By Edmond Davis Let me be clear from the start: what follows is not an attempt to defend Charlie Kirk, nor to sanitize the asinine theatrics that have surrounded his campus appearances. This is a critique of a false narrative—one orchestrated not only by Kirk’s team but also by traditional media outlets, AI-altered news feeds, […]
Category: Opinion
Posted inCommentary
Coppin State University: Rewriting the narrative on male enrollment and retention
By Dr. Anthony L. Jenkins I believe the continuing decline of male enrollment in higher education is one of the greatest crises of this century. Their declining absence from higher education has significant political, innovative, medical, social equality and civil rights implications. The correlation is undeniable: a decline in Black and Brown male enrollment in […]
Posted inOpinion
A challenging week for HBCUs: From terror threats to attacks on equity
The U.S. Department of Education is withholding $350 million in funds from minority-serving colleges, sparking national outrage and concerns for equity.
Posted inOPINION
Hot, humid, and getting worse: Why Maryland must step up on climate
Critics question why Maryland has not joined other states suing to preserve stronger clean car standards and why costs of climate damage remain unmeasured. Maryland records 30 heat-related deaths through mid-August, the second-highest number in modern history, along with record ER visits in July.
Posted inOpinion
Rediscovering Elsbeth
By Dr. Frances “Toni” DraperAFRO Publisher and CEO When my sixth-grade teacher, Pauline Paysour, mailed me an envelope in July 1994, I nearly dismissed it as a kind gesture from the past. Inside were two treasures: her beautifully handwritten letter and a single story I’d written years earlier, titled “Elsbeth, An English Peasant Girl – […]
Posted inOpinion
Once a fan, always a fan
Despite a disappointing 44-10 loss to the Texans, Ravens fans remain devoted to their team and are determined to show up and support them through the tough times.
Posted inOpinion
What do Black Americans have to lose under the 47th president? Everything
Angela Hanks and Jeremy Edwards of The Century Foundation argue that while the 47th president once asked Black voters “What do you have to lose?”, his current presidency has left them with worsening unemployment, rising debt and greater economic vulnerability. They warn that Trump’s economic and social policies — from tariffs to cuts in healthcare, education, and food assistance — are disproportionately harming Black Americans and risk eroding hard-won progress.
Posted inOpinion
Thirty years after the O.J. Simpson verdict, what we’ve lost is respect for the rule of law
Carl E. Douglas, an award-winning civil rights attorney and founding partner of Douglas Hicks Law, served on O.J. Simpson’s “Dream Team,” helping secure his acquittal in 1995. Decades later, on the anniversary of the verdict announcement, he discusses the polarization of America and the importance of a return to civil discourse– even in the midst of disagreement.
Posted inOpinion
Another blood-stained sanctuary: America cannot look away
Violence in sacred spaces is an American epidemic that must be addressed with laws, leadership, and a return to civil speech, as well as preparation and vigilance in faith institutions, schools, and civic organizations.
Posted inCommentary
From stigma to support: Rethinking how schools address youth mental health
By Wayne Campbell “Mental health problems don’t define who you are. They are something you experience. You walk in the rain and you feel the rain, but you are not the rain.” – Matt Haig The youth mental health crisis endures, according to The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) data released in August. In […]
Posted inOpinion
Our voices and our votes matter
Sylvia Ghazarian, executive director of the Women’s Reproductive Rights Assistance Project, says that National Voter Registration Month, designated by the National Association of Secretaries of State in 2002, serves as a reminder that democracy depends on participation. Ghazarian stresses that reproductive freedom, LGBTQIA+ rights, climate justice, disability rights and racial equity are all tied to voter turnout.
Posted inCommentary
Legalization was never about justice– and Illinois just proved it
Will Jones III is the director of community engagement and outreach for Smart Approaches to Marijuana (SAM). He is a third generation Washingtonian. This week, he shares his thoughts on the toll of “Big Marijauna” on the Black and Brown community.
