Despite concerns, Hispanic and Latino cultures continue to thrive across the commonwealth

Businesses and vendors share their cultural foods with patrons at the LatinX Heritage City Hall event during Hispanic Heritage Month 2023.

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Produced live at WGBH Studios in Boston, Basic Black is the longest-running program on public television focusing on the interests of people of color. The show, which was originally called Say Brother, was created in 1968 during the height of the civil rights movement as a response to the demand for public television programs reflecting the concerns of communities of color. Each episode features a panel discussion across geographic borders and generational lines with the most current stories, interviews and commentaries.

November 10, 2023

There are more than 800,000 Latinos who call Massachusetts their home. Some reports estimate the number is much higher.

This week on Basic Black, we celebrate the historic and cultural contributions from the Hispanic and Latinx communities thriving in Boston's Latin Quarter and across the commonwealth. However, these cultural spaces are threatened today by anti-immigrant sentiment and gentrification, in which the long-time residents and small business owners are being pushed out and away from their ethnic enclaves.

On our panel with host Kristen L. Pope to discuss the issues, concerns and opportunities in the Hispanic and Latino community: Dr. Celina Miranda, executive director of the Hyde Square Task Force; Dr. Lorna Rivera, director of the Mauricio Gastón Institute for Latino Community Development & Public Policy at UMass Boston; Beyazmin Jimenez, director of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & Culture at Northeastern University; and Betty Francisco, CEO of Boston Impact Initiative, and co-founder of Amplify Latinx.

Watch the latest episode of Basic Black tonight at 7:30 p.m. on GBH 2 or live at the stream below. You can also watch on the GBH News YouTube channel. Subscribe to get notifications for future premiere episodes.

Despite concerns, Hispanic and Latino cultures continue to thrive across the commonwealth

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