Jan. 15 was the date this year for the national holiday recognizing the life and contributions of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

As we look back at 2023 and look forward for 2024, several things come to mind.

On Friday, Sept. 29 the rains poured heavily on the thousands assembled in Tercentenary Theatre at Harvard University.

Rhonda Persip celebrated her birthday at a small party in Oak Bluffs with friends Cheryl Grimes, Carolyn Hebsgaard, Kim Washington, Caroline Hunter and a host of other friends.

In song, sermon and photos, Union Chapel celebrated the life of Rev. Calvin O. Butts 3rd, longtime senior pastor of Harlem’s Abyssinian Baptist Church.

Ron Mitchell of Oak Bluffs is the new owner and publisher of the Bay State Banner, Boston's newspaper serving inner city issues and news.

James Hester must be lauded for curating two fabulous events this summer that drew thousands to the Tabernacle and hundreds to Union Chapel.

Charles Ogletree founded the Charles Hamilton Houston Institute for Race and Justice (CHHIRJ) at Harvard Law School in 2004.

Congratulations to Oak Bluffs serial entrepreneur Kahina Van Dyke whose Jubilee Vintage retail store opened this past Sunday.

Historically Black colleges and universities, popularly known as HBCU institutions, were mostly established after the Civil War to educate newly-freed African-American citizens.