Spotlight takes on Boston's hardest question

The Globe?s Spotlight Team confronts one of Boston?s most vexing issues ? racism ? in a seven-part series that examines the city?s pervasive and persistent national image as a place unwelcoming to black people. Spotlight attempts to answer an important question: Is this reputation still deserved?

" It was shocking to realize just how white a town I'd moved to, especially since I considered it so progressive and intellectual. -- Jerome Noonan
Story schedule
  • DAY 1 | SUNDAY: Image
  • DAY 2 | MONDAY: Seaport
  • DAY 3 | TUESDAY: Hospitals
  • DAY 4 | WEDNESDAY: Higher education
  • DAY 5 | THURSDAY: Sports
  • DAY 6 | FRIDAY: Power
  • DAY 7 | SATURDAY: Solutions


Justin Wyman, a hunter from a young age, saw a deer struggling in a lake and knew what he had to do.

Yoon S. Byun for the Boston Globe

This Maine hunter could have left a deer in need. Instead, he helped

Late last month, when a Maine hunter stumbled on a deer in need, he did something that might seem counterintuitive.

Snowfall totals

How much snow fell in your area?

Totals ranged from over seven inches in areas near Framingham and Littleton to lesser amounts near the rain-snow line on the South Shore.

//c.o0bg.com/rf/image_90x90/Boston/2011-2020/2017/12/09/BostonGlobe.com/Metro/Images/12-9-17_santarun_07.jpg Photos: The 18th annual Santa Speedo Run

Hundreds of festive runners gathered on Boylston Street Saturday for the 18th annual SSRun ? known as the Santa Speedo Run.

Here?s your local holiday gift guide

Find presents for everyone on your list, in local shops right around the corner.

An AT-M6 walker appeared on the red carpet during the world premiere of ?Star Wars: The Last Jedi? in Los Angeles, Saturday.

EUGENE GARCIA/EPA-EFE/REX/Shutterstock

Early praise for ?The Last Jedi? after elaborate premiere

A massive imperial assault vehicle and a procession of Stormtroopers preceded the first star-studded showing of ?Star Wars: The Last Jedi? in Los Angeles last night.

DAN SHAUGHNESSY

//c.o0bg.com/rf/image_90x90/Boston/2011-2020/2017/12/09/BostonGlobe.com/Sports/Images/shaughnessy-14709.jpg While Yankees pull off a blockbuster, Boston?s baseball winter is boring

The Red Sox do nothing day after day.

NICK CAFARDO I ON BASEBALL

//c.o0bg.com/rf/image_90x90/Boston/2011-2020/2017/12/09/BostonGlobe.com/Sports/Images/a9e286a923fb4dd8a59e322b8612595a-a9e286a923fb4dd8a59e322b8612595a-0.jpg Red Sox need to acquire a power bat ? and soon

They don?t need much, but their one major need is glaring.

San Francisco 49ers quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo (10) looks to throw a pass against the Chicago Bears during an NFL football game Sunday, Dec. 3, 2017, in Chicago. The 49ers won the game 15-14. (Jeff Haynes/AP Images for Panini)

BEN VOLIN | SUNDAY FOOTBALL NOTES

Let?s take a closer look at Jimmy Garoppolo?s impressive start

After years as Tom Brady?s backup, the 49ers quarterback showed a lot as the leader of his own team.

PATRIOTS NOTEBOOK

//c.o0bg.com/rf/image_90x90/Boston/2011-2020/2017/12/09/BostonGlobe.com/Sports/Images/a77f5f135fbc4b9685818fe4fe608ee1-a77f5f135fbc4b9685818fe4fe608ee1-0.jpg Tom Brady still feels bad about outburst with Josh McDaniels

The Patriots quarterback apologized again at his media conference on Saturday.

bruins 3, islanders 1

//c.o0bg.com/rf/image_90x90/Boston/2011-2020/2017/12/10/BostonGlobe.com/Sports/Images/Tlumacki_BruinsvsIslander_sports486.jpg Bruins turn aside Islanders

Tuukka Rask made 30 saves in the team?s eighth win in its last 10 games.

Roy Moore spoke last week during a campaign event at Oak Hollow Farm in Fairhope, Ala.

Joe Raedle/Getty Images

From disbelief to dismissal, Alabama women who support Roy Moore have their reasons

Women interviewed by the Globe excuse the Senate hopeful?s behavior as more a boorish phase in his past than predatory, if they believe the allegations at all.

//c.o0bg.com/rf/image_90x90/Boston/2011-2020/2017/12/09/BostonGlobe.com/Politics/Images/Rex_US_President_Donald_J_Trump_spe_9265454K.jpg For Trump, every day is an hour-by-hour battle for self-preservation

Despite his bluster, President Trump views himself less as a titan dominating the world stage than a maligned outsider engaged in a struggle to be taken seriously, according to people close to him.

//c.o0bg.com/rf/image_90x90/Boston/2011-2020/2017/12/09/BostonGlobe.com/National/Images/6d1066d6b54c4750a65c456c954d10d4-6d1066d6b54c4750a65c456c954d10d4-0.jpg Trump hails civil rights heroes; protesters pan his record

In Mississippi, President Trump paid tribute Saturday to the leaders and foot soldiers of the civil rights movement.

//c.o0bg.com/rf/image_90x90/Boston/2011-2020/2017/12/09/BostonGlobe.com/National/Images/60ca766d3d464aab89df81107ba15ce7-60ca766d3d464aab89df81107ba15ce7-0.jpg Trump demands, gets apology from Washington Post reporter

President Trump has demanded and received an apology from a Washington Post reporter over a photo of Trump?s Florida rally on Friday.

//c.o0bg.com/rf/image_90x90/Boston/2011-2020/2017/12/05/BostonGlobe.com/Business/Images/af97fe5a59d74da6ae0ff1b976b1a7a1-af97fe5a59d74da6ae0ff1b976b1a7a1-0.jpg Is the tide turning on workplace harassment?

More action is being taken to protect women, change company culture, and enforce laws.

//c.o0bg.com/rf/image_90x90/Boston/2011-2020/2017/02/12/BostonGlobe.com/Metro/Images/ryan_bostoncouncil10_met.jpg Andrea Campbell to be next City Council president

The announcement brings a swift resolution to a traditional council debate that could have been divisive.

Wellesley, MA - 12/09/2017 - Boston Celtics forward Gordon Hayward watches the Boston Celtics take on the San Antonio Spurs. - (Barry Chin/Globe Staff), Section: Sports, Reporter: Adam Himmelsbach, Topic: 10Hayward, LOID: 8.4.311493760.

Barry Chin/Globe staff

ADAM HIMMELSBACH

A night out with Gordon Hayward, discussing his recovery, his team, and his eventual return

More than 50 days have passed since Hayward suffered his grisly injury, and though he?s pleased with his progress, he won?t look too far ahead.

//c.o0bg.com/rf/image_90x90/Boston/2011-2020/2017/12/07/BostonGlobe.com/Business/Images/car3.jpg In a driverless world, what?s the difference between Zipcar and Uber?

In the coming age of driverless vehicles, the lines separating the way ride-hail firms and car rental companies do business will disappear.

//c.o0bg.com/rf/image_90x90/Boston/2011-2020/2017/12/08/BostonGlobe.com/Metro/Images/unnamed-11213.jpg The Season Ticket podcast

Guest host Chad Finn talks ?Hot Stove? ? offseason trades and player signings ? with Boston Globe Red Sox beat reporter Peter Abraham.

Follow:   iTunes   |   Stitcher   |   RSS

 

Opinion & Ideas

Ideas | Lyman Stone

//c.o0bg.com/rf/image_90x90/Boston/2011-2020/2016/08/23/BostonGlobe.com/EditorialOpinion/Images/0824triplets.jpg America?s looming fertility collapse

Where have all the babies gone?

Newsletters

//c.o0bg.com/rf/image_90x90/Boston/2011-2020/2017/12/05/BostonGlobe.com/EditorialOpinion/Images/MichaelCohenNewsletterHP-3632.jpg Truth and Consequences

Opinion columnist Michael Cohen takes a candid and no-holds-barred look at the current political moment. Sign up now.

Special reports

Magazine | A nonfiction novella

//c.o0bg.com/rf/image_90x90/Boston/2011-2020/2017/11/01/BostonGlobe.com/Magazine/Images/muck1105altimage-2940[1].jpg He put BSO on the map ? then landed in a world of trouble

One hundred years ago, one of the world?s top conductors was ensnared in a scandal involving patriotism and sex. It almost toppled Boston?s famed orchestra.

Breaking News Alerts

//c.o0bg.com/rf/image_90x90/Boston/2011-2020/2017/10/10/BostonGlobe.com/Lifestyle/Images/DKu5zGDUEAI5bSf.jpg Sign up for breaking news alerts from the Globe

Get the latest news ? from weather to Trump to local happenings ? delivered via Facebook messenger.

Confidential tips

//c.o0bg.com/rf/image_90x90/Boston/2011-2020/2017/05/22/BostonGlobe.com/Business/Images/spotlight.jpg Have an investigative news tip?

Do you know about wrongdoing that needs to be exposed? Call the Globe Spotlight team: 617-929-7483 or [email protected].

Holiday Arts Preview

//c.o0bg.com/rf/image_90x90/Boston/2011-2020/2017/11/17/BostonGlobe.com/Arts/Images/Holiday%20Arts%20preview%20web150-5211.jpg The best of the arts this upcoming holiday season

?Tis the season for music, shows, and productions of all kinds, just in time for the holidays.

STAT

//c.o0bg.com/rf/image_90x90/Boston/2011-2020/2017/12/08/BostonGlobe.com/National/Images/Isaly_CNBC_ScreenCap-1024x576.jpg Legendary biotech financier steps down following sexual harassment allegations

Sam Isaly?s abrupt departure from OrbiMed Advisors comes after a scathing STAT investigation.