BPR Full Show: The School of Life

Today on Boston Public Radio:

We begin the show by opening phone lines, talking with listeners about the country's perception of Boston as a racist city.

Michelle Singletary walks us through tax season, explaining taxes collected on unemployment and the Child Tax Credit. Singletary is a nationally syndicated columnist for The Washington Post, whose award-winning column, "The Color of Money,"  provides insight into the world of personal finance.

Lylah Alphonse updates us on the latest Rhode Island-based headlines, from COVID-19 vaccination rates to the state of Providence schools. Alphonse is the Rhode Island editor for the Boston Globe, where she leads a team covering and exploring the Ocean State.

Bob Thompson discusses the comeback of Court TV, and their coverage of the Derek Chauvin trial. He also touches on the controversy surrounding Dr. Oz hosting “Jeopardy.” Thompson is the founding director of the Bleier Center for Television and Popular Culture and a professor of television and popular culture at the Newhouse School of Public Communications at Syracuse University.

Revs. Irene Monroe and Emmett Price share their thoughts on the trial of Derek Chauvin, and the nationwide perception of Boston as a racist city. They also discuss a decline in church membership across the country. Monroe is a syndicated religion columnist, the Boston voice for Detour’s African American Heritage Trail, and a visiting researcher in the Religion and Conflict Transformation Program at the Boston University School of Theology. Price is an executive director of the Institute for the Study of the Black Christian Experience at Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary. Together, they host GBH’s All Rev’d Up podcast.

Richard Blanco celebrates the start of National Poetry Month by highlighting Asian American poets. Blanco is the fifth inaugural poet in U.S. history. His new book, "How To Love A Country," deals with various socio-political issues that shadow America.

We wrap up the show by asking listeners how they felt about the reopening of elementary schools across Massachusetts.