By Renée Hall Another American community is grieving today. This time it is Stockton, Calif., where families woke up to the kind of news no parent, no neighbor, and no city should ever have to endure. Sirens at night. Candles by morning. Another headline. Another vigil. And a community asking the same heartbreaking question we […]
Category: Commentary
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Reframing autism in D.C. schools: From label to understanding
By Nicole A. Wynn In a busy Washington, D.C. classroom, a student rocks gently in his chair, hands over his ears. The teacher assumes he’s being defiant and calls his name sharply. In reality, the fluorescent lights and echoing voices have overwhelmed his senses. This scene plays out daily in schools across the District not […]
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Commentary: Maryland must end the harmful practice of automatically charging youth as adults
Attorney Kisha Brown previously served as director of both the Maryland Attorney General’s Legislative Affairs division and the Civil Rights department. She was the first woman to lead the Baltimore City Office of Civil Rights. In this piece she argues Maryland’s criminal justice system continues to disproportionately harm Black communities, especially through its outdated practice of automatically charging some youth as adults, a policy critics argue urgently needs to end.
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Fostering inclusive societies: Breaking barriers for persons with disabilities
Wayne Campbell highlights the systemic barriers—attitudinal, physical, transportation and policy-driven—that continue to limit the full inclusion of persons with disabilities in the Caribbean and globally. He emphasizes the importance of the United Nations Disability Inclusion Strategy and calls for stronger enforcement of inclusive policies, meaningful participation of people with lived experience, and societal commitment to creating disability-inclusive societies.
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It’s difficult being grateful during stressful times
By Maurice Carroll None of us make it out of life without experiencing some stress. Let’s face it, stress is one of those human traits that crosses all boundaries of faith, nationality, gender and age. There are studies dedicated to defining it and others dedicated to finding and sharing treatments for it. As African Americans, […]
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Don’t hide your Kwanzaa under a rock
By Bill Curtis As policy of the current federal government in 2025, the era of integration is over. From 1965 with the Voting Rights Act until the regime of President Trump, integration was the policy of the Federal government for 60 years. And American society stumbled forward out of its darkness. Lyndon B. Johnson, the […]
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The lie about immigrants and America’s debt to them
By Stacy M. BrownBlack Press USA Senior National Correspondent There is a lie moving through America. It creeps through congressional halls and across television screens, whispering that undocumented immigrants live freely off the sweat of the American taxpayer. It is a lie told by those who know better and repeated by those who are too […]
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Calling a woman ‘Piggy’: The real damage a president can do
AFRO CEO and publisher Dr. Frances Murphy (Toni) Draper condemns the president’s public insult of a female reporter, arguing that such demeaning language mirrors patterns of emotional abuse, fuels misogyny and racism, endangers women—especially women journalists—and normalizes harmful behavior across society. She urges leaders and communities to call out abusive conduct, teach respect, and model accountability.
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The power of small things: Why your words matter more than you think
In this commentary, Maurice Carroll urges readers to practice mindful speech by starting with “a little bit,” cultivating intentional thoughts and habits that lead to lasting personal change.
Posted inOPINION
Betrayal within: Drugs in neighborhood stores and the scars on our community
Baltimore police recently raided two convenience stores, uncovering illegal marijuana operations and multiple arrests. In this commentary, Michael Eugene Johnson condemns the betrayal of community trust when local businesses become drug hubs and calls for strict legal and financial accountability to protect neighborhoods.
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Homecoming and the spirit of unity: What HBCUs teach America
Dr. Javaune Adams-Gaston is president of Norfolk State University, chairwoman of the Mid Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) and a member of the Board of Governors for the NCAA; and Dr. Tony Allen is president of Delaware State University, vice chairman of MEAC, and the chairman emeritus of the White House Initiative on Historically Black Colleges and Universities. In their joint commentary, the pair celebrates the spirit and legacy of HBCU homecomings as more than festive gatherings—they are affirmations of cultural pride, resilience and unity.
Posted inOPINION
Teach your kids backyard and urban farming to promote nutrition and neighborhood health
Community gardens in urban areas provide inter-generational learning, promote social cohesion, provide nutrition education, reduce crime, lower grocery bills, create jobs, reduce carbon footprint, and improve air and soil quality.Community and backyard gardens teach children about nutrition, provide fresh produce, lower grocery costs, and strengthen neighborhood ties. Urban farming also promotes intergenerational learning, community cohesion, economic opportunities, and environmental benefits, while requiring organized efforts to overcome space, soil, resource, and regulatory challenges.