IT’S THE NEW EDITION WAY

by James “Jimmy” Hills

One year ago today, the energy coming off what I called the Blackest Summer in Boston’s history ended with us honoring five young men from Roxbury — Ronnie DeVoe, Bobby Brown, Ricky Bell, Ralph Tresvant and Mike Bivins — plus Johnny Gill.

And the energy in Orchard Park that day was amazing.

Yes, it is Orchard Gardens now, but many of us grew up knowing it as Orchard Park. And there was something about seeing all those people gathered right there, in the place where so much of the New Edition story began, to honor these brothers.

I got there early enough to see Frank Farrow, Jessica Pierre and Michael Oztagi from the Mayor’s Office running around putting the logistics and final touches on everything.

The big honor that day was the dedication of New Edition Way.

But it was bigger than putting a name on a street.

What I remember most was looking around at who was there.

Free, host and Boston legend and Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley, and Boston first Black Mayor, Kim Janey preparing to take their seats.

There were elected officials, parents, young people, youth workers, rappers, former gang members and people from every walk of life. People who grew up in Orchard Park. People who worked there. People whose lives were somehow connected to that community.

Mayor Michelle Wu was there. Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley was there. Former Mayor Kim Janey, the first Black mayor of Boston, was there. And there were plenty of others.

Most of the crowd was probably my generation and older, but there were young people there too. And every once in a while, the DJ would put on a New Edition song.

That's when you could really feel it.

People would start singing. Somebody was dancing. Somebody else was remembering where they were when that particular song came out.

It was just this burst of energy, joy and memories.

And I loved watching it.

At one point, I looked to my left and saw this guy in a black sweatsuit coming up the stairs. I wasn't really paying attention to who it was until he bumped into me.

I turned around.

Oh, shoot. That's Bobby Brown.

“Oh shoot, that’s Bobby Brown”

Okay. I didn't exactly say shoot. 😂

But I immediately asked, “Can I take a picture with you?”

And he did.

Then I got to see Mike and Ronnie, which was particularly cool because I had literally just interviewed them days before.

During that conversation, I asked what being honored like this meant.

Ronnie said:

“I mean, it’s a celebration. It’s a triumph. It's about resilience. We’re from a place that you're not supposed to make it out of.”

Standing there in Orchard Park a few days later, that statement made even more sense.

Because think about it, these were some young Black boys from Roxbury who started singing together and went on to become New Edition.

That's a Boston story, that's a Roxbury story.

And whether you grew up listening to “Candy Girl,” “Cool It Now,” “Mr. Telephone Man,” or came to them through everything that followed with BBD, Bobby, Ralph, and Johnny, their music is connected to generations of our memories and culture.

So seeing all six of them there … Bobby, Ronnie, Mike, Ricky, Ralph and Johnny — wasn't just celebrity.

It was home, and I think that's what made the day feel different.

Because New Edition Way isn't simply about six famous men getting their names put on a street.

For me, it represents what can come out of our neighborhoods.

Talent comes out of here.

Creativity comes out of here.

Excellence comes out of here.

History comes out of here.

And yes, as Ronnie reminded me, resilience comes out of here too.

One year later, I still remember how that crowd felt when the music came on. Everybody singing, laughing, remembering, and celebrating together.

I remember randomly bumping into Bobby Brown.

I remember seeing Mike and Ronnie just days after sitting down and talking with them.

And I remember looking around Orchard Park, at all those generations of Black Boston gathered together to say: these are ours.

Six brothers, decades of music, a story that started right here in Roxbury.

And now, permanently, New Edition Way.