By Chrissy M. Thornton There is a quiet calculus many Black people perform before we even walk into a store. We soften our tone. We monitor our posture. We keep receipts visible. We are mindful of where our hands are, how long we linger, whether we look “confused” or “confrontational.” This constant awareness is exhausting. […]
Category: Commentary
Posted inCommentary
The cost of war
By Eric Morrissette On Saturday, Feb. 28th, Americans woke up to find their country at war with Iran. Breaking news alerts carried word that the United States had joined Israel in an unprecedented joint military operation aimed at overturning the Iranian government. The human cost is already jarring: one week in, Al Jazeera’s live tracker […]
Posted inCommentary
IEPs made simple: How parents can advocate for their children
By Payton Aldridge Navigating the special education system can be overwhelming for many families. There’s a lot of unfamiliar terminology, meetings filled with professionals and decisions that directly affect your child’s education. It can sometimes feel like everyone else in the room understands what’s happening – except you. But it’s important to remember that you […]
Posted inCommentary
Reflecting on history, power and the future of the U.S. democracy
As leaders and communities across the United States prepare to celebrate its 250th anniversary, Americans from coast to coast are questioning the fabric of a nation that appears to be torn at the seams over race and capitalism.
Posted inOPINION
Opinion: For Black women, the Oscars are about more than Best Picture
Dr. Regina Davis Moss is a narrative strategist, cultural leader and reproductive justice advocate whose research examines how stories shape public belief and influence policy as president and CEO of In Our Own Voice: National Black Women’s Reproductive Justice. In this piece, she discusses the importance of Black women controlling how their stories are told.
Posted inOPINION
How war news affects your mental health even from a distance
By Maurice Carroll Many of us wake up and check the news or social media before we even take a moment to check in with ourselves. We do this almost automatically, often without realizing it at the moment. It’s one of those habits many of us share but rarely talk about. We reach for updates […]
Posted inCommentary
Commentary: As the Old Guard of civil rights finish their march, ours must continue
By Steven Ragsdale This past weekend, thousands gathered in Alabama for the annual Selma Bridge Crossing Jubilee Celebration, retracing the famous steps across the Edmund Pettus Bridge where civil rights marchers once faced violence for demanding the right to vote. As the nation reflected on that history, many of today’s and yesterday’s activists also mourned […]
Posted inCommentary
Commentary: Michael B. Jordan loves being Black. We do too
After winning Outstanding Actor at the NAACP Image Awards and taking home a leading actor prize at the 32nd annual Screen Actors Guild Awards, Michael B. Jordan has become an Oscar frontrunner for his role in “Sinners.” The victories mark a cultural moment for Black audiences who have watched the film’s awards-season journey amid broader political and social pressures, turning Jordan’s success into a celebration of affirmation and resilience.
Posted inCommentary
Free market solutionist and community-based economic empowerment groups sound alarms on regressive housing legislation
By Troy Rolling The Maryland General Assembly and Montgomery County Council are moving forward with legislation intended to ban the algorithmic software that the housing industry uses to obtain pricing estimates on the apartments and homes they list for rent in The Old-Line State. While the legislation’s sponsors introduced the bills with the intent of […]
Posted inCommentary
Vulnerable communities left to breathe the consequences as EPA repeals endangerment finding
By Almeta Cooper Nothing brings me more joy than spending time with my beautiful five-month-old grandson. When I am with him, we are in our own special world – the board books, the stuffies, the smiles. I certainly don’t want him to see the dread I am feeling. I work in the climate sector and […]
Posted inCommentary
Determined optimism: How small and mid-sized businesses can leverage and learn from the CIAA Tournament
Janet Currie, president of Bank of America, Greater Maryland, highlights how Baltimore’s small and mid-sized businesses can capitalize on the CIAA Tournament’s economic impact by boosting community engagement, tightening cash flow management and planning for succession. She emphasizes that supporting local businesses during CIAA week helps build and sustain generational wealth in the community.
Posted inWord In Black
Commentary: When a Black newspaper goes quiet
The closure of the Richmond Free Press underscores the fragility of Black-owned newspapers, which provide culturally competent reporting, community accountability, and coverage that mainstream media often misses. The Black Press remains vital for civic engagement, equity, and sustaining local voices.