Category: Commentary

Over the past year or so, I have been wondering how Black folks would react to the election outcome. Two questions kept coming to mind: What will we do if Obama wins? What will we do if Romney wins? Let’s make it personal: What will you do? Four years ago I wrote a similar article […]

In 2004 Sen. Barack Obama captured the nation’s attention. He called for an end to the politics of racial division: “There’s not a Black America and White America and Latino America and Asian America; there’s the United States of America.” As Election Day nears and political differences are magnified, it is important to remind Americans, […]

Thank you for the excellent front page story on the second Presidential Debate between President Barack Obama and challenger Governor Mitt Romney. Editor Ronald Taylor’s story is factual, accurate and excellent. However, the “Knockout!” headline may cause voters to prematurely relax. As a fight fan and a lawyer, I believe I know the rules in […]

No matter who wins the November 6 election, he will have a mess on his hands. The Budget Control Act of 2011 will cut $109 billion from the federal budget in 2013 unless Congress is able to figure out how to either reduce the deficit or cut another deal. The cuts will range from 7 to […]

The fires that burn inside of me to protect our vote are personal, as well as social. My great, great grandfather, Mr. Scipio Rhame, was born a slave. Yet, during Reconstruction — just 3 years after his slavery ended — he had the determination to be among the first of our people to register and […]

Marriage is a binding union of a man and a woman for the procreation, nurture, and civilization of children, providing basic stability to society. For this reason it is protected by the state which has a huge stake in the success or failure of this irreplaceable institution. Changing the definition of marriage cannot change this […]

In a few days, many Americans who haven’t already voted will head to the polls to elect the next president of the United States. But some will not. There are still many, including legions of Blacks, who have no plans to vote. The reasons vary—no time, their choice won’t matter, they don’t care who wins […]

One of the fundamental building blocks of a vibrant democracy is the freedom for men and women to cast their vote and elect their leaders. On the eve of one of the most divisive and important elections of my lifetime, I can think of no better time to point out the fact that 5.6 million […]

The Rev. Dr. Howard-John Wesley, senior pastor of Alfred Street Baptist Church in Alexandria, Va, recently informed the press that some pastors in the Washington region have advised their members to refrain from voting in the upcoming presidential election because of President Obama’s support of same-sex marriage. In fact, articles about similar stances by African-American […]

The fires that burn inside of me to protect our vote are personal, as well as social. My great, great grandfather, Mr. Scipio Rhame, was born a slave. Yet, during Reconstruction — just 3 years after his slavery ended — he had the determination to be among the first of our people to register and […]

(Washington, DC) – Today, the NAACP held a press conference to discuss the latest decision in the John McNeil case and next steps to secure his freedom. On Wednesday, Georgia Attorney General Sam Olens chose to appeal the court ruling that granted John McNeil’s habeas corpus petition. “Some people say that this is about a […]

There is an abundance of panhandlers in the nation’s capital—all shapes, shades and sizes. On a recent day, Jessie was at 14th & G talking to himself until he saw someone who had once given him money. “Hey how you doin’?” he asked, making a mad dash to the person. The “Groper” walked the street […]