Category: Commentary

John R. Hawkins III Historic and heroic service of women in the US military has been a little publicized fact dating from the Revolutionary War service of Deborah Samson to today. When looking for information about the selfless service of African American women in the U.S. military the scope of such service is even less […]

My dear Black queens, why do you hide your natural curls under a weave? Why do you relax your hair to be straight? Akira Kyles Every Black woman should embrace the beautiful curls that they already have. You don’t need inches, you don’t need a relaxer – all you need is to embrace the natural […]

Marian Wright Edelman America’s political blame game continues while children continue to suffer life-impairing harm. The nation was riveted this week as Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder and Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Chief Gina McCarthy were grilled over the shameful inaction on the Flint, Mich. water crisis by members of the House Oversight and Government Reform […]

“Nonstop Aiding and Abetting in Corrupt Practices.”  James Clingman (March 20, 2016) While Black people are bogged down in shallow and meaningless political discourse, our vaunted Black organizations continue to be M.I.A. except for their time in front of the cameras with Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders. They say they cannot endorse candidates, but we […]

Jesse L. Jackson, Sr. As Barack Obama’s presidency counts down its last months, amid the raucous babble of the Republican presidential debate, people are beginning to realize how much we will miss Obama’s leadership. He has served with dignity and grace, increasingly rare attributes in American politics. His family has exhibited the values that Americans […]

George E. Curry While you were focusing on the antics of Donald Trump and young people “feeling the Bern,” Republicans at the state and federal level were stepping up their attacks on the poor.  When I was covering Jesse Jackson’s 1984 presidential campaign, he had a term for this kind of callous behavior by elected […]

Rep. Elijah Cummings During Women’s History Month this year, the leadership of the National Women’s History Project urges all Americans to learn from the women in public service and government who have dedicated their lives to “forming a more perfect union.” Theirs is excellent advice. During an often divisive presidential election year, the vision and […]

There are 407 people who live in the area of Loch Raven and Belvedere in Baltimore who no longer have ready access to needed food and supplies. That’s because of the closing of the Belvedere Gardens Shopping, a 55,000-square-foot property which was anchored by a Family Dollar store, a Chinese Food restaurant, and several convenience […]

Choosing your Medicare benefits can be very confusing whether you are a seasoned recipient or you are preparing to enroll for the first time. Your Medicare choices should involve some serious thought before you make your decision. Medicare is a health insurance plan for individuals who are age 65 and a U.S. citizen.  If you […]

On Dec. 17, 2014, President Obama made the historic announcement that the United States was about to reestablish diplomatic relations with Cuba and eliminate some of the harsh sanctions imposed by the U.S. more than 50 years ago. I was overjoyed. Reasonable people and governments around the world praised the decision. Ben Chavis Jr., president/CEO […]

Dr. E. Faye Williams TriceEdney—I was a teacher.  Among other things, I taught Special Education.  I’ve always been told “Once a teacher, always a teacher,” so I decided to give Donald Trump a little instructional upgrade. Everybody knows that when Trump was asked by a reporter if he would disavow David Duke, he indicated he […]

F. Michael Higginbotham With the Democratic primary season upon us, political pundits have wondered whether Hillary Clinton will enjoy the same enthusiastic support from the African-American community in her presidential bid that President Barack Obama received.  Others have wondered whether she actually deserves the same level of allegiance from African-American voters.  Based upon her campaign […]