By Ben Jealous With the start of Black History Month, I brace myself for the mis-telling of Black History yet again. In schoolhouses and everywhere the stories are told, a persistent myth shows its ugly head: the ridiculous notion that great Black leaders are not just exceptional but exceptions. It is an idea rooted in […]
Category: Opinion
Posted inCommentary
Commentary: Vitamin D, prostate cancer and racism
By Leeland A. M. Jones, MD The prostate gland is making big headlines. This month O.J. Simpson received a prostate cancer diagnosis, while Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin’s struggle with the disease led to a second hospitalization. King Charles III, in England, recently disclosed information about his enlarged prostate. And with the Jan. 22 death […]
Posted inEditorial
Celebrating Black History Month
By Dr. John E. Warren This year, perhaps more than ever, we need to be especially mindful of Black history. This is a time of banning books from local libraries–especially those that tell of the history and struggle of Black Americans against slavery and racism; creating a threat to both our presence and our future. […]
Posted inCommentary
This Black History Month fight for the freedom to learn
By Svante Myrick A little over a year ago, the College Board unveiled its long-awaited draft AP African American Studies curriculum. What happened next was sad — and all too predictable. Florida officials, led by Gov. Ron DeSantis (R), howled. They claimed the course “lacks educational value” and violated state laws against teaching about race […]
Posted inCommentary
Overcoming the oil and gas industry’s influence at COP28
By Ben Jealous Frederick Douglass said, “Power concedes nothing without a demand. It never did and it never will.” Those of us with history in the civil rights movement know that taking on entrenched power and changing the status quo requires dogged tenacity and seizing key moments to break down barriers. The United Nations COP28 […]
Posted inCommentary
Climate change, climate justice and the Horn of Africa
By Dr. Richard F. Gillum Thanksgiving and Christmas 2022 brought appeals led by UNICEF-USA for victims of famine and drought related to climate change in the Horn of Africa. This crisis and the attending appeals were barely noticed by western media or the American public, which were focused on politics, Ukraine, celebrities and holiday shopping. […]
Posted inWord In Black
Opinion: Angela Alsobrooks – A Senate bid and Black Power springboard
By Roger House, Word in Black The campaign of Maryland’s Angela Alsobrooks for the U.S. Senate may be the most consequential election facing Black Democrats in 2024. That’s because her candidacy can serve as a springboard to a more inclusive Senate chamber and to the consolidation of Black political power in a Southern state. Alsobrooks […]
Posted inCommentary
Sixteen days of activism: bringing awareness to the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women
By Wayne Campbell “Violence against women is a horrific violation of human rights, a public health crisis, and a major obstacle to sustainable development. Let’s build a world that refuses to tolerate violence against women anywhere, and in any form, once and for all.” – António Guterres, Secretary-General of the United Nations The United Nations […]
Posted inCommentary
The Israel-Hamas conflict continues…and the beat goes on
By Art Jones Thinking about this “war” matter a bit more, I had to ask: “Who stands to benefit from the present conflict?” The answer: Raytheon, Lockheed Martin, Boeing, Northrup-Grumman and many more companies– all of which will benefit from the bloodshed in both the Russia-Ukraine and the Israel-Palestine conflicts. All of the above are […]
Posted inCommentary
Commentary: Common issues with your birth certificate and what to do about them
By George Townsend Your birth certificate is one of the most important identification documents you have – containing vital information about you, your birth and your family. It is important that your birth certificate has accurate information. Often, many Marylanders need to change some of the details on their birth certificate, either because of an […]
Posted inOpinion
Healthier together: Remembering to have fun when managing your diabetes
By Lamart R. Smith When people ask for my golden rules of managing diabetes, they aren’t surprised by the first items on my list—listen to your physician, exercise regularly, watch what you eat and pay attention to food labeling. But when I get to my final item, have fun, I typically get a quizzical look. […]
Posted inCommentary
Environmental ‘sacrifice zones’ can be beacons of clean energy investment
By Ben Jealous Lower Richland County, S.C. is a place with rich history. The region, which sits on wetlands and a floodplain forest fed by the Congaree River, was an established agricultural center dating back more than 300 years. It’s home to Congaree National Park and other important sites that are central to the experiences […]
