By Rev. Stacy Swimp As a person of half-Nigerian heritage, I carry within me the Igbo philosophy that a person is only a person through their relationship with others. In this tradition, human dignity—Mmadụ—is not an individual possession but a communal bond; to insult one is to fracture the spirit of the whole. As we […]
Author Archives: Rev. Stacy Swimp
Posted inOPINION
Beyond the deletion: Why 47 owes the Obamas and the public the truthÂ
By Rev. Stacy Swimp On the night of Feb. 5, 2026, a video shared to President Trump’s Truth Social account depicted former President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama as apes. This occurred during the first week of Black History Month, just days after a presidential proclamation praising the contributions of Black Americans. This […]
Posted inOpinion
Rule of law: A moral mandate to abolish ICEÂ
By Rev. Stacy Swimp The call to “Abolish ICE”—the federal agency known as U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement—is often dismissed as a radical demand for disorder, but for those who recognize the moral arc of the universe, it is a necessary response to a legacy of weaponized law enforcement. Established in 2003, ICE has increasingly […]
Posted inOPINION
The AFRO: A vanguard to civil rightsÂ
In this opinion commentary, Rev. Stacy Swimp traces the historic role of the AFRO-American Newspaper as a cornerstone of Black self-definition, intellectual advocacy and civil rights activism. From its founding by John Henry Murphy Sr. in 1892 to its modern-day mission, the AFRO is presented as a vital institution that has equipped Black communities to confront media bias, preserve historical truth and exercise collective agency through literacy, scholarship and service. Credit: AFRO Photo
Posted inCommentary
From heartbreak to hope: Reclaiming the soul of Watch Night
By Rev. Stacy Swimp For many, New Year’s Eve is a night of sparkling lights and resolutions. But for the Black community, the ticking clock has a deeper echo. To understand why we gather in churches on Dec. 31, we must look beyond the party and confront a journey of profound survival. We must remember […]
Posted inOPINION
Protect our gains: Why the Black community must fight to save ACA subsidies
By Rev. Stacy Swimp The enhanced health insurance subsidies, set to expire at the end of 2025, represent a direct threat to the financial and health stability of Black Americans. While the crisis affects all races, the consequences for the Black community will be disproportionate and severe, effectively rolling back historic progress in health equity. […]
Posted inOpinion
Opening doors: Closing the homeownership gap for Black Marylanders
FHLBank Atlanta offers grants for down payment help to Black first-time homebuyers in Baltimore, fighting against historical discriminatory practices.
Posted inOpinion
A Christian call for justice: We must end the ‘War on Drugs’Â
The War on Drugs is a grave moral warning, as it threatens to reject mercy and execute judgment without due process, and has historically been unfair to Black communities, violating the Christian worldview of the sanctity of life and the perfect justice of God.