Embrace Boston Ideas Festival returns with focus on collaboration
A guide through the most important stories of the morning, delivered Monday through Friday.
Enter Email
Sign Up
According to Imari K. Paris Jeffries, Embrace Boston's president and CEO, this year's festival, its fourth, is occurring in a different context than previous iterations. 'Now we're in a context where the National Endowment for the Arts, National Endowment for the Humanities — that funding has been wiped out, and cultural organizations feel like they're under attack. Organizations that are both cultural and historic, and focus on diverse histories are threatened.'
Advertisement
All of which lends urgency to the festival's mission, he adds. 'I think this is a Juneteenth that is symbolic of the times. It reflects the type of rebellion and the type of joy required and necessary in this moment.'
Advertisement
Collaboration is another necessity, Paris Jeffries said, pointing to the joining efforts among the NAACP, Urban League, the Divine Nine Partnership, and other organizations to provide a citywide celebration of Juneteenth.
Giselle Byrd, executive director of the Theater Offensive, will speak on the panel discussion titled 'Black Pride in Public Space.'
'It is not easy to live and be liberated in this world and in our lifetime,' she says. 'A lot of folks live at the margins of being Black and queer or Black and trans, and sometimes those conversations don't happen because historically there has been erasure. It's an honor to have this moment of fellowship.'
For Byrd, who took over the helm at the Theater Offensive in December 2023, it's crucial to have these conversations both to build community ('it's really community who takes care of another,' she says) and to loudly proclaim one's pride — even, or especially, in a time of heightened oppression.
'None of us have the luxury of being silent,' she adds. 'Audre Lorde said it best to all of us, 'your silence will not protect you.''
Kate Tuttle, a freelance writer and critic, can be reached at
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
New York Times
30 minutes ago
- New York Times
Biting a Bat and 5 Other Wild Moments from Ozzy Osbourne's Life
Wild and memorable moments punctuated — and sometimes overshadowed — the long career of Ozzy Osbourne, the English heavy metal legend who died this week at 76. He earned fame as the lead singer of Black Sabbath, a solo artist, and later through 'The Osbournes,' the reality show about his family. But the rocker known as the 'Prince of Darkness' was also infamous for excess — much of it fueled by alcohol and drugs. Here are some of the more outlandish moments: Jan. 20, 1982: Bat Decapitation It's the first thing many people who aren't metal fans think of when they hear the name Ozzy Osbourne, and maybe the only thing. Yes, Osbourne actually bit the head off a bat onstage in Des Moines. During a solo tour that year, the singer and his fans had taken to throwing animal parts at each other. (Ah, rock 'n' roll.) One night in January, a fan hurled a bat onto the stage. In a moment captured on video, Osbourne, who later said he thought it was a toy, picked it up and bit in. Want all of The Times? Subscribe.
Forbes
an hour ago
- Forbes
Billionaire David Geffen Sued By Estranged Husband
David Geffen, the billionaire record executive and co-founder of DreamWorks Pictures, filed for divorce in April from estranged husband Donovan Michaels, who has now sued Geffen for breach of an oral contract between the two, accusing him of reneging on promised financial support and coercing him with drugs and alcohol. David Geffen previously filed for divorce from Donovan Michaels. (Photo by Stephane Cardinale - ... More Corbis/Corbis via Getty Images) Corbis via Getty Images Michaels, 32, sued Geffen, 82, in Los Angeles County Superior Court, alleging Geffen breached an oral contract the two had made under which 'Geffen would support Michaels financially for life' if he acted as Geffen's life partner, caretaker and travel companion. After Geffen filed for divorce from Michaels in April, Michaels alleges in the new lawsuit Geffen breached their contract by cutting off financial support and demanding he vacate Geffen's New York home, which effectively left him homeless. In the lawsuit, Michaels alleges Geffen exploited him as a 'vulnerable, marginalized young gay Black man,' stating Geffen was a 'wealthy, powerful white gay billionaire who believed himself untouchable.' Michaels claims Geffen demanded he get 'painful laser treatments and dental treatments' and subjected him to verbal 'insults and put-downs,' while also demanding Michaels provide 'sexual access at will, including acts Michaels found degrading.' Michaels alleges Geffen filed for divorce after Michaels began seeking treatment for addiction and told the billionaire he wanted to develop 'an independent identity that he could be proud of, not one solely tied to Geffen and his singular approval.' Forbes reached out to lawyers representing both Geffen and Michaels for comment, though Geffen's lawyer Patty Glaser called the lawsuit is 'pathetic' and 'false,' stating there 'was no contract — express, written, oral, or implied — that has ever existed,' according to the The Los Angeles Times. Court documents indicate the couple did not sign a prenup upon getting married in 2023. San Francisco-based family law attorney Samantha Bley DeJean told the New York Times Michaels would be entitled to half of what Geffen earned through his 'time, skill and effort' during their marriage, but Michaels would not be entitled to income Geffens earned passively, like residuals or dividends from his film or music ventures. Geffen's divorce filing says he intends to pay spousal support, the Times reported, and DeJean told the Times that Geffen is so wealthy 'any spousal support that he'd be ordered to pay probably will not make a dent for him.' Forbes Valuation Geffen is worth an estimated $8.8 billion as of Wednesday, according to Forbes estimates. Geffen amassed a significant fortune as a successful music record executive and film producer, co-founding Asylum Records in 1971 and Geffen Records in 1980. Musicians who have released albums under his labels have included Joni Mitchell, Bob Dylan, Linda Ronstadt, John Lennon, the Eagles and Nirvana. Geffen founded the Geffen Film Company in 1982, under which he produced films including 'Risky Business' (1983), 'Little Shop of Horrors' (1986) and 'Beetlejuice' (1988), and he co-founded DreamWorks Pictures with Steven Spielberg and Jeffrey Katzenberg in 1994. Geffen came out as gay in 1992, but was previously known for his relationship with Cher in the 1970s. Further Reading Without a Prenup, David Geffen's Divorce Could Get Interesting (New York Times)
Tom's Guide
2 hours ago
- Tom's Guide
Hulu's newest show is an epic drama series that's earned a perfect 100% on Rotten Tomatoes — and you can stream it now
As of today (July 23), Hulu's latest drama "Washington Black" is now available to stream — and it's earned a rare perfect score on Rotten Tomatoes. If this is the first time you're hearing that name, Selwyn Seyfu Hinds' new eight-part Hulu series is an adaptation of Esi Edugyan's bestselling novel of the same name. It's a steampunk-infused, epic adventure drama that follows a 19th-century young Black man with a scientific mind, and the first reviews that have come in suggest it belongs on your radar. Here's a little more info about "Washington Black," and a round-up of what critics have had to say about the new series so far, so you can decide whether you want to stream it yourself. "Washington Black" is a 19th-century-set story about 11-year-old George Washington "Wash" Black (Ernest Kingsley Jr.). Born on a Barbados sugar plantation, Wash possesses an impressive scientific mind. After a harrowing incident forces him to flee, Wash is thrust into a globe-spanning adventure, one that challenges and reshapes his understanding of family, freedom and love, and sees him navigating uncharted lands and impossible odds. In addition to Kingsley Jr., the series also stars Riupert Graves, Iola Evans, Edward Bluemel, Sharon Duncan Brewster, Eddie Karanja, Tom Ellis, and "Paradise" star Sterling K. Brown. Get instant access to breaking news, the hottest reviews, great deals and helpful tips. Early reviews for "Washington Black" sure suggest it's a show you shouldn't skip. As I mentioned, Hulu's new series has earned a coveted 100% critics' score on the review aggregate site, Rotten Tomatoes. While that rating's only been generated from a total of 8 reviews (at the time of writing), it still means every accredited critic has enjoyed what they've streamed. As an example of what's been said, The Hollywood Reporter's Angie Han said "Washington Black" "occasionally takes on the dutiful feel of an education video," but added: "Still, for a fictionalized history lesson, it's a fun one, full of surprising twists and charming turns." Reviewing for Sherin Nicole described it as "a wonderment," and as "a sweeping, globe-trotting adventure in the spirit of Jules Verne's science-fiction marvels and the haunting depth of Toni Morrison's "Beloved."" And, finally, Collider's Carly Lane bills the show as "the epic adventure tale you need to watch this summer" in her 7/10 review, calling it "a story that has all the hallmarks of classic adventure tales," and heaping praise on the ensemble's performances. The Guardian's Hannah J Davies offers a slightly more measured take in her 3-star reaction, calling the series both "highly wobbly" and "highly watchable." While she argues the series is "sanding down the corners of its source material" and lacks friction, Davies nevertheless said "Washington Black" was, ultimately, "very easy to watch." On balance, then, yes, it seems "Washington Black" is going to be worthy of your precious streaming time. If your interest's been piqued, all eight episodes of "Washington Black" are now available to stream on Hulu and on Disney Plus internationally. Not sold on "Washington Black," and still looking for your next watch? Take a look at our guides to the best shows on Hulu and the best Disney Plus shows for tons of top streaming recommendations worthy of a spot on your watchlist. Follow Tom's Guide on Google News to get our up-to-date news, how-tos, and reviews in your feeds. Make sure to click the Follow button.
