Category: Commentary

Jesse L. Jackson, Sr. Last week, a panel of the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals unanimously rebuked the North Carolina legislature for acting with “discriminatory intent” in passing restrictions on the right to vote that “target African-Americans with almost surgical precision.” The decision came as we celebrated the 51st anniversary of the Voting Rights Act […]

Susan K. Smith In Columbus, Ohio, two African American police officers filed formal complaints against a white police officer, charging that this White officer made racial slurs and threatened to kill them. It took the Columbus Police Department a year to investigate the charges, but when the investigation was completed, the White officer was not […]

Baltimore City State’s Attorney Marilyn Mosby Support for Baltimore City State’s Attorney Marilyn Mosby (August 5, 2016) Claims of police brutality or misconduct are not unwarranted and should not be seen as egregious, much like complaints against a teacher or a medical doctor or a politician. What is highly problematic is that police brutality and […]

TriceEdney — It’s been said that if a lie is told loudly and often enough, it will stand as the truth.  Just as many people believe that no lie can stand the test of time and that truth will ultimately prevail.  Recent decisions from several courts in different locations have confirmed my belief that no […]

The United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit made a historic civil rights statement last week. Judge Diana Gribbon Motz’s unanimous decision invalidated North Carolina’s controversial voter law, that among other things, added impediments to voting including requiring certain types of so called “official” forms of voter identification before people could cast their […]

When I rose to support the Democratic Party’s Platform at our National Convention in Philadelphia last week, I could not help thinking of my family’s long and continuing march from the fields of South Carolina through the factories of Baltimore – and onward toward the “One America” that should be every American’s dream. Elijah Cummings […]

Let’s not wait until Nov. 7 to plan for Nov. 8 (the last day to cast your ballot). Who knows, you may want to plan to take some folks with you to the polls. That takes planning. Remember you can always vote early. John R. Hawkins III Remember this: A provision of the Voting Rights […]

Marc H. Morial As the major-party conventions conclude and the general election season begins in earnest, the National Urban League has a message for the next president, whoever he or she might be: invest in America. When Europe found itself in physical and economic ruin after World War II, the United States invested $13 billion […]

At the Democratic National Convention last week, Hillary Clinton and her supporters were too kind by simply saying: Love Trumps Hate. It’s a matter that extends far beyond the concept of love. It would have been more accurate to have said: Knowledge Trumps Ignorance.  George E. Curry President Obama was correct to assert, “You know, […]

Dr. E. Faye Williams TriceEdney – Since I assessed the Republican National Convention last week, this week my intention was to comment on my assessment of the Democratic National Convention. I was there and surely there was enough going on among Democrats for that. As this new standard of campaigning has demonstrated, the Republican candidate strives […]

As a ranking member of the Maryland House of Delegate and chair of the Legislative Black Caucus, I cannot remain silent, I must stand up against these senseless killings that have taken place around the nation. My heart and condolences goes out to the families of Alton Sterling, Philando Castile, and the families of the […]