Blackstonian: February 2011

BOYCOTT CURE LOUNGE!!

Friday, February 25, 2011

Join our boycott on facebook

Cure Lounge in Boston
246 Tremont Street, Boston, MA

BOYCOTT CURE LOUNGE!!

DO NOT SPEND YOUR BLACK DOLLARS AT CURE LOUNGE

IF YOU HATE RACISM DO NOT SPEND YOUR DOLLARS AT CURE LOUNGE

DO NOT PROMOTE THERE, DO NOT ATTEND THERE

DO NOT RECOMMEND THEM, REMOVE THEM FROM YOUR NIGHTLIFE GUIDES

TELL YOUR FRIENDS NOT TO SUPPORT CURE LOUNGE!!

In November 20, 2010 The Cure Lounge denied entrance to a group of Black Harvard students to a Harvard/Yale Game Celebration at the club.

As a result of this, the students, with the help of Boston City Councillor Ayanna Pressley brought the matter to the public and subsequently filed a complaint with MCAD (Mass. Commission Against Discrimination).

Today Feb. 25th the results of this case were made public:

Boston Globe 2/25
A Boston nightclub has agreed to pay a fine ($30K), issue a public apology and have its staff attend anti-discrimination training for closing the club when a significant number of black attendees showed up, under an agreement reached with Attorney General Martha Coakley and the Massachusetts Commission Against Discrimination.

Also in the Boston Globe 2/25 - The real feelings of Cure Lounge...

Last fall, speaking on behalf of the nightclub, George K. Regan Jr. told the Globe "there were a lot of people in line known to police and police and security circles as bad people, OK? They probably couldn't spell the word `Harvard."

In a telephone interview today, Regan bristled at being blamed for the comments he made at the request of the club’s owners last fall when the issue gained media attention and the attention of Boston City At-Large Councilor Ayanna Pressley.

“I apologize for nothing,’’ Regan said. “I personally don’t happen to frequent the Cure Lounge. The facts that were related to the media I was told by the owners, who happened to be there.’’

Regan added, “they’re obviously under a lot of pressure from the attorney general’s office. They have a (nightclub) license to protect. Good luck to them. I did nothing but repeat what I was told by the owners.’’

READ THE WHOLE STORY HERE
http://www.boston.com/news/local/breaking_news/2011/02/boston_nightclu.html

BOYCOTT CURE LOUNGE!!
DO NOT SPEND YOUR BLACK DOLLARS AT CURE LOUNGE
IF YOU HATE RACISM DO NOT SPEND YOUR DOLLARS AT CURE LOUNGE
DO NOT PROMOTE THERE, DO NOT ATTEND THERE
DO NOT RECOMMEND THEM, REMOVE THEM FROM YOUR NIGHTLIFE GUIDES
TELL YOUR FRIENDS NOT TO SUPPORT CURE LOUNGE!!

Boston club fined, apologizes for discriminating against black Harvard students

Posted by Milton Valencia February 25, 2011 11:56 AM
By Milton J. Valencia and John R. Ellement, Globe Staff

FULL STORY HERE
http://www.boston.com/news/local/breaking_news/2011/02/boston_nightclu.html?p1=News_links

BLACKSTONIAN EDITOR'S NOTE:

Read the full story for the blow-by-blow including statements from City Councillor Ayanna Pressley as well as the actual Apology that is now public.

We pulled a few tasty tidbits here from the article to emphasize what we believe is the underlying and true feeling on the subject matter which is unapologetic and unbridled racism.

excerpted from Globe article:
Last fall, speaking on behalf of the nightclub, George K. Regan Jr. told the Globe "there were a lot of people in line known to police and police and security circles as bad people, OK? They probably couldn't spell the word `Harvard."....

.... In a telephone interview today, Regan bristled at being blamed for the comments he made at the request of the club’s owners last fall when the issue gained media attention and the attention of Boston City At-Large Councilor Ayanna Pressley.

“I apologize for nothing,’’ Regan said. “I personally don’t happen to frequent the Cure Lounge. The facts that were related to the media I was told by the owners, who happened to be there.’’
Regan added, “they’re obviously under a lot of pressure from the attorney general’s office. They have a (nightclub) license to protect. Good luck to them. I did nothing but repeat what I was told by the owners.’’

Guest commentary: Reexamine Henry Louis Gates’ arrest

By Nancy Murray, Brigitt Keller, King Downing, Bishop Filipe C. Teixeira and Jamarhl Crawford
Wicked Local Cambridge
Posted Feb 24, 2011 @ 10:28 AM

Cambridge — As advocates who have closely monitored and participated in community oversight of the Cambridge police department, we were pleased to read that City Councilors Denise Simmons and Ken Reeves have called on the city to take a closer look at the Henry Louis Gates arrest in 2009 (“Cambridge city councilor calls for deeper look into Henry Louis Gates arrest,” Cambridge Chronicle, Feb. 8, 2011).

We support the councilors’ suggestion that the Cambridge Civic Unity Advisory Committee review the report “Missed Opportunities, Shared Responsibilities” by the Cambridge Review Committee. The CRC is the committee, which was specially appointed by the City to review the arrest of Professor Gates in his own home. We agree with Councilor Reeves’ assessment that the CRC report presents a missed opportunity of its own, as it fails to address the two critical issues: 1) the racial implications of the incident, even though race and racial profiling were issues that ranged prominently in the national and local conversation; and 2) the issue of police abuse of authority, by falsely suggesting that the Gates arrest may have been justified and that civilians bear the same responsibilities as police officers to de-escalate an encounter.

These are astonishing propositions. The First Amendment protects even angry speech, and the Fourth Amendment requires probable cause for arrest. As the police reports themselves show, Prof. Gates did not do anything that would have justified an arrest.

Considering the composition of the CRC, these faulty premises may not be surprising. The committee did not include a single civil rights advocate and the majority of its members represented the law enforcement perspective. The Police Executive Research Forum (PERF), a membership organization of law enforcement chiefs, took a prominent role: its Executive Director Chuck Wexler chaired the committee and PERF was paid to author its final report.

Impartiality of the committee was further compromised by the presence of current Philadelphia Police Commissioner Charles H. Ramsey and US Senate Sergeant at Arms Terrance Gainer. Ramsey and Gainer previously served as Police Chief and Executive Assistant Chief in Washington, D.C. and their tenure was marred by police misconduct and mass false arrests related to free speech activities. Consequently, both men were named defendants in two civil rights class actions, which recently settled for several million dollars – hardly a qualification to serve on this committee.

In its review, the Civic Unity Advisory Committee and the City Council should further pay close attention to the financial implications of this ad-hoc committee. While we believe that the severity of the incident justified an investigation, city manager Robert Healy should have to explain to Cambridge taxpayers why a separate entity was created at their expense instead of charging the already existing Police Review and Advisory Board (PRAB) with the task.

It seems that neither Healy nor police commissioner Haas had any confidence in the capability of the PRAB to look into an incident of national magnitude. This is particularly ironic given that information we gathered through an open records requests and by regularly attending monthly PRAB meetings suggests that the work of the PRAB has been systematically undermined by the city manager.
We support Councilors Reeves and Simmons in their efforts to finally turn this missed opportunity into a “teachable moment,” put an end to speech- and race-based arrests and bring transparency to the city of Cambridge.

The authors are Nancy Murray, Cambridge resident and education director of the ACLU of Massachusetts; Brigitt Keller, executive director of the National Police Accountability Project; King Downing of the New York-based Human Rights-Racial Justice Center; Bishop Filipe C. Teixeira, Diocese of Saint Francis of Assisi, Brockton; Jamarhl Crawford, Boston Black Men’s Leadership Group.

Read more: Guest commentary: Reexamine Henry Louis Gates’ arrest - Cambridge, Massachusetts - Cambridge Chronicle http://www.wickedlocal.com/cambridge/archive/x1623571855/Guest-commentary-Reexamine-Henry-Louis-Gates-arrest#ixzz1EzGCtan1

Man in fatal police shoot identified

Thursday, February 24, 2011

Man in fatal police shoot identified

By Herald wire services | Thursday, February 24, 2011 | http://www.bostonherald.com | Local Coverage

A man killed in Ashby by a state police trooper conducting drug surveillance Tuesday has been identified as Roger Reyes Padilla of Fitchburg, according to the Middlesex District Attorney’s office.

Padilla, 21, allegedly tried to run down the trooper after the officer ordered him repeatedly to get out of his car, the DA’s office said. The trooper fatally shot Padilla to avoid being hit, officials said.

Authorities discovered drugs at the scene, the DA’s office said, adding the investigation into the shooting is ongoing and further details, including the name of the officer involved, will be released upon its completion.

Article URL: http://www.bostonherald.com/news/regional/view.bg?articleid=1319009

White power group postpones Worcester library meet

Wednesday, February 23, 2011

White power group postpones Worcester library meet

By Associated Press | Wednesday, February 23, 2011 | http://www.bostonherald.com | Offbeat News

WORCESTER— Management at the Worcester Public Library headed off a potentially tense situation by asking a group planning to meet in the building to reschedule.

Black Culture Movie Night and North East White Power were both scheduled to use library facilities on Wednesday night.

Russell James, a representative of the white power group, tells The Telegram & Gazette he postponed his group’s monthly meeting at the request of the head librarian. He says his group, which has been meeting at the library since November, would not have caused any trouble had the two events gone on simultaneously.

Parlee Jones-Thompson, who organized the Black Culture Movie Night, said she was relieved to hear the white power group had rescheduled. She did not know if any protests had been planned.

___

Information from: Telegram & Gazette, http://www.telegram.com

Article URL: http://www.bostonherald.com/news/offbeat/view.bg?articleid=1318864

Community Education Forum TONITE! 5:30 PM

Union of Minority Neighborhoods AND
Association of Haitian Women Presents...

A Community Education Forum

Today, February 23rd 2011
5:30pm-8pm
330 Fuller Street in Dorchester

Learn about the current state of public education
And voice your concerns...
What does a quality education mean to YOU?
Also...
Get a chance to talk to

Rev. Gregory G. Groover Sr.
Chairman of the Boston Public School Committee

For more information please contact
Guerdine for UMN at 617-830-5084 or
Rose for AFAB at 617-287-0096

Shelter kitchen theft prevalent, report says

By Stephen Smith
Globe Staff / February 23, 2011

A culture of theft and lax supervision pervaded a kitchen operated by the city of Boston that feeds 2,000 meals a day to the homeless and city workers, an internal investigation has concluded.

The review by the top lawyer at the Boston Public Health Commission found evidence that workers at the kitchen on Long Island were skimming city-purchased food — including steaks, turkeys, hot dogs, hamburgers, and cakes — for their own private weddings, tailgate and birthday parties.

The review, obtained yesterday by the Globe through a public records request, also said that one worker stole $1,600 in cash from the Serving Our Selves kitchen, widely known by its SOS acronym.

FULL STORY HERE
http://www.boston.com/news/local/massachusetts/articles/2011/02/23/shelter_kitchen_theft_prevalent_report_says/

Boston police officer accused of domestic violence getting treatment, lawyer says

Posted by John Ellement February 22, 2011 03:02 PM
By Maria Cramer, Globe Staff

A Boston police officer who was arrested on domestic violence charges this weekend did not show up in Dorchester Municipal Court today because he has entered a treatment center, according to prosecutors and court records.

Patrol Officer Dennis Morson surrendered to Boston police early Saturday morning shortly after his wife reported that she had been physically assaulted by her husband inside their Intervale Street home, according to a Boston police report filed in court.

According to a Boston police report, Morson’s wife told police her husband kicked down doors in their apartment, seized her cellphone so she could not call for help, beat her and placed his hands around her throat.

FULL STORY HERE:
http://www.boston.com/news/local/breaking_news/2011/02/boston_police_o_14.html

Customer charged in fight over icing

Customer charged in fight over icing
By Christine McConville and Raakhee Mirchandani | Wednesday, February 23, 2011 | http://www.bostonherald.com | Local Coverage

Photo by WHDH News

You say fondue, I say fondant – let’s call the cops.

That vocabulary debate over a birthday cake led to assault and battery charges against a Dorchester woman yesterday, according to authorities.

The clash began at about 7 p.m. Friday when a customer and her friend stopped at the posh Party Favors bakery in Coolidge Corner to buy a three-tiered “Yo Gabba Gabba”-themed cake.

The customer wanted to know: Will the cake have “fondue” icing?

“Fondant,” the clerk corrected her, according to a Brookline police report.

As it turned out, those were fighting words.

The customer’s friend, Rakeeda Ladawn Bogues, 21, fired back: “Fondue, fondant, who gives a (expletive). You’ve had an attitude the whole time,” Brookline police officer Dana Inchierca wrote in her report, based on accounts from witnesses.

After the clerk told Bogues to “relax,” Bogues responded: “I will kill you, (expletive). ... I will ... find you and I will kill you,” according to the report.

Bogues then used her TJMaxx bag to knock over a counter-top lollipop arrangement, cops said. And then, on her way out, she knocked over another display case, according to police.

“It looked like a freakin’ earthquake,” Party Favors owner John Pergantis said. “All over butter and sugar.”

Police caught up with Bogues and her pal minutes later, about a block away from the shop.

Bogues, who told police the incident was an accident, was arrested and charged with being a disorderly person, assault, threats to commit a crime, assault and battery with a dangerous weapon and malicious damage to property. She pleaded not guilty in Brookline District Court yesterday morning.

“I feel bad she got arraigned. I feel terrible,” Pergantis said. “But she has to realize that people just can’t do that and get away with it, threaten someone’s life and not be liable for her actions. The girl is 21, I heard. And now she has a record. I feel terrible about that.”

The still-shaken bakery clerk was back behind the counter yesterday.

“It was an unnecessary altercation,” she said. “Some people just get frustrated quickly.”

Article URL: http://www.bostonherald.com/news/regional/view.bg?articleid=1318738

Community Tribute to Dianne Wilkerson Thurs Feb. 24

A FEAST OF LOVE FOR

DIANNE WILKERSON

Thursday Feb. 24

6PM - 9PM

Prince Hall Lodge

24 Washington St.

Grove Hall

TEEN JOBS AT THE ZOO!!! Wed. 2/23

Wednesday February 23, 2011

11 AM - 3 PM

ECO Center at Franklin Park Zoo

DOWNLOAD A TEEN JOB APPLICATION HERE (PDF)

Community White Ribbon Day Against Domestic Violence Sat. 2/26

BLACKSTONIAN IS PROUD TO ANNOUNCE

Community White Ribbon Day 2011
Saturday February 26th 2011

@Mattapan Public Library

1350 Blue Hill Ave. Mattapan

Blackstonian responds to The Boston Foundation Forum on Race

Blackstonian responds to The Boston Foundation Forum on Race
by: Jamarhl Crawford Publisher/Editor

There was much discussion after the Boston Foundation's forum on race held on Jan. 26th 2011
The Blackstonian received a survey via email with the below description:

The Boston Foundation, the Commonwealth Compact, the Urban league of Eastern Massachusetts and the Museum of Science came together on January 26 to sponsor Boston Talks Race, a forum designed to explore the ‘Reputation and the Reality of Race Relations’ in Boston. The event drew an exceptionally large audience, and we want to thank everyone who took part. Because of the large crowd, many people did not have a chance to add their thoughts to the conversation at that time. This email survey is designed to enable you to make a comment and to provide feedback about the forum. We look forward to holding additional forums as part of this series.

Going forward
Material from these surveys will be shared among the partners, and some comments will be included in a blog published by the Commonwealth Compact. We will announce the date and place of the next forum in this series shortly. Thank you again for coming and for your contribution to this survey.

The Blackstonian provides our answers to the survey as both an Open Letter to the Boston Foundation as well as for the benefit of our Blackstonian Family.

Boston Talks Race Participant Survey

1. What worked? Why?

The audio/video presentation was great and the data presented by CMB was invaluable. You had the ability, the capacity to do it and you did it. The Boston Foundation is not a revolutionary or community based organization so any expectation of a perfect first attempt that would please everyone is unrealistic. To whom much is given, much is required so since the Boston Foundation is in this extremely unique position with such a unique platform this discussion of race must be done again and again tailor made to hit every nuance and issue. Overall it was a solid attempt and any forum is only as strong as its organization and participation, which is where TBF can improve in future attempts.

2.What didn’t work? Why?

The exclusion of voices from the 40 and under crowd, both in the panel and in the questions accepted from the audience was sorely lacking.

In addition, when discussing race it is important that we open up the discussion. If Black conservatives and moderates from the middle and upper class are having the discussion only with white conservatives and moderates from the middle and upper class, then the discussion is lacking input from the very people most affected by racism and white supremacy. To omit from the discussion those who are labeled Militant, Radical, Revolutionary, Pro-Black, Black Nationalists, Pan Afrikanists, Grass Roots, Activist actually damages the integrity of the discussion. How can we have a "real" discussion without the input of those who are oppressed and those whose work is fighting against it?

This is particularly disturbing considering that the Black conservatives and moderates from the middle and upper class only arrived in their current positions and station in life based on the work, struggle and sacrifice of those who are now marginalized and dismissed as not valid in the modern, mostly academic, clinical and sanitized discussion of race.

3. Was there a comment you wish you had had the opportunity to make?

Boston will never have a real discussion on race until there is an admission of guilt from white people. This is mirrored throughout the nation. Black people are expected to get over racism and slavery without ever having a full discussion of the Black Holocaust or the effects of Slavery, Jim Crow, etc. so there is never a chance for reconciliation. One only needs to look at the discussion of Reparations, Police Brutality, Political Prisoners, etc. to see how in the mainstream it is summarily dismissed as illegitimate and fringe, when in reality it is common sense and humane.

4. There were several suggestions that the effort “go deep” in one way or another. What would “going deep” look like to you?

There are several subjects that we dare not broach lest to offend the hands that feed some... in political context this means that very few will be critical of Mayor Menino, City of Boston, State of Massachusetts if they have personal, business relationships or are receiving funding from those entities or individuals.

There is a History here that is based in fact and statistic and cannot be denied but understandably many do not want to discuss it, much of it is painful and embarrassing and potentially damaging in an election years.

Examples:
*Since 1995 Boston Police have shot and killed 19 people all of whom were Black, Latino & Cape Verdean.
*BPD has almost never admitted wrongdoing in any case of the death of a Black, Latino or Cape Verdean person. Investigations have lagged for years with no as promised public results and in contrast the young white lady who was shot by accident at Fenway there was an investigation, court case, settlement and payment in the course of 18 months.
*Mayor Menino's #2 Michael Kineavy served 6 yrs in prison for Civil Rights violations (what would now be termed as Hate Crimes) during busing.
*At one point in the not so distant past Suffolk County was #2 IN THE US for wrongful convictions. The vast majority of those people were Black & Latino.
*Massachusetts, Vermont, New Hampshire, Maine are quickly becoming the new bastions of White Supremists, KKK, Aryan Nation, Skinhead in the country formerly from Ohio and PA.
*examining the relationship between many of the Clergy, The Mayor and the BPD which perpetuates racism in many cases and furthers disenfranchisement, disempowerment while promoting false leadership in the community.

I'll stop there.

5. What would you like to see in future forums on race?

Travelling in the community.
Dudley Library
Hibernian Hall
MAMLEO on Columbia Rd.
Boys & Girls Club Talbot Ave.
Mattapan Library
Roxbury Community College
UMASS Boston
Harvard Univ
Northeastern Univ
Boston College
Boston Univ
South Boston
Charlestown
Roslindale
Hyde Park
West Roxbury

6. Some who attended the forum on January 26 have suggested future forums include one with a youth perspective and one with a focus on the business community. Are either of these forums you would like to attend? Are there other topics that could be included?

Ultimately this is more for a conference style forum where people would break off into groups on "areas" where racism exists but before this there should be an entire group session to set the tone, define terms, etc... break out groups... and then return for a summary of breakout groups and a final group session something of this magnitude could be done at the convention center during a whole day conference heavily advertised to the entire city and televised/broadcast widely BNN, NPR, WGBH, etc...

7. What is the best way to capture the energy and potential that we all felt January 26, and put them to effective use?

Many people left feeling lacking, so one point is that the Boston Foundation needs to reach out to those in the community who deal with these issues on a day to day basis, reach outside of the list of usual suspects and those with title and position... at least one forum should be a peoples forum where those usual suspects just attend and listen... much of the racism in Boston is entwined also with classism and the bourgeois have always served as gatekeepers and many times proven themselves a hindrance to progressive action.

8. Other comments:

I don't believe in blind surveys
Jamarhl Crawford
617-297-7721
PO Box 192135 Roxbury, MA 02119
blackstonian@verizon.net
www.blackstonian.com

__________________________________________________________

(If you attended the forum and want to answer this survey click here)

(For video of the forum from The Boston Foundation click here)

Boston Talks Race: The Conversation Continues Fri. March 4th

Boston Talks Race: The Conversation Continues
Fri. March 4th

Boston Talks Race: The Conversation Continues Fri. March 4th

The strong appetite Boston residents have to discuss issues of race and racism in Boston was evident during the first of this series of forums held on January 26th, 2011 at the Boston Foundation. Boston Talks Race: The Conversation Continues, the second forum in this series, will be an open, facilitated dialogue with audience members.

This forum is co-sponsored by the Museum of Science, the Boston Foundation, Commonwealth Compact and the Urban League of Eastern Massachusetts – and is being held in conjunction with the Museum of Science exhibit Race: Are We So Different?

Friday, March 4th, 2011
6:30 to 8:30 p.m.
The Museum of Science | 1 Science Park, Boston | Cahners Theater

Please join us at 5:00 p.m. to register for the forum and gain free admission to the exhibit.
A light supper will be served.
Seating is limited. To reserve a seat, please rsvp at:
http://bostontalksracepart2.eventbrite.com

If you have any questions, please call Holly Adams at 617-589-0324.
The Museum is accessible through the Science Park Stop on the E Train of the Green Line and parking is available for those registering for this forum for a flat $5 fee.

About the Co-Sponsors of These Forums

The Museum of Science, Boston takes a hands-on approach to science, engineering and technology, attracting about 1.5 million visitors a year via its programs and 700 interactive exhibits. Founded in 1830, the Museum was first to embrace all the sciences under one roof. Its new exhibit, “Race: Are We So Different?,” opening on January 16, 2011, was developed by the American Anthropological Association in collaboration with the Science Museum of Minnesota and sponsored locally by Genzyme and Liberty Mutual. This compelling exhibit will encourage visitors to explore the origins and impact of race and racism through biological, societal, and cultural perspectives. For more about the Museum, visit www.mos.org.

The Boston Foundation, Greater Boston’s community foundation, is one of the oldest and largest community foundations in the nation, with assets of $733 million. In Fiscal Year 2010, the Foundation and its donors made more than $82 million in grants to nonprofit organizations and received gifts of close to $83 million. The Foundation is made up of some 900 separate charitable funds established by donors either for the general benefit of the community or for special purposes. The Boston Foundation also serves as a major civic leader, provider of information, convener, and sponsor of special initiatives designed to address the community’s and region’s most pressing challenges. For more information about the Boston Foundation, visit www.tbf.org or call 617-338-1700.

Commonwealth Compact is a statewide initiative to make Massachusetts once again a location of choice for people of color. Its stated mission is: "To establish Massachusetts as a uniquely inclusive, honest, and supportive community of – and for – diverse people. To acknowledge our mixed history in this effort, and to face squarely the challenges that still need to be overcome, understanding that the rich promise of the region’s growing diversity must be tapped fully if Boston and Massachusetts are to achieve their economic, civic, and social potential." More than 200 organizations have signed on to the Compact. For more information, visit http://www.commonwealthcompact.umb.edu/ or call 617 287-5550.

The Urban League of Eastern Massachusetts, founded in 1917, is dedicated to building stronger communities by championing civil rights and helping people create a better long-term economic and social future. For 90 years, the ULEM has given hope to local residents in the form of education, job training and placement at no cost. Located in Roxbury near a hub of college and individuals in need of our unique services, the League’s success is due to its strong corporate and neighborhood ties, which connect local businesses with the City’s communities. Corporations benefit from an ongoing pipeline of well-trained talent while local residents are provided rewarding career opportunities. The end result is a vibrant, self-reliant community, which takes pride in its achievements and inspires others to do the same. For more, visit www.ulem.org or call 617-442-4519.

Black History Comes Early!!!!! FREE BOOK OFFER!!!

BLACKSTONIAN EXCLUSIVE OFFER!!!!

The Blackstonian recognizes the importance of our rich culture and celebrates Black History all year long... 24/7/365!

We have obtained FREE BOOKS, generously donated from the Museum of African American History http://www.afroammuseum.org and want to give them directly to the community!! Perfect for Families, Children, Students, Teachers, Adults, Seniors, Churches, Schools... Its good for EVERYONE!!!

Here's How You Get Your FREE BOOK!!!
1. Become a "Follower" of The Blackstonian, this means that you sign up and join our Blackstonian blog community
2. email Blackstonian@verizon.net or call 617-297-7721 to arrange pick-up or delivery of your FREE BOOK!!!! We can leave it somewhere for you, you can pick it up... we will work it out!!!
UPDATE: the books are now available for pick up at
a) Grove Hall - Roots Culture Shop Blue Hill Ave across from Washington/Warren intersection.
b) Codman Sq - Peace Variety directly across from Dor Courthouse on Washington St.
3. Another way to get the book and SUPPORT BLACK BUSINESS at the same time.... anyone who makes a purchase at Master Merchant can select the Book as a FREE GIFT.

Let's spread this important and informative Book about our culture and Black African History!!!!!
The Black History of Boston detailed in this book, is the very reason why we coined the term BLACKSTONIAN in recognition of the contributions of Black Bostonians!!!!

African-Americans in Boston: More Than 350 Years
by: Robert C. Hayden
foreword by: Joyce Ferriabough
Funded in part by: Bank of Boston
Published by: Trustees of Boston Public Library

Buy Black for Great Gifts!! Support Black Business!!!

Great Gift Ideas for your Holiday Season!
If you celebrate Christmas, Kwanzaa and Black History Month
here are some great gifts for your children, your family and for yourself!

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Underground Railroad Game
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Black History Playing Cards
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Shea Butter
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Incense
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Burning Oils
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Handcrafted Leather Panther Figurines
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Afrocentric Posters
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National Flags
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Chew Sticks - Licorice Root
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James Marzilli sentenced to 3 months in jail

Tuesday, February 22, 2011

James Marzilli sentenced to 3 months in jail
By Laurel J. Sweet | Tuesday, February 22, 2011 | http://www.bostonherald.com | Local Coverage

Photo by Nancy Lane

LOWELL — Condemning his creepy behavior as “repulsive” and “potentially dangerous,” a judge today sentenced former state Sen. Joseph “Jim” Marzilli to three months in the Billerica House of Correction for the grandfather’s 2008 sex-crazed spree in Lowell, when he accosted four women in one day while on official business.

“I think he’s an ill man, I really, really do. I believe the behavior that was exhibited that day was due to mental illness. You don’t live your life for 50 years with no issues and have this come out of nowhere,” Marzilli’s attorney, Terrence Kennedy, said after the sentencing in Lowell Superior Court.

One of Marzilli’s victims was handicapped.

Former state Sen. George Bachrach, a longtime friend of Marzilli’s who came to court to support the legislator, said, “Jim Marzilli made a mistake. He’s going to pay for it. Clearly, he became unglued. How else do you explain what happened?”

Kennedy predicted the Arlington Democrat, who is being treated for bipolar disorder and anxiety, will serve less than 55 days of the punishment superior court Judge Paul Chernoff handed down after Marzilli pleaded guilty to the accosting charges, disorderly conduct and resisting arrest.

With his wife looking on in tears, Marzilli also admitted there were sufficient facts for a jury to find him guilty of the felony charge of attempted indecent assault and battery for reaching for the crotch of a nurse’s assistant waiting on a bench for a patient.

That charge threatened up to five years in state prison, but because Chernoff continued it without a finding for one year — rather than declare Marzilli guilty, as assistant Middlesex District Attorney Elizabeth Dunigan pushed for — the disgraced pol will not have to register as a sex offender.

He is, however, on probation for five years effective immediately. Upon his release from jail, Chernoff ordered that Marzilli’s first year of release be spent on a GPS bracelet subject to exclusionary zones to be determined by prosecutors. He must also perform 200 hours of community service.

Unable to secure work for the past three years — “Look him up on the Internet. That’s the end of it,” Kennedy said of his employment possibilities — Marzilli has been doing volunteer work with at-risk Somali children and botanical gardening.

On Kennedy’s advice, Marzilli elected not to address Chernoff. Had he, Kennedy said, “I think he would have apologized — to everybody.”

None of the victims came to court, either, though Chernoff stressed each “should be recognized for courageously coming forward.” Authorities said Marzilli said to one victim: “The sex is sweet, the sex is sweet, you want it and you want to go with me.”

In the city on June 3, 2008, for a function at Federal Fabrics-Fibers, Marzilli approached the women both on foot and in a car over the course of four hours, making lewd remarks about their bodies. They, in return, called him a pervert and told him to spend $20 on a hooker.

Dunigan told Chernoff some of the women are now afraid to go to downtown Lowell.

Dunigan said one victim remarked to her of Marzilli, “He makes the law and then he breaks them.”

“At the time of his arrest, he was focused on himself, his career, his future,” Dunigan said. “Maybe in time it can be a little bit about what these women lost on the streets of Lowell.”

Marzilli’s commitment to public service began in 1976, when he served as a legislative aide while a student at the University of Massachusetts in Boston.

Article URL: http://www.bostonherald.com/news/regional/view.bg?articleid=1318535

Basic Black: A Conversation with the Candidates for Boston City Council District 7

Basic Black: A Conversation with the Candidates for Boston City Council District 7

(Originally broadcast on February 18, 2011) A Reporter's Roundtable: In conversation with the candidates for Boston City Council District 7.

Our panel: Latoyia Edwards, anchor, New England Cable News; Phillip Martin, senior investigative reporter, 89.7, WGBH Radio; Manolia Charlotin, editor, The Boston Haitian Reporter; Tito Jackson, candidate for Boston City Council District 7; and Cornell Mills, candidate for Boston City Council District 7.

Basic Black ONLINE EXCLUSIVE: Boston City Council District 7
(Originally streamed February 18, 2011) After the broadcast the conversation with the candidates for Boston City Council District 7 continued to include issues of public safety and job creation.

Our panel: Latoyia Edwards, anchor, New England Cable News; Phillip Martin, senior investigative reporter, 89.7, WGBH Radio; Manolia Charlotin, editor, The Boston Haitian Reporter; Tito Jackson, candidate for Boston City Council District 7; and Cornell Mills, candidate for Boston City Council District 7.

Professor dead in Newton blaze

By Jessica Heslam | Tuesday, February 22, 2011 | http://www.bostonherald.com | Local Coverage
Photo by Ted Fitzgerald

A former award-winning WGBH producer and beloved Bunker Hill Community College professor battling brain cancer perished in a fire early yesterday at her Newton home, her grieving family said.

Beth Deare, a 63-year-old grandmother of three, had survived throat cancer but was recently diagnosed with brain cancer, said family friend Ronald Mitchell of Roxbury.

Deare, a former producer for the public affairs TV program “Say Brother,” now “Basic Black” on WGBH, was undergoing weekly cancer treatments and was on leave from the college, Mitchell said.

In a statement, Deare’s brother and sister said they were devastated.

“We take comfort in knowing that the cancer she fought will no longer consume her and that her vast family and extended family — including students, and friends around the world — will keep her in love and prayer,” the siblings said.

The family said Deare’s “life was full with incredible highs, ranging from her loving daughter and three grandchildren to her many awards and accolades for her acclaimed work in television and film, including 13 Emmys and a Peabody.”

Deare had worked as a producer on “Say Brother” in the 1980s, said WGBH spokeswoman Jeanne Hopkins. “We’re very saddened. It’s such a loss. She really was a very talented producer,” Hopkins said.

In a statement, Bunker Hill spokeswoman Colleen Roach said the entire college was mourning Deare’s tragic death.

“She had worked for more than 15 years in the College’s English Department and was a very passionate and engaging professor who was greatly admired by her students,’’ the statement said.

Deare’s producer credits also include “Midnight Ramble,” a film about the history of black filmmaking, said Mitchell, who said Deare also worked as a host on “Say Brother.”

Fire Marshal Stephen Coan told the Herald the cause of the Waverly Avenue blaze is still under investigation.

Colneth Smiley Jr. contributed to this report.

Article URL: http://www.bostonherald.com/news/regional/view.bg?articleid=1318483

Friends recall Medford shooting victim Man a longtime member of Hub hip-hop scene

Monday, February 21, 2011

Friends recall Medford shooting victim
Man a longtime member of Hub hip-hop scene

By Stewart Bishop
Globe Correspondent / February 21, 2011

As authorities continued to investigate the Friday night shootings in Medford that left one man dead and his father wounded, friends remembered John Hatch as a compassionate family man and longtime member of the Boston hip-hop scene.

Hatch, 36, was fatally shot at his Jerome Street home in West Medford on Friday night in an attack that also wounded his father.

Jessica Venezia Pastore, a spokeswoman for Middlesex District Attorney Gerard T. Leone Jr. said yesterday there was an ongoing investigation into the slaying, but declined to say if investigators were pursing a suspect in the case or provide further details about the shootings.

A musician, Hatch was a founding member of the Boston group Mikst Nutz, which came to prominence in the local hip-hop community during the mid 1990s.

Yesterday, Hatch’s friend and fellow Mikst Nutz member, Osamah Orlebar of Roxbury, said he couldn’t imagine why anyone would want to hurt Hatch.

FULL STORY HERE
http://www.boston.com/news/local/massachusetts/articles/2011/02/21/friends_recall_medford_shooting_victim/

Black History Month Classic 2/21 @Emmanuel College

Black History Month Classic 2/21
@Emmanuel College (PRESIDENTS DAY/ NO SCHOOL)

Time Monday, February 21 · 10:00am - 5:00pm
Location Emmanuel College Gym

Brought to you by: Basketball X-Perts

-------------SCHEDULE----------------

Black History Month Classic 2/21
@Emmanuel College (PRESIDENTS DAY/ NO SCHOOL)

11:00am - Boston Trinity Academy vs. Brighton HS
12:30pm - New Mission HS vs. East Boston HS
2:00pm - Everett HS vs. Lowell HS
3:30pm - Lee Academy (ME) vs. NIA Prep National Team (NJ)

FOOTAGE OF BLACK HISTORY MONTH EVENT
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OMvmlK9A9zI

Give Russell his due

Sunday, February 20, 2011

Give Russell his due

By Adrian Walker
Globe Columnist / February 19, 2011

Every so often, Boston turns its lonely eyes to Bill Russell, and the spectacle is always fascinating to watch.

One of those rediscoveries occurred in 1999 when the Celtics great assented to a night in his honor at what was then the Fleet Center. Thirty years after his last game, he was celebrated before a packed house, most of which had never seen him play. Legendary adversary Wilt Chamberlain joined in the celebration, and a deep old wound between Russell and Boston began to heal.

Another sign of thaw came during the Celtics’ championship run in 2008, when Russell not only appeared at the Finals, but did television interviews with his newfound buddy, Kevin Garnett.

And now, once again, Russell and Boston are in the news. The idea of a tribute to Russell is everywhere: Cedric Maxwell has been lobbying on talk radio for a statue, and even President Obama took up the cause Tuesday, when he presented Russell with the Presidential Medal of Freedom.

FULL STORY HERE
http://www.boston.com/news/local/massachusetts/articles/2011/02/19/give_bill_russell_his_due/

Blackstonian Editor's Note:
We are glad to see that President Obama has come around to the long held idea that Bill Russell deserves a statue in Boston, the Blackstonian has been working on a statue and honoring Bill Russell in Boston for some time. We suggested an Official City of Boston "Day" as well as a State of Mass "Day" honoring Mr. Russell. We suggested his birthday of Feb. 12th. In addition, the ONLY person who should do this statue is Fern Cunningham, the Black Woman who also made the Harriet Tubman statues and the work in Forest Hills Cemetary.
See Basic Black Feature on Fern Cunningham here http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LNcrUsC63SI
The Blackstonian hopes that when our dream comes to fruition, we at least get invited ;)

In his own words...

By Herald staff | Sunday, February 20, 2011 | http://www.bostonherald.com | Local Politics

Read more of what Cornell Mills had to say in his interview with the Herald.

On the City Council race:

“My decision to run is based on my history. I’ve been involved in this neighborhood for over 16 years doing community service, working with the youth and working with at-risk youth doing some mentoring. I’ve done some compliance work, making sure women, residents and minorities receive opportunities on jobs. I’ve done a lot of work in the streets making sure that kids have opportunities other than drugs and guns and violence and crime.”

• • •

On his mother, former Sen. Dianne Wilkerson:

“My mother has been very supportive. She has a lot of experience in politics.

“She’s made sure that myself and my brother have been involved in politics. I worked on my first political campaign at the age of 10. And more importantly, I’ve sat in those basement meetings. I’ve been a part of this civil rights struggle. Even though we have a governor that’s an African-American and we have a president that’s African-American, we’re far from a post-racial society.”

• • •

On Wilkerson’s arrest and subsequent conviction for federal corruption:

“As you go through trials and tribulations in life and as you try to become a better person, there are stages that you have to go through to get to where I am at today.

“When this incident first happened I was in denial. I was upset about it. I couldn’t believe it happened. That denial then turned into anger. I was mad; I wanted to lash out. That anger can easily turn into depression if you don’t channel it in the proper way.

“If you’re able to get past that anger and that depression and you come into acceptance, then you leave it up to God. So at this point, I’m acting on God’s plan. I feel like God has given me this opportunity to make a difference. I’m not angry. I’m not depressed. I’m at peace with the situation.”

Article URL: http://www.bostonherald.com/news/politics/view.bg?articleid=1318150

Boston officer is arrested on assault charges Police called to wife’s apartment

Boston officer is arrested on assault charges
Police called to wife’s apartment

By Travis Andersen
Globe Staff / February 20, 2011

A Boston police officer was arrested early yesterday on charges of assaulting his wife at her apartment in Roxbury, the department said.

Boston police said in a statement that officers responded to the Intervale Street apartment just after 3:10 a.m., where the wife of Patrol Officer Dennis Morson, 36, said he had assaulted her and damaged property.

Police saw that the woman had been injured and damage was done to two doors in the apartment, authorities said. She declined medical treatment, according to the statement.

FULL STORY HERE:
http://www.boston.com/news/local/massachusetts/articles/2011/02/20/boston_officer_is_arrested_on_assault_charges/?p1=Local_Links

Cornell Mills: I’m my own man Stands by mother Dianne Wilkerson

Cornell Mills: I’m my own man
Stands by mother Dianne Wilkerson

FAMILY TIME: City Council candidate Cornell Mills, left, campaigns with his daughter, Amaris, 8, and son, Cornell Jr., 11, by his side. Mills says he stands with his mother, ex-state Sen. Dianne Wilkerson.
Photo By Stuart Cahill
By Colneth Smiley Jr. and Jessica Fargen | Sunday, February 20, 2011 | http://www.bostonherald.com | Local Politics

Photo by Stuart Cahill
City Council candidate Cornell Mills is standing by his mother, disgraced former state Sen. Dianne Wilkerson, but he insists he is running for office as his own man.

“The good that she’s done for this community far outweighs the negative aspects,’’ Mills, 36, told the Herald in a rare interview on his mother, who begins serving a 3 1/2-year prison term next month on a federal corruption conviction.

“There are always two sides to the issue, and she’s going to have her opportunity to give her version of what happened,” he added. “But I am very proud of her record. I’m very proud of all the accomplishments that she’s made.

“I’m running on my record. I’m not running based on anything that my mother’s done.”

Mills — a real-estate agent, former civilian investigator for the district attorney’s office and married father of four — is facing an uphill battle against heavily favored Tito Jackson in the District 7 special election to replace Chuck Turner. The 70-year-old former councilor also heads to prison next month for his conviction in the federal corruption case.

“With my mother gone and with Chuck Turner being gone from his seat, there’s a lack in leadership,” said Mills, seated at his Roxbury kitchen table. “There’s a void in advocacy. So I wanted to make sure this community knew there was still someone here that’s willing to fight for them.”

Last week, Mills earned a spot on the March 15 election ballot, garnering 10 percent of the vote, far behind Jackson’s 67 percent.

Mills said he and his older brother, Kendall, grew up watching his mother struggle as a single parent who fought fervently for the poor. Before she ran for office, Wilkerson was a civil rights attorney who served as lead counsel for the NAACP. She is credited with winning a landmark case that resulted in the desegregation of Hub public housing.

“Whenever you fight for the poor or for the less privileged, there are a lot of forces at play that don’t want to see you succeed,” Mills said of her eventual downfall. “And that’s the reality of where we are at today in this city.”

Mills — who worked on his first campaign when he was 10 — said he is running on a platform to “stimulate economic empowerment and development.” The Boston College High School grad describes himself above all else as a family man, raising his kids with his wife, attorney Stephanie Soriano-Mills.

“My kids walk the streets of this city,” he said. “So it’s my responsibility to do the things my elders did and sacrifice part of my life to make sure their lives are left in a better position.”

Mills acknowledges he’s facing a seasoned campaigner in Jackson, who ran unsuccessfully for the council two years ago and worked on Gov. Deval Patrick’s re-election bid.

Jackson, declining to comment on the scandal that brought down Wilkerson and Turner, said he’s focused on the economy.

“The real issue is on the here and now,” Jackson said. “People in our community need work, jobs and economic justice. People want to walk down safe and clean streets.”

Article URL: http://www.bostonherald.com/news/politics/view.bg?articleid=1318057

Patrick wants City Hall to take over appointees to Boston Licensing Board

Saturday, February 19, 2011

Patrick wants City Hall to take over appointees to Boston Licensing Board

February 18, 2011 04:42 PM
By Andrew Ryan, Globe Staff

Governor Deval Patrick today proposed legislation transferring control of the Boston Licensing Board back to the mayor of Boston for the first time in more than 100 years, while announcing two new appointments to the board.

Nicole Murati Ferrer, a lawyer who works in the city of Boston's law department, will take over immediately as chairwoman, filling the seat vacated last June when Daniel F. Pokaski stepped down.

The governor's office also announced that on June 30 Michael Connolly will step down after 11 1/2 years on the board. Connolly's seat will be filled by Milton Wright, a retired district court judge who sat for many years in Roxbury Municipal Court.

Wright would be the first African-American on the board since Clarence Elam, who was appointed by Governor Christian Herter in the 1950s.

FULL STORY HERE:
http://www.boston.com/news/local/breaking_news/2011/02/patrick_wants_c.html

Du Bois Center to partner with Springfield church

By Associated Press | Sunday, February 6, 2011 | http://www.bostonherald.com | Local Coverage

SPRINGFIELD — A well-known Springfield church is set to announce a partnership with the W.E.B. Du Bois Center at the UMass Amherst Libraries to promote the writings by the Massachusetts-born civil rights leader.

St. John’s Congregational Church is scheduled Monday to give details of the new partnership.

The 165-year-old historic church is one of the oldest and active black churches in New England. It has deep ties to the anti-slavery and civil rights movement.

Du Bois was born in Great Barrington in 1868 and was a founder of the NAACP. He wrote more than 4,000 articles, essays and books, including "The Souls of Black Folk."

Article URL: http://www.bostonherald.com/news/regional/view.bg?articleid=1314787

BLACKSTONIAN SUPPLEMENTAL INFO:

W. E. B. Du Bois, 1868-1963, scholar, sociologist, author, and civil rights activist, was the first African American to graduate from Harvard University. William Edward Burghardt Du Boise was one of 60 people to answer a call to protest lynching and the 1908 race riot of Springfield, Illinois. From this action the group formed the NAACP and focused on principles Du Bois had used in his Niagara Movement of 1905.

Publications by Du Bois

1896 The Suppression of the Slave Trade to the United States of America,
1899 The Philadelphia Negro: A Social Study
1903 The Souls of Black Folk: Essays and Sketches
1909 John Brown
1934 Editor of NAACP magazine the Crisis
1915 The Negro
1935 Black Reconstruction in America, 1860-1880
1940 Dusk of Dawn: An Essay toward an Autobiography of a Race Concept
1944 Founds Phylon magazine
1945 Encyclopedia of the Negro: Preparatory Volume with Reference Lists and Reports
1955 The World and Africa: An Inquiry into the Part which Africa Has Played in World History
1968 The Autobiography of W. E. B. Du Bois

In addition to his many books, magazines, and other publications, Du Bois traveled around the world. In 1926, he visited the Soviet Union. He visited Haiti and Cuba in 1944. He attended the founding conference of the United Nations in 1945. In 1948, he was appointed co-chairman of the Council on African Affairs. In 1949, he attended the world peace congress in New York, Paris, and Moscow. He returned to the Soviet Union in 1958 and stayed in China in 1959. That same year he joined the Communist Party of the United States. In 1961, he moved to Ghana after an invitation from the president and became a citizen in 1963. W. E. B. Du Bois died on August 27, 1963 in Accra, Ghana.

Son killed, father hurt in Medford double shooting

Blackstonian Editor's Note:
R.I.P. To Boston Hip-Hop Legend Johnny Hatch from the Group Mikst Nutz. Love from all your Family and Friends. Speedy Recovery to Johnny's Father. Stay tuned to Blackstonian for News/Updates on Memorial and Tribute. Salute. PEACE.

Son killed, father hurt in Medford double shooting

By Associated Press | Saturday, February 19, 2011 | http://www.bostonherald.com | Local Coverage

MEDFORD - One man is dead and his father is wounded after a double shooting in Medford.

Authorities say Medford police responded to a call reporting shots fired and found 36-year-old John Hatch and his father suffering from gunshot wounds.

Both men were taken to Lawrence Memorial Hospital in Medford, where Hatch died.

The Middlesex District Attorney’s office said Hatch’s father, whose name was not released, was taken to Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston and is expected to survive.

Police are investigating and authorities say they don’t believe the shooting was random.

Article URL: http://www.bostonherald.com/news/regional/view.bg?articleid=1317977

FBI Informants Destabilizing Boston Black Leadership?

Friday, February 18, 2011

FBI Informants Destabilizing Boston Black Leadership?

(Ron Wilburn, FBI Informant who was key witness in Turner, Wilkerson cases.)

By Blackstonian Publisher/Editor Jamarhl Crawford

It's the ultimate What If Scenario... "What If" there was a program specifically focused in Boston to spy on and destabilize current and emerging Black/Latino leadership? Sounds crazy? Paranoid? Conspiracy Theory Maybe?

Well actually, we got a bit of a taste of the tip of the iceberg here in Boston during the much publicized trials of City Councillor Chuck Turner and State Senator Dianne Wilkerson. The central figure in these cases was Ron WIlburn, Black Boston "Entrepreneur & Businessman" and simultaneously paid FBI Informant. So much so that he wore wires and logged over 100 hrs of video and audio surveillance. Tens of thousands of documents were revealed during these trials and it showed many tactics in use by the FBI currently, which are reminiscent of the Cold War, Communist Witch Hunts and J. Edgar Hoover's now infamous CoIntel Program.

What If?

As any of us who look up to certain figures and "leaders" we must ask ourselves "What If" there could be a traitor in our midst? "What If" the person we look up to is not who and what they purport to be? What about the people who have trusted in the church or school and put their faith in a preacher or teacher only to find out that children were molested or abused by their hands? What about the people that were so excited about their new job and then later find out the business that they are really in, which hurts their very community?

The Question is not "What If?" rather it is "Who?" There are most definitely those among us who look like us, who have been put into place for the sole purpose of hindering progress and reporting on those folks who give the powers that be cause for alarm. Right here in Boston there are those who are deeply entrenched and in leadership positions who have been under the employ of our open enemy. Black Researcher/Lecturer Steve Cokely says "Name The Names" and has given us years of in depth study into the "Gate Keepers" exposing those who look like us but work against us.

This Sunday, Feb. 20th at 8pm CNN's Soledad O'Brien (Black In America, Latino In America) will examine a text book case of a trusted person in Civil Rights who at the same time was an iconic figure and a FBI Paid Informant. This Person is Ernest Withers, famed Civil Rights photographer who walked with Martin Luther King, Malcolm X and photographed the Montgomery Bus Boycott, Emmett Till and the Little Rock 9.

Pictures Don't Lie
CNN 8pm Sun. Feb. 20th

Low-cost broadband Internet for Boston

By Associated Press | Friday, February 18, 2011 | http://www.bostonherald.com | Technology

BOSTON — Hundreds of low-income families are expected to benefit from a program intended to expand access to low-cost, high-speed Internet services to Boston residents.

The initiative will provide broadband Internet services to schools, libraries, youth centers, public housing, senior and community centers as well as 2,800 eligible families.

It is funded by $4.3 million in stimulus funds from the Department of Commerce’s Broadband Technology Opportunities Program. The Boston initiative is a partnership with Comcast Corp.

U.S. Sen. John Kerry is scheduled to join Congressman Michael Capuano, Mayor Thomas Menino and other officials Friday to announce the program.

Kerry says access to high- speed Internet is "issue number one" because it simplifies everything from finding a job to taking a class. He says the Boston partnership will spread broadband Internet like wildfire.

Article URL: http://www.bostonherald.com/jobfind/news/technology/view.bg?articleid=1317697

Hub builds on prez idea for Bill Russell statue

Blackstonian Editor's Note: We are glad to see that President Obama has come around to the long held idea that Bill Russell deserves a statue in Boston, the Blackstonian has been working on a statue and honoring Bill Russell in Boston for some time. We suggested an Official City of Boston "Day" as well as a State of Mass "Day" honoring Mr. Russell.. we suggested his birthday of Feb. 12th. In addition, the ONLY person who should do this statue is Fern Cunningham, the Black Woman who also made the Harriet Tubman statues and the work in Forest Hills Cemetary.
See Basic Black Feature on Fern Cunningham here http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LNcrUsC63SI
The Blackstonian hopes that when our dream comes to fruition, we at least get invited ;)

Hub builds on prez idea for Bill Russell statue

By O’Ryan Johnson | Friday, February 18, 2011 | http://www.bostonherald.com | Local Coverage

Two days after President Obama said he hopes Boston will build a statue honoring Celtics [team stats] legend Bill Russell, plans are under way between city officials and the Celtics front office to make that happen.

Support for the idea is pouring in from across the Hub, with the Rev. Bruce Wall in Dorcehster, congressman Michael Capuano as well as several Celtics who are on record saying it should be built.

Mayor Thomas M. Menino said the battle is not being fought over whether to build the statue, but where to build it.

“Where is the most appropriate place to put the statue for the consideration and respect due Bill Russell?” said Menino, who considers Russell a friend. “He’s a very deep person who has a big laugh, but is very serious.”

He said that was the subject of the phone call between the city and Celtics front office Wednesday, and he said both sides are looking at that issue now. While Causeway Street seems like an obvious choice, Menino pointed out that Celtics coach Red Auerbach’s statue is in Faneuil Hall.

In Dorchester, the Rev. Bruce Wall said a Russell statue should be in a place where all who visit Boston can enjoy it.

“He was not just a figure for the black community. He is a world-renowned figure,” Wall said. “Everyone recognized him. Put the statue in a place where people visiting Boston from all over can pay tribute. I would support having it downtown.”

Capuano (D-Somerville), whose district includes the North End, said a statue for Russell — who won 11 NBA championships, two as player coach — should have happened years ago.

A Bill Russell statue is long overdue, Capuano said. “He is a Boston legend, a quintessential Celtic and a true champion — as a coach and a player.”

But Menino said one hang-up remains, no one has talked to Russell.

“We want to connect with Bill Russell ourselves first,” said Menino, to make sure he wants a statue, before plans get too far ahead.

Kilbert Pierce Jr, the boxer-turned-blogger who proposed the idea of a statue more than three years ago, said in addition to a lack of funding, there seemed to be little interest in raising a statue to Russell at the time.

“It makes me feel so good that people are now coming around and showing interest. I think it’s great. Obama has pushed this to a new level. For (Celtics Ray) Allen to say something, for (Coach Doc) Rivers to say something. That’s beautiful. That’s all I ever wanted,” Pierce said.

Article URL: http://www.bostonherald.com/news/regional/view.bg?articleid=1317640

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