Karen Holmes Ward wraps up at WCVB after 44 years of community connection
Karen Holmes Ward (center right) walks down the hall at WCVB’s Needham station to the applause of her coworkers following the taping of her final Cityline show, Sept. 25. Holmes Ward, the WCVB’s director of public affairs and host and executive producer of Cityline, is wrapping up a 44-year career at the station.

Dismissed Black firefighter gets his day in court
The 15-year department veteran — who passed the lieutenant’s promotional exam amid legal proceedings — added on charges that the city was retaliating against him because of his fierce advocacy as vice president of the Black firefighters group, the Boston Society of Vulcans, for hiring more women and people of color to the Boston Fire Department.

50 years of Cape Verde’s independence celebrated on Martha’s Vineyard
Last month, more than 100 people gathered at the Martha’s Vineyard Museum to honor that heritage during “A Cape Verdean Experience — Amílcar Cabral: Freedom, Resistance, and Rhythm.” Event sponsors included the Underground Railroad Café, Cruz Companies and Sideline.

DOT axes $20 million in grants intended for Roxbury transit infrastructure
The Roxbury Resilient Corridors project — which was slated to add bike and bus lanes as well as improved sidewalks and new trees and green infrastructure — hit a speed bump in September after the Trump administration pulled $20 million in federal Department of Transportation funding that had been directed toward the effort.

Blue Cross volunteers support community on 15th annual Service Day
At the Boys & Girls Clubs of Boston’s Yawkey Club of Roxbury, the day carried a special meaning. Volunteers joined staff to help with general maintenance work, including deep cleaning the locker rooms, swimming pool, art, music and theater rooms, among many other spaces in the club.

Protecting our voice for the next 60 years
As we look forward to the next 60 years of the Bay State Banner, we must remember what we’ve come through to get here.

Bay State Banner at 60:
Quality journalism is all we have ever done..

Justice in the algorithm
Let us take a moment to be clear. In this new digital economy, data is the new oil — but more invasive, more intimate. It knows the pulse of our hearts, the inflection of our voices, the tilt of our politics. But unlike oil, data regenerates, multiplies, feeds itself.

IN THE NEWS
Dr. Kandice Sumner has spent her career working to close gaps in education and open doors for students of color. A Boston native, she grew up in the city but attended a suburban school through METCO, the nation’s longest-running voluntary desegregation program.

Fearing a second blacklist?
Everywhere I go lately, people whisper the same question: are we sliding into another blacklist era? They point to what happened to Stephen Colbert. They point to what happened to Jimmy Kimmel. They point to other entertainers whose shows, jokes,or politics suddenly seemed to cost them work.

Angel power: How one public school changed the world
What do Hattie McDaniel, Pam Grier, Don Cheadle, Philip Bailey, Larry Dunn, Andrew Woolfolk (three founding members of Earth, Wind & Fire), and billionaire Robert F. Smith have in common? They all received an extraordinary education at a public school, Denver, Colorado’s East High School.

Defending DEI, state urges schools to dig-in
Last spring, the Department of Education ordered all discrimination of protected characteristics, like race, sex, national origin or religion, to end. Diversity, equity and inclusion programs were implicated for advantaging some. The NAACP, states and labor unions sued.

For men in Boston, a new project offers therapy at a familiar place: the barbershop
Barbershops have long been known as places where Black men go for fellowship and support, as well as informal therapy. But through the mental health initiative The Barbershop Clinic, a Nubian Square barbershop is the gathering place for formal group therapy sessions.

Dorchester Bay EDC holds ‘Stay Bold’ annual fundraiser and celebration of arts
On Sept. 25, 2025 the Dorchester Bay Economic Development Corporation (DBEDC) held their annual “Stay Bold” fundraiser in celebration of arts and culture.

HBCUs are America’s hidden engines, and now they’re under fire
When people talk about the future of higher education, the conversation often circles around accreditation, diversity mandates, or budget cuts. Too often missing from that debate is one of the most vital players: Historically Black Colleges and Universities.

It’s time for Wild Card baseball
For 2025, the Mets have the largest MLB player payroll, valued by the League at $323 million. For the 2024 season, they signed free agent outfielder Juan Soto away from their crosstown rival, the Yankees. This year, the Mets paid him an MLB and professional sports one-year record salary of $61.

Blake Lothian’s NASCAR truck is driven by passion
On July 26, 2002, Blake Daniel Lothian, a race car driver, was born in Fayetteville, North Carolina. There were several other race car drivers born in this world on that day.

The Boston Area Church League celebrates 23 years!
The Boston Area Church League commemorated its 23rd anniversary on Friday, Sept. 26, with a celebratory event at the Boston Back Bay Hilton Hotel. A gathering of distinguished community, business and religious leaders came together to honor more than two decades of mentorship, youth development and neighborhood engagement.

BHCHP staff rally against cuts, layoffs
Supporters rally outside the Boston Health Care for the Homeless Program’s building in the South End. Union staff from BHCHP were pushing back against the program’s leadership, alleging unfair layoffs and pay cuts that they said are threatening the organization’s mission.

Youth Innovation on display at Rhode Island Kids Fair
Each participant received a citation and video message from U.S. Rep. Gabe Amo, a guidebook on the process of creating a business at home, a vendor table to sell their products at the fair, snacks and lunch, a Mini entrepreneur T-shirt and a certificate.

Diverse voices shine in Boston’s fashion scene
“Everybody was doing independent things, our local designers and event planners. This was a way to have this central focus for a week, where everybody planned their events during that time period, to get the media’s attention, to get the public’s attention and it went great the first year, and it’s been going ever since,” Calderin said.

In search of Boston’s best BBQ
Boston may be known for clam chowder and lobster rolls, but the city also has a host of barbecue restaurants ready to serve up fall-off-the-bone brisket, fluffy biscuits and house-made sauces. If you’re craving savory smoky meats and tangy pickles, head to one of these barbecue spots around the city.

Local philanthropists will be honored at OrigiNation ‘Twist & Shout’ performance
For Shaumba-Yandje wa Dibinga, founding artistic director of the OrigiNation Cultural Arts Center, one of the most rewarding experiences is seeing her former students give back to the community. At the “Twist & Shout” performance and fundraiser, several of Dibinga’s former students will be honored for their service work.

Something wicked this way comes
One of the theater’s greatest villains is about to take the stage here in Boston. The character has a legacy so powerful that many actors refuse to say his name in a theater for fear that bad luck will follow.

Special thanks to all who have contributed to the success of the Bay State Banner over the past 60 years
At a regional conference of the National Association of Black Journalists 20 years ago, Bay State Banner publisher Melvin B. Miller responded to an honor presented to him by asking all the writers and photographers who ever worked for the Banner to stand up.

THE BAY STATE Banner 60 Years

The Bay State Banner Our commitment to the next 60 years
As we look forward to the next 60 years of the Bay State Banner, we must remember what we’ve come through to get here.

Decades of disruption, determination and a digital dawn
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.

Original introduction to the Bay State Banner’s 50th Anniversary special publication in 2015
Fall 1965 was a time of great exuberance. The federal Voting Rights Act had just become effective in August. The barriers impeding black access to the polls throughout the South would have to drop.

THROUGH THE DECADES: 1965 to 1975
THROUGH THE DECADES: 1965 to 1975

‘Let’s do it ourselves!’
‘Let’s do it ourselves!’

EDITORIAL: NOVEMBER 12 1966
Boston Negroes have not exerted themselves to develop Negro-based businesses out of a belief that the result would be self-imposed segregation. In order, to achieve “integration” and avoid “segregation” Negroes have excluded themselves from those activities which are the avenues to equality.

HEADLINES: IN THE NEWS
HEADLINES: IN THE NEWS

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ROVING CAMERA: MARCH 5, 1970
ROVING CAMERA: MARCH 5, 1970

EDITORIAL: NOVEMBER 12 1966
Now we know. The buses will roll in September. Federal Judge W. Arthur Garrity ruled last Friday that Boston’s schools are unconstitutionally segregated. He ordered that the racial imbalance plan, designed by the state board of education and scheduled to begin when the school opens in the fall, will be enforced.

ROVING CAMERA: MARCH 5, 1970
ROVING CAMERA: MARCH 5, 1970

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Boston’s tarnished image, and political hopes, setbacks
Boston’s tarnished image, and political hopes, setbacks

THROUGH THE DECADES: 1975 to 1985
THROUGH THE DECADES: 1975 to 1985

HEADLINES: IN THE NEWS
HEADLINES: IN THE NEWS

THROUGH THE DECADES: 1975-1985
THROUGH THE DECADES: 1975-1985

EDITORIAL: JANUARY 9, 1975
A bizarre turn of events transformed an ordinary abortion into a cause celebre. Apparently, tissue from the deceased fetus was used in medical research, and the results of the study were published in a medical journal.

ROVING CAMERA: MARCH 5, 1970
ROVING CAMERA: MARCH 5, 1970

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EDITORIAL: JUNE 2, 1983
Ever since Harold Washington’s victory in the emotion-charged campaign for mayor of Chicago, Bostonians have been wondering what impact that election will have on the mayor’s race here.

THROUGH THE DECADES: 1985 to 1995
THROUGH THE DECADES: 1985 to 1995

January 28, 1985
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Outrage and freedom
Outrage and freedom

EDITORIAL: SEPTEMBER 25, 1986
Now that the primary election is over, public attention has shifted to the battle over the secession of Roxbury. Curtis Davis and Andrew P. Jones, the founders of the Greater Roxbury Incorporation Project (GRIP), hope to generate substantial public support for their referendum by the November 4th election.

HEADLINES: IN THE NEWS
HEADLINES: IN THE NEWS

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ROVING CAMERA: JULY 7, 1994
ROVING CAMERA: JULY 7, 1994

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ROVING CAMERA: JANUARY 12, 1995
ROVING CAMERA: JANUARY 12, 1995

EDITORIAL: JANUARY 11, 1990
Boston’s African-American community was framed. It is bizarre to consider a whole community being caught in a frame-up, but that is what happened. When Charles Stuart asserted that he and his wife were shot by a black robber in Roxbury, the reputation of the whole community and all its black residents suffered a debilitating blow.

Rights and justice
Rights and justice

THROUGH THE DECADES: 1995 to 2005
THROUGH THE DECADES: 1995 to 2005

HEADLINES: IN THE NEWS
HEADLINES: IN THE NEWS

THROUGH THE DECADES: 1995-2005
THROUGH THE DECADES: 1995-2005

EDITORIAL: OCTOBER 10, 1996
Roxbury Community College is considered by blacks in Boston to be a very important institution. Its buildings stand majestically along the Southwest Corridor, a tribute to the competence of the black architectural firm of Stull & Lee.

EDITORIAL: OCTOBER 26, 1995
Now that the Million Man March is indisputably a success by any standard, one can expect the media to attempt to diminish the significance of the event. It began right away when the National Park Service reported that only 400,000 were in attendance. Some news reporters then snidely spoke of the Million Man March - less 600,000.

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THROUGH THE DECADES: 1995-2005
THROUGH THE DECADES: 1995-2005

THROUGH THE DECADES: 2005 to 2015
THROUGH THE DECADES: 2005 to 2015

The ultimate prize, and a lasting legacy
The ultimate prize, and a lasting legacy

President Obama
President Obama

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HEADLINES: IN THE NEWS
HEADLINES: IN THE NEWS

EDITORIAL: MAY 12, 2005
Boston is a very complex metropolis. It is difficult to determine with accuracy who wields what power. The May issue of Boston Magazine attempts to determine the 100 people who actually “run this town.” The magazine even had the temerity to list the power people from 1 to 100, depending upon their analysis of the power of each person.

ROVING CAMERA: JUNE 8, 2000
ROVING CAMERA: JUNE 8, 2000

EDITORIAL: FEBRUARY 22, 2007
The road to racial equality has been so challenging that African Americans usually delight in any promise of substantial progress.

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ROVING CAMERA: AUGUST 6, 2009
ROVING CAMERA: AUGUST 6, 2009

LIZ MIRANDA
LIZ MIRANDA

THROUGH THE DECADES: 2015 to 2025
THROUGH THE DECADES: 2015 to 2025

A dream once again delayed
A dream once again delayed

HEADLINES: IN THE NEWS
HEADLINES: IN THE NEWS

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HEADLINES: IN THE NEWS
HEADLINES: IN THE NEWS

EDITORIAL: OCTOBER 29, 2020
Every citizen expects some benefit from voting in a presidential election. Trump’s support of racially divisive policies would be enough to warrant the vote by Blacks for the Biden-Harris ticket.

EDITORIAL: DECEMBER 19, 2024
As we look toward the end of the year, it is customary to also reflect on those we lost and their impact on our community. This year, that reflection was even more special for me because my aunt Jean McGuire was one of the Museum of African American History’s (MAAH) latest Living Legend honorees.

THROUGH THE DECADES: 2015-2025
THROUGH THE DECADES: 2015-2025

HEADLINES: IN THE NEWS
HEADLINES: IN THE NEWS

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Community in action
Community in action