The Bay State Banner, Boston’s Black-owned urban community newspaper, is running a series on its website highlighting local Black artists.
Editor and publisher of the newspaper Ronald Mitchell, along with artists Paul Goodnight and L’Merchie Frazier, joined Boston Public Radio on Wednesday to discuss the project.
Mitchell explained that the newspaper, which was founded in 1965, has been pivoting the website to be an “interactive community resource by bringing in more opportunities to share different wonderful parts of our community.”
“I think what The Bay State Banner is doing is archiving ourselves as artists, and what value do we really bring to the community and the world at large,” said Goodnight.
He also explained that it helps shine a light on historical artists who have contributed to Boston and the world.
“These murals really indicate the best of us if you look at them. And they also indicate the neighborhood that we live in,” he said.
Frazier, a renowned visual activist and textile artist, spoke on how historical artists like Romare Bearden and modern-day ones like Goodnight create accessible art.
“These movements … talk to our communities in ways that were not accessible to them in museums and other spaces. But made this art available for purchase at prices that could be afforded,” she said.
Mitchell explained that people interested in the art can purchase it via a portal on The Banner’s website.
“So you can go, and you can actually buy limited edition prints for many of the artists, including Paul Goodnight and L’Merchie,” he said. “And that money goes to the artist as well. So you can support the artist directly.”
