Category: Commentary

Baltimore officials and citizens were shocked at the low turnout of voters in the primary and general elections of Baltimore City officials in 2011. Inasmuch as these were purely city elections, the city bore the cost of over $3 million. Efforts to eliminate separate city elections to achieve greater voter turnout and save the city […]

Just look at the numbers. The U.S. economy was shedding millions of jobs at the peak of the recession in late 2008 and early 2009. Then Congress passed an economic stimulus package – heavy on green energy investments – in February 2009. Within months, the number of lost jobs began to decline and by 2010, […]

What if you left the United States for a short trip abroad, but when you tried to come home to your job, family and life in America, your government would not let you on the plane? What if, when you asked when you could fly home, you were told “never”? For some American Muslims, this […]

President Barack Obama’s proposed budget for fiscal year 2013 sets a responsible course for rebuilding the economy so that it works for everyone, not just the privileged few. Our middle class is the engine of economic growth, but is threatened by dwindling public investments, a tax system increasingly rigged to benefit the wealthy, a fraying […]

By Adrion Howell As a student of history, I am struck by a statement that Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. made in which he said, “that the most revolutionary thing that any citizen can do is to be an active and engaged citizen.” It is amazing to me that we have just commemorated the 44th […]

I am always fascinated by the impact of human emotions on our consumer behavior – whether those emotions are inspired by tragedy or triumph. Two television broadcasts made ratings history recently, one because of a tragedy and one because of a triumph: the 54th Annual Grammy Awards on CBS and the contest between the Los […]

The first two months of this year have brought millions of Americans – and our nation – good economic news. Due, in no small part, to President Obama’s economic policies, job growth and the broader economic forecasts are continuing an upward trend that has been gaining steam for the last two years. On the jobs […]

I’ve received an overwhelming response to my recent piece about The Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation’s (GLAAD) demand for CNN to fire Roland Martin due to what they perceived as homophobic tweets. Most people agreed with my position, but, for those who questioned my view that GLAAD is not in a position to complain […]

As the nation is celebrating Black History Month, The Coalition for Equity and Excellence in Maryland Higher Education—students, alumni and friends of Morgan State University, Bowie State University, Coppin State University, and the University of Maryland Eastern Shore– the State of Maryland, and federal district judge Catherine C. Blake have an opportunity to make Black […]

After six weeks of testimony, a major trial to determine whether Maryland’s four historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs) have been routinely denied funding and other needed resources that would have made them “comparable and competitive” with White universities in the state is expected to end this week, with a ruling expected by this summer. […]

I originally had absolutely no intention of writing about the recent flap surrounding TV personality Roland Martin, but because of the unfair treatment he has received; and his seeming inability to defend himself, I feel compelled to speak out. Martin is a syndicated newspaper columnist, a political analyst for CNN, and host of his own […]