Originally broadcast on July 6, 2012

July 6 marks four months to the day that the country will elect the president of the United States. We close this season of Basic Black with an exploration of questions going into the 2012 presidential election including:
Has African American support diminished for President Obama? How strongly has opposition to an Obama second term grown in light of the Supreme Court decision upholding the Affordable Care Act? What will be the impact of recent decisions (President Obama and Supreme Court) concerning immigration? Is Michelle Obama a secret weapon in the president’s re-election campaign arsenal? Will there be any surprises from the upcoming conventions?

Our panel:
- Callie Crossley, host and executive editor, The Callie Crossley Show, 89.7 WGBH Radio
- Phillip Martin, senior reporter, WGBH Radio
- Kim McLarin, cultural commentator and assistant professor of creative writing, Emerson College
- Peniel Joseph, professor of history and founder of the Center for the Study of Race and Democracy, Tufts University

Originally broadcast on October 26, 2012:

The deadline is fast approaching on a federal mandate for the Boston City Council to pass a plan that reorganizes the city’s voting districts. But there seems to be no clear consensus among council members, nor among many in Boston’s communities of color, on how to do it. The mayor has already vetoed two maps. A coalition representing African American, Asian, and Latino voters has vowed to sue if they are unsatisfied with the council's solution. Emotions are running high, and only ten days remain.

Our panelists:
- Latoyia Edwards, anchor, New England Cable News
- Phillip Martin, senior reporter, 89.7 WGBH Radio
- Kevin C. Peterson, executive director, New Democracy Coalition
- Alejandra St. Guillen, executive director, Oiste
- Sean Daughtry, political action chair, Boston branch, NAACP

Relevant links:
As deadline looms, state of play in redistricting
Gintautas Dumcius, Dorchester Reporter, October 26, 2012

Group pitches alternative voting maps to city council
Jeremy Fox, Boston Globe, September 29, 2012

More city council redistricting maps with Consalvo and Yancey verbal sparring
David Ertischek, Roslindale Patch, October 4, 2012

Redistricting map passes despite objections form Communities of Color Coalition and councilors of color
Mark Liu, Chinese Progressive Association, MySouthEnd.com, August 29, 2012

Boston City Council Census and Redistricting Committee


(Image source: FreeFoto.com)

Originally broadcast on November 2, 2012.

As the nation heads into election day on November 6, Basic Black considers the relevance of polls and the persistence of predictions. And what does it say about the candidates and this country that the race is so close?

In conversation:
- Latoyia Edwards, anchor, New England Cable News
- Phillip Martin, senior reporter, 89.7 WGBH Radio
- Peniel Joseph, professor of history Tufts University; Du Bois Fellow, Harvard University
- Robert Fortes, Republican strategist


(Photo: Early voting, Ohio 2012. Source: Associated Press.)

Originally broadcast November 9, 2012.

November 9, 2012: Election 2012 came to a close on November 6 as President Barack Obama was elected for a second term. The turnout numbers rivaled those of 2008, despite long lines at the polls and court cases challenging early voting rules. In addition to the huge percentage of African Americans who voted for him, Obama was swept to victory by the youth and Latino votes, as well as large contingents of women, working class, and educated white voters.

Our panel:
- Callie Crossley, host and moderator, Boston Public Radio, 89.7 WGBH Radio
- Peniel Joseph, professor of history, Tufts University
- Phillip Martin, senior reporter, 89.7 WGBH Radio
- Robert Fortes, Republican strategist

Related links:
Transcript of President Obama's acceptance speech

Transcript of Mitt Romney's concession speech



(Photo: President Barack Obama, first lady Michelle Obama, Vice President Joe Biden and Jill Biden acknowledge the crowd at his election night party on Wednesday, November 7, 2012. Source: Associated Press.)

Originally broadcast December 7, 2012.

If no measures are taken, in less than a month the United States will "fall off the fiscal cliff." Among other things, this means that the Bush tax cuts and the payroll tax cut will expire, extended unemployment benefits will end, and Medicare would lose nearly $11 billion from its budget. Many experts believe that going over the cliff would lead to another recession. What does this mean for people of color? The middle class? The poor?


Our panel:
- Latoyia Edwards, anchor, New England Cable News
- Peniel Joseph, professor of history, Tufts University
- Phillip Martin, senior reporter, 89.7 WGBH Radio
- Kim McLarin, assistant professor of writing, literature and publishing, Emerson College
- Jeffrey Taliaferro, associate professor of political science, Tufts University

(Originally broadcast December 14, 2012)

Black churches routinely discuss both scripture and issues like gay marriage and voter suppression,and gun violence. Today’s tragic shooting in Connecticut is a fresh reminder of the ever present violence assaulting so many black communities. What role has the black church played in dealing with the violence? We'll look at that and examine the church's influence in shaping opinion about current issues of the day.

Has the church become too political, or not political enough? Has this institution re-invented itself in order to adequately meet the challenges of changing communities around it?

Panelists:
- Callie Crossley, host and moderator, Boston Public Radio, 89.7 WGBH Radio
- Kim McLarin, assistant professor or writing, literature, and publishing, Emerson College
- Phillip Martin, senior reporter, 89.7 WGBH Radio
- Rev. Paul Robeson Ford, Union Baptist Church of Cambridge
- Rev. Brandon Crowley, Myrtle Baptist Church

(Originally broadcast January 4, 2013.)

The Emancipation Proclamation is 150 years old this week. Historian Eric Foner called this document one of the most important documents in American history. Does the Emancipation Proclamation have any meaning for contemporary times?

Also, our panelists look ahead with predictions for 2013.

Panelists:
• Callie Crossley, host and moderator, Boston Public Radio, 89.7 WGBH Radio
• Kim McLarin, assistant professor or writing, literature, and publishing, Emerson College
• Phillip Martin, senior reporter, 89.7 WGBH Radio
• Peniel Joseph, professor of history, Tufts University, WEB Du Bois fellow, Harvard University

(Image source: Library of Congress.)

(January 11, 2013)

Basic Black welcomes actor Teagle F. Bougere to the studio for a conversation on the themes raised in the play Invisible Man, based on Ralph Ellison's seminal work and currently on stage at The Huntington Theatre. Bougere is the lead actor in the production.

Among the many questions on the table: Does this play have any resonance for a contemporary audience? What does the play say about the experience of the African American man in particular? What would a contemporary version of the play look like or have as its focus?

Our full panel:
- Latoyia Edwards, anchor, New England Cable News
- Phillip Martin, senior reporter, 89.7 WGBH radio
- Kim McLarin, assistant professor of writing, literature, and publishing, Emerson College
- Barbara Lewis, executive director of The Trotter Institute, UMass Boston


(Photo by Astrid Reiken, 2012)

January 18, 2013

As we approach the Martin Luther King, Jr. holiday and President Obama’s second inauguration, Basic Black looks at the significance of leadership, and specifically the notion of "black leadership." Questions on the table include: Is black leadership a reality? Is the idea of a black leadership outdated? What should a contemporary black leadership look like?

- Callie Crossley, host and moderator, Boston Public Radio, WGBH
- Kim McLarin, assistant director of writing, literature and publishing, Emerson College
- Phillip Martin, senior reporter, 89.7 WGBH Radio
- Dr. Walter Earl Fluker, Martin Luther King, Jr. professor of Ethical Leadership, Boston University



(Photo by Pete Souza: A view from the back of President Obama's chair, July 2012.)

January 25, 2013

President Obama officially began his second term of office on January 20th. In his inaugural address to the nation the following day, his focus was on the strengths and promises of America. In this Basic Black conversation, we explore the challenges, the goals, and the demands for the second Obama administration.

Our panel this week:
- Callie Crossley, host and moderator, Boston Public Radio, WGBH
- Kim McLarin, assistant professor of writing, literature and publishing, Emerson College
- Phillip Martin, senior reporter, 89.7 WGBH Radio
- Peniel Joseph, professor of history, Tufts University
- Robert Fortes, Republican strategist and political consultant




Photo: Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts administers the oath of office to President Barack Obama during the inaugural swearing-in ceremony at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C., Jan. 21, 2013. (Official White House Photo by Sonya N. Hebert)

February 1, 2013

As 2013 begins the national debate on gun control is in high gear. Advocates from all sides have descended on Washington, DC to sway a divided Congress to their side. But the action isn't limited to the halls of Congress; the persistent issue of gun control is also being debated in local communities across the country. And for communities historically battered by gun violence, the conversation takes on an increased intensity.


Our panel this week:
- Latoyia Edwards, anchor, New England Cable News
- Kim McLarin, assistant professor of writing, literature and publishing, Emerson College
- Phillip Martin, senior reporter, 89.7 WGBH Radio
- Peniel Joseph, professor of history, Tufts University
- Lionel McPherson, associate professor, philosophy, Tufts University



Image source: Change Liu/Flickr

February 8, 2013:

The Scottsboro Boys, The Central Park Five, Shawn Drumgold…in all of these cases, the accused were found guilty, only to be exonerated years later, sometimes decades later. This week on Basic Black, a conversation on searching for truth, justice delayed, and a judicial balm for wounded communities.


Our panel this week:
- Callie Crossley, host and moderator, Boston Public Radio, WGBH
- Kim McLarin, assistant professor of writing, literature and publishing, Emerson College
- Phillip Martin, senior reporter, 89.7 WGBH Radio
- Peniel Joseph, professor of history, Tufts University

February 22, 2013:

Is the context for the murderous rampage of Christopher Dorner one that people of color recognize? Tonight on Basic Black – anatomy of a killer’s racial experience… what happens at the intersection of racism, rage and mental illness?


Our panel:
- Callie Crossley, host and moderator, Boston Public Radio, WGBH
- Phillip Martin, senior reporter, 89.7 WGBH Radio
- Peniel Joseph, professor of history, Tufts University
- Kim McLarin, assistant professor of writing, literature, and publishing, Emerson College
- Dr. Chidi Achebe, President & CEO, Harvard Street Neighborhood Health Center




(Photo: War, Maria Gertsovskaya/Flickr.)

April 5, 2013:

With Mayor Menino's announcement that he would not seek a sixth term, the race for the next mayor of Boston has officially begun. Even as the slate of candidates takes shape, questions are emerging, among them: what is the opportunity for emerging leaders of color; what are the benefits to the city of Boston of new leadership, regardless of race; has the Menino administration left anything undone in communities of color that can now be addressed?


Our panel:
- Callie Crossley, host, Under The Radar, WGBH
- Phillip Martin, senior reporter, 89.7 WGBH Radio
- Kim McLarin, assistant professor of writing, literature, and publishing, Emerson College
- Kevin C. Peterson, founder/director, New Democracy Coalition
- John Barros, executive director, Dudley Street Neighborhood Initiative


(Photo source: FreeFoto.com)

May 3, 2013

Tonight on Basic Black history in the headlines: a report this week concluded that for the first time ever, black voter turnout surpassed that of white voters. We'll look at the national and local implications. And in sports, NBA player Jason Collins revealed he is gay; as the first professional athlete to do so, it's history, but is it news?

The panel:
- Callie Crossley, host of Under the Radar, 89.7 WGBH Radio
- Peniel Joseph, professor of history, Tufts University
- Kim McLarin, author, Divorce Dog: Motherhood, Men and Midlife; asst. prof. of writing, Emerson College
- Phillip Martin, senior reporter, 89.7 WGBH Radio
- Michael Jeffries, assistant professor of American Studies, Wellesley College


(Photo: Jason Collins. Kwaku Alston for Sports Illustrated.)



(Photo: Jason Collins. Kwaku Alston for Sports Illustrated.)

May 10, 2013

Earlier this week, Charles Ramsey of Cleveland, Ohio rescued three women and a six year old who had been held captive by his neighbor for a decade. But it was the interview Ramsey gave to a reporter on the scene that day that made him an internet sensation. Within hours, he was trending on Twitter and the subject of numerous autotune creations.

But Ramsey's two minute interview (and the later released call he placed to 911) grew into a larger examination of race, class and the media. The stories of the abducted women have rightfully taken center stage, but questions about Ramsey's introduction to the world media remain. This week on Basic Black, what can we learn from Charles Ramsey?


Our panel:
- Callie Crossley, host of Under The Radar, 89.7 WGBH Radio
- Peniel Joseph, professor of history, Tufts University
- Phillip Martin, senior reporter, WGBH Radio
- Kim McLarin, author, Divorce Dog: Men, Motherhood, and Midlife
- Michael Jeffries, assistant professor of American Studies, Wellesley College

May 17, 2013

In the headlines this week: a discussion of the Boston mayor's race and how communities of color are poised to make their coalitions heard. Also, this is not the first time the IRS has come under fire for targeting political activity; we'll take a look at the IRS, the NAACP and the black church.


Panelists:
- Callie Crossley, host, Under the Radar, 89.7 WGBH Radio
- Kim McLarin, author, Divorce Dog: Men, Motherhood and Midlife
- Phillip Martin, senior reporter, 89.7 WGBH Radio
- Kevin Peterson, executive director, The New Democracy Coalition
- Kenneth Cooper, editor, The Trotter Review, Trotter Institute, UMass Boston

May 24, 2013

President Barack Obama's address to the graduates of Morehouse College last week drew criticism and praise, not only for what he said but also for how he said it. Was he talking down to the graduates in pressing for personal responsibility? Does he whip out the "preacher" cadence for black audiences only? As graduates of HBCU's and other institutions go out into the world, what is the most useful message they need to hear?


Panelists:
- Latoyia Edwards, anchor, New England Cable News
- Kim McLarin, author, Divorce Dog: Men, Motherhood and Midlife
- Phillip Martin, senior reporter, 89.7 WGBH Radio
- Peniel Joseph, professor of history, Tufts University


(Photo: Official White House photo by Pete Souza)

May 31, 2013

A recent audit by the state revealed that Massachusetts paid welfare benefits to 1,160 dead recipients. In spite of the fact that, in terms of dollars, this is a very tiny fraction compared to the size of the program, and the majority of welfare and food stamp assistance are white, we'll discuss why the stereotype of the "welfare queen" persists. At the other end of the financial spectrum, we'll look at wealth: a recent report by Nielsen concluded that black spending power will reach $1 trillion dollars by 2015…but black wealth is declining. What are the factors contributing to the disparity?

Panel:
- Callie Crossley, host, Under The Radar, 89.7 WGBH Radio
- Kim McLarin, author, Divorce Dog: Men, Motherhood, and Midlife
- Peniel Joseph, professor of history, Tufts University
- Phillip Martin, senior reporter, 89.7 WGBH Radio

June 7, 2013

The folks who make Cheerios thought their commercial highlighted the heart health benefits of their product. All anyone sees is the interracial family consuming the cereal; the virulent racist reaction moves YouTube to shut down the comments section...

Michelle Obama confronts a heckler who interrupted her remarks at a private fundraiser…Twitter erupts on all sides of the issue...

And a challenge to the appointment of a white person to lead the board of Roxbury Community College sparks a debate….?

Panel:?
- Callie Crossley, host, Under The Radar, 89.7 WGBH Radio?
- Kim McLarin, author, Divorce Dog: Men, Motherhood, and Midlife?
- Peniel Joseph, professor of history, Tufts University?
- Phillip Martin, senior reporter, 89.7 WGBH Radio

May 8, 2015 This week Basic Black opens with a follow-up look at the events in Baltimore with a conversation about black leadership and variations on the “blue wall of silence.” Later in the show: as tensions in Baltimore increased, it was the White House Correspondents Dinner which included a few jokes on the state of race relations, that took center stage in many media outlets; and just after the state of emergency in Baltimore was lifted, the comedy duo Key and Peele premiered a sketch called “Negrotown”… we ask, when is the right time for satire?


Panelists:
- Latoyia Edwards, Anchor, New England Cable News
- Phillip Martin, Senior Reporter, WGBH News
- Kim McLarin, Associate Professor of Writing, Literature, and Publishing, Emerson College
- Peniel Joseph, Professor of History, Tufts University
- Emmett G. Price III, Associate Professor of Music, Northeastern University and author of The Black Church and Hip Hop Culture


Photo: (Left) Scene from “Negrotown” Key & Peele, Comedy Central. (Right) Protesters demonstrate as a curfew imposed in the aftermath of rioting following Monday's funeral for Freddie Gray goes into effect Friday, May 1, 2015, in Baltimore. (AP Photo/David Goldman)

​​This done, see that you take no longer days, But send the midwife presently to me. -Aaron Titus Andronicus        Act IV, scene ii      Line 166 Let's be clear here. The 'this done' that the speaker is referring to is the burying of the body of the nurse he just killed. And the reason he...

Today, we received this message from the leadership of the Shakespeare Association of America. It's intended for the Shakespeare theatre members of SAA, but has farther reaching implications so we felt it was important to share on our blog and elsewhere. --------------- American members of the SAA have the chance to make a diffe...

 Shakespeare has been my frequent companion for almost fifty years, during which time I have studied his works in school, read them for pleasure, attended hundreds of performances, watched dozens of film versions of the plays, and spent many hours listening to audio productions during morning and afternoon commutes. And for the past twenty yea...

Introducing Battle For Denmark: The timeless tale of Hamlet is now told through vlog format as we follow Horatio and Hamlet's story of corruption, revenge, friendship, and a plastic skeleton. Horatio (Hailey Buck), as the social media intern for the Claudius campaign, decides to start a campaign vlog to publicize the campaign, but soon gets high ja...

shearch.me is a free Progressive Web App that searches Shakespeare's plays, poems and sonnets including locations and stage directions. It's quick, works on desktop or mobile, and it uses the wonderful PlayShakespeare texts. Because it's a Progressive Web App, you can use it like a website (just go to shearch.me in a web browser) or you can add it ...

One recurring objection to the recent social media trend of joking about the frequency of men thinking about the...

Shakespeare’s Globe’s Richard III, directed by Elle While, is an entertaining, poignant, and timely rendition of a history play...

Shakespeare in Clark Park celebrates its 20th season with a light-hearted and musically-inclined As You Like It. Set in...

“Extreme Shakespeare” – a show using the original stage practices of Shakespeare’s time, where actors arrive with their lines...

The Hedgerow Theatre teams up with Mauckingbird Theatre Company, auteurs of “innovative, affordable, gay-themed theater,” for their production of...

Attending a production of Macbeth may require one to have mental preparation—to face multiple murders with dark schemes guided...

In 1703, only a century and change after Shakespeare wrote Much Ado About Nothing, the first houses were built...

The production of Hamlet by the Denver Center for the Performing Arts Theatre Company is fairly traditional. There are...

When The Winter’s Tale was first staged in the early 17th Century, Shakespeare wrote his most infamous stage direction...

A Midsummer Night’s Dream, produced by the Great Lakes Theater in repertoire with the musical Into the Woods, is...

Brady chats with NYT columnist and Dartmouth political scientist Brendan Nyhan about this week's avalanche of political ads. Then, two seasoned primary watchers weigh in on the celebrities (and non-celebrities) candidates call upon in the primary's waning weeks. Finally, a public radio host who's interviewed hundreds of primary candidates shares her strategy to get them to open up. #FITN #2016 #Politics

In this week's episode we get into the primary free-for-all, from three towns that all want to be the first to vote first in the nation; to the dozens of lesser-known names on the primary ballot and what exactly they're doing there. #Politics #2016

Brady runs down this week's smack talk from the trail, seeks help for his addiction to polls, and finds out why candidates flipped pancakes in Manchester. Plus, why is one of Donald Trump's Town Captains voting for Rand Paul? #FITN #NHPrimary #2016

The candidates are all in Iowa stumping for caucus votes, but Brady is here to round up the latest primary news, like whether TV debates are having a bigger effect on the primary than old-school retail politics. Plus: what Donald Trump rallies have in common with arena rock concerts or screenings of The Rocky Horror Picture Show, and campaign voicemails magically transformed into garbled emails!

This primary's days are numbered - and we've got what you need to get ready for Tuesday. Primary expert Dante Scala tells Brady why the first-in-the-nation vote can break your heart, yet keep you coming back for more. Plus, how New Hampshire is and isn't like the rest of the country. And a hero public radio reporter saves a First in the Nation landmark.

Brady didn’t get much sleep, but he’s all over dissecting the action that unfolded in Tuesday’s New Hampshire Republican Primary. A rundown of the three words that defined the day, a deeper look at the politics that ran the race, a glimpse into the future, and favorite reporter moments from the 2016 trail. Stay tuned for the Democratic edition wrap-up episode!

Brady still hasn't gotten any sleep, but he’s all over dissecting the action that unfolded in Tuesday’s New Hampshire Democratic Primary. A rundown of the three words that defined the day, a deeper look at the politics that ran the race, and favorite reporter moments from the 2016 trail. If you missed it, check out our Republican edition wrap-up episode!

In a small New Hampshire community two sisters, Henrietta and Jane, grow up under the shadow of a folk tale about the ruins of a house near their own. The house, more than a century earlier, was the home of a family of five who, legend has it, were transformed into coyotes.

For many kids, middle school is a fraught time. Friendships are forged and broken; bodies begin to change in sometimes uncomfortable ways. For Zenobia July, starting middle school is far more complicated than it is for most of her peers.

Imagine there's a virus living inside you. This virus is harmless. Most of the time. But then, something causes it to change and it could kill you unless you take one dose of a powerful drug. Now imagine there is a critical shortage of this drug. This is the scary scenario at the heart of the debut novel by Hanover resident and Dartmouth professor Charles Wheelan. It's called The Rationing, but this isn't a book about a disease. It's a political satire about how the United States government handles the unfolding public health crisis. Personalities clash. Political ambitions get in the way of productive discussion. Fake News opportunists muddy the waters and foreign countries take advantage of a vulnerable United States. Charles Wheelan joined NHPR's Peter Biello to talk about his new book.

Freeman Colby was a young schoolteacher from New Hampshire who joined the Union Army during the American Civil War. For the first nine months, Colby kept detailed notes of his service and wrote to his family members. Marek Bennett of Henniker drew on these rich resources for his graphic novel, The Civil War Diary of Freeman Colby. In that volume, Bennett stuck close to Colby's exact language. Recently, he's published Volume II, in which he takes some liberties and draws on new sources for inspiration. NHPR's Peter Biello sat down with Marek Bennett to talk about Volume II.

Miriam Levine's new collection of poetry is, as she describes it, a book about loss and consolation. In Saving Daylight, poems recall small moments: a chance meeting outside a theater, an encounter with a mosquito, watching a harmless spider walk across someone's hair. Levine lives in Concord for part of the year, and she sat down with NHPR's All Things Considered Host Peter Biello to chat about her new collection.

For much of human history, human beings have waged war against each other. In the new novel by Marko Kloos, that tendency to wage war remains as strong as ever more than a thousand years into the future. Aftershocks is an adventure story as well as a portrait of a technologically-advanced civilization struggling to maintain the peace after a devastating war. Kloos spoke with NHPR’s Peter Biello.

This week marked the launch of the second annual edition of The People's Book, a collection of literary works and visual art created by New Hampshire writers and artists.