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LOCAL NEWS

A long wait

Of all American cities, Boston remains a bit of a racial anomaly. Framed by two seminal eras - its most noble during the 18th century days of abolition and its lowest during the ugly resistance to school busing in the 1970s - Boston has been home to some of the most outspoken critics of racism and injustice. It has also been home to some of the nation's most gifted intellects and conspicuous achievers. More »

Urban League chief: Wealth gap a 'wake-up call'

The widening wealth gap between whites and minorities has wiped out gains made over the last 30 years and could foreshadow even more inequality if something isn't done to address it, National Urban League President and CEO Marc Morial said on Tuesday. More »

Candidates missing at Puerto Rican Festival

For the thousands of spectators gathered on the sidewalks of Columbus Avenue Sunday, the 45th annual Puerto Rican Festival Parade was a display of cultural pride - flags, salsa music, low-riders, marching bands and, of course, more flags. More »

RCC prof. writes stories depicting New Boston

Ken Tangvik came of age running the streets of Dorchester and Charlestown in the 1970s, hanging out with many of the gangsters and ne'er-do-wells whose likenesses now appear regularly in gritty urban novels churned out by the likes of Dennis Lehane and turned into Hollywood thrillers. More »

A fair share of political influence

Over the course of the last three redistricting cycles in Massachusetts, African Americans have been met with disappointment, disbelief and disenfranchisement. More »

The tragedy of abusive teen relationships

Those of us on the frontlines of youth violence prevention programs are devastated by the recent murder of a young Wayland woman at the hands of her ex-boyfriend. More »

Mass. Senate approves 'supportive housing' bill

Massachusetts lawmakers have approved a new program designed to integrate support services and affordable housing for the elderly, disabled, and homeless families. More »

West honors Boston's past through 'Portraits of Purpose'

As the Urban League of Eastern Massachusetts (ULEM) addresses the State of Black Boston this week during the civil rights organization's national conference, they offer up a glimpse of the past. More »

An unlikely jazzman finds passion in playing the tuba

When tuba player Loubins Richard and his trio began their set outside of Fanueil Hall at a recent free show, much of the City Hall Plaza crowd was more concerned with getting home after work. By mid-set, they were dropping dollar after dollar into the drum case belonging to Richard's "Mobtet" group. More »

Nigerian Youth Organization hosts cookout for unity

Defying the scorching sun, Nigerian youth assembled at Franklin Playstead Park to mark the 16th Nigerian Youth Organization (NYO) cookout. More »

NATIONAL NEWS

NAACP regains prominence by diversifying agenda

LOS ANGELES - Jobs, education, health, housing - the issues driving the NAACP these days look much like the concerns of most Americans, and that's by design. More »

Black leaders discuss cuts with Obama

WASHINGTON - Leaders of the largest and oldest black civil rights groups said they urged President Barack Obama in a White House meeting last week to resist deep cuts to programs that benefit urban communities - with some of the highest unemployment rates - as he negotiates the nation?s debt limit. More »

Michael Hancock sworn in as new Denver mayor

DENVER - Michael Hancock, a Democratic former city councilman, was sworn in as Denver mayor last week, calling the city's budget problems a chance to make government more efficient. More »

Author Sapphire releases 'The Kid,' a sequel to 'Push'

When audiences last saw her, Precious Jones, the unforgettable heroine of Sapphire's 1995 novel "Push," was a teenager recovering from years of abuse and trying to make a better life for her newborn son, Abdul. At the novel's close, she tested positive for HIV, a virus she contracted through her father, but through literacy, found hope, a sense of self and an indomitable spirit. More »

Q&A with Sapphire

For more than 20 years, author/poet Sapphire has taken readers through the looking glass, using her works as a mirror to reflect the beauty, brutality, power and pain of the modern-day black experience. Raw and unflinchingly realistic, her texts have left a large and lasting mark on contemporary American and African American literature. More »

Mich. ban on affirmative action may get 2nd look

DETROIT - Facing a deadline this week, Michigan Attorney General Bill Schuette has pledged to ask an entire federal appeals court to suspend and re-examine a landmark decision that overturned the state's ban on affirmative action in college admissions. More »

Census figures confirm pockets of diversity in NH

CONCORD, N.H. - Opponents of New Hampshire's first-in-the-nation primary have long argued that such a white state shouldn't play such a big role in picking presidents. But new census data released Thursday confirms that parts of the state have grown increasingly diverse. More »

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