Author: MassCommons

I would compare James Baldwin’s poetry to a finely aged single malt whiskey—a single word or phrase worth lingering over, savoring for minutes at a time as the tastes slowly unfold, filling the mouth with waves of...

It’s spring concert season at your local public school, and if you want to have your spirits lifted, your hope renewed, and see the promise of democracy in action, go. This happens even—or perhaps especially—at...

The movie was good…but not as good as the book.” Well, Taylor Mali’s What Teachers Make: In Praise Of The Greatest Job In The World is good…but not as good as the poem.  (Yes, go watch the...

There’s been a lot written and talked about regarding terrorism and violence in the wake of the Boston Marathon bombings last year.  Here are a couple of under-discussed perspectives:     That violent...

In his new article, “The Color Of His Presidency”, Jonathan Chait attempts to understand and explain the impact of race and racism on contemporary American politics.  The essay is worth reading, as are many of...