and powerful stories that have shaped and continue to shape our culture, history and future. At ROXFILM, we revel in the strength, resilience and creativity of our ROXFILM family and beyond as they continue to amplify voices that have been overlooked or underrepresented.

We have real power
Let’s start with the power of thought. Over the years, I’ve worked with City Fresh Foods, The Urban Farming Institute and, most recently, a collective of folks who started the Movement Family Farm on 15 acres in New Hampshire.

Let’s learn from history while looking to the future
When people introduce me as a “Black leader,” I gently correct them: I am a leader who happens to be Black. This isn’t just a matter of semantics; it’s about how we frame leadership in America.

Preserving Black stories: We continue to rise
As I reflect on Black History Month 2025, I’m reminded why my late husband, Roland, and I wrote “Still I Rise: A Cartoon History of African Americans,” followed by our updated edition “Still I Rise: A Graphic History of African Americans.

Ernie Floyd, from basketball to broadcast
“Terry Walker, a celebrated agent for musical and theatrical talents, was the first person to ever show an interest in me. From the moment we met, he took me under his wing,” said Floyd. “I was a gangly teenager who knew next to nothing about the game of basketball.

O’Bryant girls, Holland boys are BPS city basketball champs
The young ladies of the John D. O’Bryant School of Mathematics and Science and the young men of the Dr. Albert D. Holland High School of Technology reign as city basketball champions of the Boston Public Schools following impressive victories in playoff competition.

Looking for Love: Former Nigerian scammer shares his secrets
In a candid interview, a former Nigerian scammer has shared his story of how he used to exploit vulnerable individuals through military romance scams and why he decided to leave that life behind.

The ‘Godfather of Menswear’ has acquired 9Tailors
Known as “the people’s choice for modern suiting,” 9Tailors works to create “premium bespoke clothing, customized to every body and identity. They are firmly committed to inclusivity and are positioning themselves as leaders in modernizing one of the world’s oldest traditions to fit real people for real life,” said Lahens.

New perspectives on Black History from Boston youth
This Black History Month, the Banner is teaming up with Write Boston’s Teens-In-Print Program, highlighting young voices of color. Each week, we will feature the work of three new students, who will deliver their perspectives on Black History and what it means to them.

Racism in medicine: How historical biases still harm Black patients today
Yet, as with many systems shaped by historical inequalities, racism has long influenced health care practices, making it difficult for Black people to receive equitable treatment.

The road to recovery: Altadena families struggle to rebuild after devastating wildfires
On Jan. 7, the day the Eaton fire began to burn in Southern California, 42-year-old Shai McCall did not think much of it, at first. She’s lived in her family’s Altadena home all her life, and it’s not unusual to see fires burning in the San Gabriel Mountains.

City of Boston’s Lift Every Voice
The City of Boston held a family-friendly intergenerational celebration of Black History Month at the Strand Theater in Dorchester on Sunday, February 23..

Heavy Metal Snowboard Competition
On February 22, the Red Bull Heavy Metal Snowboard Competition took over Boston City Hall Plaza..

Youth rally at the State House
Local 5th graders joined Families for Justice as Healing and T’ruah: The Rabbinic Call for Human Rights in the fight for a five-year prison and jail moratorium in Massachusetts..

MelanIN Medicine celebrates Black History Month
MelanIN Medicine’s Vice President Meghan and network coordinator, Thati, get ready to host Black Culture Jeopardy at Estella..

Making Boston Safer
On Feb 25, faith leaders from across the city of Boston met with Mayor Wu about their partnership to make Boston the safest city in the country..

Mfoniso Udofi’s Ufot Family Cycle continues with ‘The Grove’ Second in series of nine plays
A cluster of shimmering silver poles evokes the stand of trees where ancestors and living family members meet in “The Grove,” on stage at the Calderwood Pavilion of the Boston Center for the Arts through March 9 in a world premiere production by the Huntington Theater Company.

Local teens curate show of Dutch, Flemish artworks at MFA
The Museum of Fine Arts, Boston is a globally recognized institution with a reputation for bringing decisive scholarship and illuminating curation to the public.

Castle of Our Skins Wind Ensemble debuts world premiere Brian Raphael Nabors composition
The concert is part of the Celebrity Series of Boston Solo(s) Together project, an initiative born during the pandemic that matches composers with Boston-based ensembles with the specific guidelines that compositions should feature a solo for each musician as well as group performance.