Category: Commentary

High-quality public education is critically important to America’s future, and we are falling behind globally. On the standardized tests administered every three years by the Program for International Student Assessment, American school students finished 25th in math, 17th in science and 12th in reading among all industrialized countries. This worrying discrepancy, as well as national […]

I Need Help! My dilemma lies in understanding the interpretation and reaction of our lawmakers and some citizens to the First and Second Amendments of the Bill of Rights. In the 18th century, freedom of speech was limited to word of mouth and the written word which took a long time to reach its destination. Now we […]

In our national conversations about equality and justice in America, we have too often avoided the conversation about the realities of women and mothers in the workforce. This is particularly odd given that women comprise half of the entire paid labor force, three-quarters of moms are now in the labor force, and most families now […]

The other day, I listened to a professor’s class discussion about the phenomenon of African Americans acting or talking “White.” “Moving topic,” I thought. To her credit, the professor deftly engaged the students, ensuring that each cultural perspective represented had its say. I listened intently as students relayed their experiences regarding this issue. A series […]

There has been much discussion about the big picture items in President Obama’s proposed budget for fiscal 2014. If the devil is in the details, as politicians like to say, some parts of Obama’s budget will mean hell for some needy citizens. Before getting into the details, let’s talk approach. As I have often said, […]

In the Baltimore region, and across America, job growth remains the most important issue on people’s minds. That is why job creation continues to be my number one priority in the Congress. We have evidence that our economy is improving. It also remains painfully clear, however, that we have many more good jobs to create, […]

One year later, the Trayvon Martin tragedy still stings, and some people are still throwing salt on the open wound. Last week George Zimmerman’s brother, Robert Zimmerman, posted a tweet comparing Trayvon Martin to De’Marquis Elkins, 17-year-old black teenager charged with fatally shooting a one-year-old baby. The tweet showed a photo of Elkins side by […]

The state of equality and justice in America is shameful–especially since the election of President Barack Obama. Unlike many of my friends who think America is going to hell in a hand basket, and have given up thinking things will get better for those who’ve been marginalized for so long, I still have hope for […]

In February, we celebrated the 20th anniversary of the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA), which was the first bill President Clinton signed into law. President Obama hailed the law, as did current and former lawmakers from both sides of the political aisle. Indeed, it was a singular accomplishment for the nation – the first […]

I am expressing my deep disappointment in your office not honoring the Legislative Black Caucus of the State of Maryland’s (LBCM) request to fund Maryland’s four historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs) for $70 million over the next five years. This $14 million request per year was denied in this year’s proposed budget and would […]

August 2013 represents the 50th anniversary of the historic March on Washington. Publicly associated with Dr. King’s famous “I have a Dream” speech, this march brought more than 250,000 people to Washington, D.C. to demand freedom and jobs. Initiated by Brotherhood of Sleeping Car Porters President A. Philip Randolph, this became a joint project with […]

“It is better to be prepared for an opportunity and not have one than to have an opportunity and not be prepared.” – Whitney M. Young In August 1963, more than a quarter of a million people gathered in Washington, D.C. to march for jobs and equality. The Great March for Jobs and Freedom was […]