Culture

A Boston (R)Evolution

Examine a racially complicated American city as it confronts both its past and future. Boston’s acting mayor, a black woman once bussed as a child to hostile neighborhoods, breaks 200 years of white male mayors and ushers in the historic 2021 mayoral race.

A Boston (R)Evolution

1h 25m

A racially complex American city confronts its past and future. When a Black female city councilor, once bussed as a child to hostile neighborhoods, is catapulted to Acting Mayor, she breaks 200 years of white male mayorship. Boston's old school politics are further challenged when the top candidates in the historic 2021 mayoral race are all non-white women.

Episodes

  • A Boston (R)Evolution: asset-mezzanine-16x9

    A Boston (R)Evolution

    S1 E1 - 1h 25m

    A racially complex American city confronts its past and future. When a Black female city councilor, once bussed as a child to hostile neighborhoods, is catapulted to Acting Mayor, she breaks 200 years of white male mayorship. Boston's old school politics are further challenged when the top candidates in the historic 2021 mayoral race are all non-white women.

Extras + Features

  • Smoke-Filled Rooms: asset-mezzanine-16x9

    Smoke-Filled Rooms

    S1 E1 - 4m 21s

    Discussion about race and ethnicity as it relates to the 2021 mayoral race. From a reference to the “smoky room” of old political campaigns, to the advantages and disadvantages of having multiple candidates of one race, as well as the groundbreaking election of Ayanna Pressley who changed the rules of the game and became the first Black woman congressional rep from Massachusetts.

  • Great White Hope: asset-mezzanine-16x9

    Great White Hope

    S1 E1 - 2m 35s

    Kim Janey speaks at Boston's first substantial Souls to the Polls event, sponsored by a historic Black church, applauding community members for getting out to vote for Michelle Wu. Wu discusses her commitment to racial justice as well as the need for solidarity between the Asian-American and the Black communities. Older community members express their support for Wu.

  • Preview: asset-mezzanine-16x9

    Preview

    S1 E1 - 30s

    Examine a racially complicated American city as it confronts both its past and future. Boston’s acting mayor, a black woman once bussed as a child to hostile neighborhoods, breaks 200 years of white male mayors and ushers in the historic 2021 mayoral race.

  • Mel King: asset-mezzanine-16x9

    Mel King

    S1 E1 - 3m 55s

    A diverse group of community members — including AfriCOBRA imagemaker Napoleon Jones-Henderson — discusses their affection for 1983 Boston mayoral candidate Mel King. Archival footage shows King’s campaign — from voters to interviews — and the power that it had on the Black community in Boston.

  • City of Contradictions: asset-mezzanine-16x9

    City of Contradictions

    S1 E1 - 2m 13s

    A discussion about African American history in Boston. Professor Kabria Baumgartner considers Boston as the "city of contradictions:" a leader in the abolitionist movement, while also a city that embraced segregation in schools and beyond. Professor Paul Watanabe encourages the need to include Black history in conversations about American history, particularly as it pertains to Boston.

  • Preliminary Night: asset-mezzanine-16x9

    Preliminary Night

    S1 E1 - 3m 55s

    In Fall 2021, Michelle Wu and Annissa Essaibi George address their Boston supporters upon winning the Mayoral Primary Election while Andrea Campbell concedes. Kim Janey discusses her loss, her primary election night experience and how she will keep fighting for Boston’s future.

Schedule

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