Spare Change News

Author: Anthony Thames

  • Feeding The Flock

    Oftentimes, when we pick up the newspaper or watch the local news, we hear stories about Dorchester and its surrounding communities. All too often we are greeted with stories of crime and violence. Rarely do we hear positive things about Dorchester or any instances of its upward mobility. Dorchester has evolved from a demographic composed…

  • Meeting My Father For the First TIme, Again

    A gentleman and I recently had a brief conversation about an article I had written for Mother’s Day. He congratulated me on the article, and suggested I write one on behalf of Fathers. Upon hearing the mere suggestion of paying homage to fathers, I experienced a barrage of emotions. I felt anger, sorrow, hurt and…

  • Common Courtesy: Pay It Forward

    Anthony Thames Spare Change News Recently, while I was commuting home via the No. 222 bus to Weymouth, a mother boarded with an infant child in a stroller. The bus was fairly crowded, as is normally the case on a late Tuesday afternoon. There were no open seats in the front of the bus, and…

  • A Mom Who Loved Yet Remained Firm

    Anthony Thames Spare Change News It occurred to me that Mother’s Day was fast approaching, and I realized this would be an opportunity for me to give homage to my dear mom and to all the beautiful moms in the world. I recently sat down with my mom, and we talked about her life. She…

  • Beyond race in the Trayvon Martin case

    Anthony Thames Spare Change News On April 11, 2012, George Zimmerman was arrested and formally charged with the murder of Trayvon Martin in Seminole County, Florida. Special Prosecutor Angela Corey gave a courageous and moving press conference in which she detailed the state of Florida’s intentions to prosecute Zimmerman for second degree murder. What was…

  • Trayvon Martin and the Failure to See Past Race

    Anthony Thames Spare Change News On February 26, 2012, 17-yearold Trayvon Martin was shot and killed by George Zimmerman, a self-appointed Neighborhood Watch captain in Sanford, Florida. News reports have somewhat described the encounter between these two individuals primarily through live audio with Mr. Zimmerman calling 911 after seeing a “suspicious person” (Martin) roaming the…

  • An Appreciation Deferred

    Anthony Thames Spare Change News On April 4, 1968, the day Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was murdered in Memphis, Tennessee, I was a five-year-old boy, unable to fully grasp the enormity of the situation. I do remember the somber mood both in school as well as at my home. I distinctly recall my mom…

  • Standing Up for Respect in Porter Square

    Anthony Thames Spare Change News Sunday, November 26, was a beautiful day in Porter Square, Cambridge and I was soon to find that it was a memorable and inspiring one. The sun shone brightly and temperatures were in the 60’s (a pleasant surprise for the month of November). Smiles and pleasantries were present in abundance.…