The decades spanning 1965 to 2025 weren’t just a period of change for the Bay State Banner; it was an era of radical transformation—a proving ground that cemented the paper’s legacy. As New England’s longest-running Black-owned newspaper, the Banner stood firm on its vital mission: chronicling the triumphs and tackling the systemic struggles of Greater Boston’s communities of color. Yet, this era was defined by two existential battles: navigating a ruthless, contracting media economy and executing a critical, forward-looking ownership transfer designed to launch the Banner securely into the digital age.
Roxbury in the 1960s was a crucible of change. The escalating disparities, particularly my inability to attend the school of my parents’ choice, The Garrison School, pushed them to move outside the city limits. But the ties to Roxbury—and to the truth—never frayed. My father, a “druggist” on Columbus Avenue, always stocked the Banner, and he bought a copy every single week. He and my mother didn’t just read the paper; they pored over the news, treating every issue like a rare, indispensable document. They felt, correctly, that no other paper gave an accurate assessment of Roxbury, Dorchester, or Mattapan.
From the Banner, they knew they would always get a “fair shake,” as my father put it. They collected past issues, passing them on to out-of-town relatives so they could finally “see the news.”
Under the leadership of founder Melvin B. Miller, the Banner remained fiercely focused on those same local issues that mainstream outlets overlooked in the ‘60s. It was—and is—the essential institutional watchdog. Key coverage areas ranged from the pivotal development of Roxbury Community College to exposing persistent racial disparities in health and education, and providing necessary context on flashpoints like the Stewart Case.
The paper provided the depth, nuance, and perspective on local government, criminal justice policy, and social justice movements through the specific, unflinching lens of the African-American and Caribbean-American communities it serves. This focused perspective proved essential during national crises, from the resurgence of the social justice movements to documenting the disproportionate and devastating impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on minority populations across the city and the Commonwealth.
We feel an immense responsibility to continue to pursue these truths for the Black and brown communities—a populace that has been replenished and diversified since the paper’s inception near our present-day offices.
We see the new faces every day—people from a vibrant variety of places around the globe—and we are committed to reflecting those images in our coverage of newsworthy stories. The beauty of covering the Greater Boston area is discovering that the best stories and the most profound impact stretch far beyond the city limits.
To meet the moment, the Banner is embracing a full-service media future. We are aggressively incorporating more video and dynamic digital content to engage a younger, technologically savvy audience. Simultaneously, we made a powerful statement about the importance of the physical paper by increasing its size to a broadsheet format, bringing back sections like local sports, and bolstering both business and culture coverage.
This commitment to growing both our print circulation (which remains free and widely distributed) and our digital footprint proves that we function as more than a newspaper— we are an interactive community resource and a vital portal of opportunity.
Ultimately, the last ten years have done more than confirm the Bay State Banner’s survival. We have cemented its place as a renewed, formidable force. By balancing its legacy of uncompromising community journalism with essential modern media strategies, the Banner’s recent history is a powerful blueprint: it shows how hyperlocal, mission-driven journalism can successfully adapt to changing times while remaining laser-focused on amplifying marginalized voices. Thank you to all of our sponsors and readers for making the Bay State Banner a Legacy of Love.
Andre Stark
Associate Publisher, Bay State Banner
