A decade after the death of Freddie Gray and the Baltimore uprising, the city still spends nearly seven times more on policing than on recreation and youth development—despite hard-earned lessons about the dangers of disinvestment in young people. Baltimore’s comptroller calls for a shift in priorities, reminding us that a city’s budget is a reflection of its values.
Category: Commentary
Posted inCommentary
The war on birthright citizenship is a war on all of us
On May 15, 2025, the Supreme Court will hear a case challenging Oval Office Executive Order 14160, which seeks to revoke birthright citizenship for children of undocumented immigrants—threatening a core protection enshrined in the 14th Amendment. If upheld, the order could dismantle over a century of settled law, redefine citizenship as a privilege, and grant future presidents dangerous new power to unilaterally rewrite constitutional rights.
Posted inOPINION
Erasing Black history and culture is a key step in erasing Black lives – and we must resist
Kimberlé Williams Crenshaw is the executive director of the African American Policy Forum (AAPF), a leading organization in the Freedom to Learn Network. In this column she discusses the advocacy needed to combat the 47th president’s attempts to erase African American history.
Posted inPolitics
‘Margaritagate,’ propaganda and the erosion of justice: Why the Abrego García case is a national alarm bell
The orchestrated photo op between Sen. Chris Van Hollen, D-Md., and wrongfully deported Maryland resident Kilmar Abrego García, dubbed “Margaritagate,” exemplifies the government’s use of propaganda to mask state misconduct and deportation abuses. This case highlights a broader erosion of democratic principles—where truth-tellers are punished, due process is subverted, and marginalized communities face systemic injustice.
Posted inCommentary
Black boys matter: Why are they disappearing from schools?
The absence of young Black men in college reflects a long-standing pattern of systemic exclusion that begins in early childhood, with disproportionate discipline and a lack of support in K–12 education. Experts call for reimagining schools as spaces of healing, affirmation and culturally sustaining education that honor the full humanity of Black boys.
Posted inOPINION
Op-Ed: 10 opportunities for the next BDC leader
By Mark Anthony Thomas At a time where Maryland and all of the Baltimore Region’s jurisdictions are committing to greater investments in economic development, recently announced transitions offer a chance to celebrate impactful public leaders and use this moment of change to build stronger organizations that drive our future. Former Thurgood Marshall International Airport CEO […]
Posted inCommentary
Why does America keep punishing Haitians for wanting freedom?
Nana Gyamfi is a prominent civil and human rights attorney and the executive director of the Black Alliance for Just Immigration (BAJI). This week, she discusses policy regarding Haitian asylum seekers.
Posted inOpinion
Opinion: ‘Leave Now.’ Deportation emails, the delayed military report, and the dangerous rise of executive power
In April 2025, the Department of Homeland Security sent mass emails to thousands of immigrants, warning them to leave the U.S. within seven days or face removal—part of a broader, escalating strategy under the Trump administration to instill fear, provoke self-deportation, and test constitutional limits. While the Supreme Court has temporarily paused the removals, the administration continues advancing a militarized, legally dubious agenda targeting vulnerable communities and reshaping immigration enforcement through executive force.
Posted inCommentary
They said he wasn’t from here — but he was born in the USA
Juan Carlos Lopez-Gomez, a 20-year-old U.S. citizen born in Georgia, is being held in a Florida jail after police falsely labeled him an “unauthorized alien,” despite his family providing proof of citizenship. His case highlights the dangerous rise of racial profiling and unconstitutional detentions targeting Black and Brown Americans—signaling a deeper erosion of civil rights and due process.
Posted inCommentary
April 20 Deadline Could Unleash U.S. Troops on U.S. Soil—Black and Brown Communities Will Feel It First
A looming April 20 deadline could determine whether the federal government invokes the Insurrection Act to deploy active-duty U.S. troops within the country—not in response to rebellion, but as a tool of everyday policy enforcement. Critics warn this move threatens democratic norms, risks targeting marginalized communities, and could mark a dangerous shift toward militarized governance.militarization of civilian communities.
Posted inOPINION
Civics in context: What JFK’s legacy teaches us about voting and values
James Jerome Hankins is a journalist, realtor, Veteran, past local NAACP president, retired 34-year shop teacher and 1971 graduate of North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University. This week, he discusses lessons that can be learned from the past.
Posted inCommentary
Budgeting and saving: Telling your money where to go
Frances Murphy Draper is the publisher and CEO of the AFRO. This week she reflects on the resilience, contributions and financial empowerment of Black communities—highlighting how faith, determination and collective action have shaped our economic journey.