Category: Commentary

Herman Cain, the former Godfather executive, is not laughing. He’s dead serious when talks about his now patented ‘9-9-9’ plan and that the ‘Black Walnut’ is not the political flavor of the week. In fact, he is loving the fact he is surging in the polls, taking the top spot in several key national polls beating […]

The Occupy Wall Street movement is now one month old. The protests have spilled over from their initial Wall Street site to Washington, D.C., Miami, and, according to the Occupy Wall Street (OWS) website, approximately 1,500 cities around the globe. They’ve even come here to Greensboro, N. C., a day before President Obama is scheduled […]

Democrats and Republicans chant in unison “jobs, jobs, jobs.” President Obama offers an American Jobs plan, but Republicans use the filibuster in the Senate to kill it and a Republican majority will not consider it in the House. House Democrats offered a heftier jobs bill, but it is ignored by the majority in control. Republicans […]

After decades of trying to ease voting restrictions that suppress voter turnout in the U.S., already among the lowest among industrialized nations, Republican-led state legislators and GOP governors have quickly implemented or proposed a series of changes aimed at reducing Black political clout. Among the recent developments to limit Black voter participation: * At least […]

During my more than six decades of life, I have witnessed the struggle to afford a college education from every vantage point. The core lesson of that experience is clear. When we educate our young people, we grow and prosper as a community — while those that fail to do so fall behind. Most Americans […]

To be clear, I have no love for anyone connected with Al Qaeda. If they all dropped into a black hole tomorrow I would rest easy. But I must confess I have been left very unsettled by the White House’s approval of the assassination of a U.S. citizen, one Anwar Al-Awlaki. Various reports have indicated […]

African-Americans have long been targets of financial predators, but a new agency that will protect consumers has opened its doors. President Obama’s nominee to head the agency has been a true champion for minorities — but he will face an uphill battle to be confirmed after Oct. 6 when the Senate Banking Committee was expected […]

We all know the drill, lawn signs pop up out of nowhere a month before the actual election, mailboxes are stuffed with campaign literature, and robocalls asking for your vote interrupt your evening meal. I’m talking about campaign season 2011. The General is a whole other ballgame. This election season is unusual because it is […]

In the wake of President Obama’s address to the Congressional Black Caucus, there are those who are making much ado about nothing, including the accusation that, by dropping his “g’s” the President was talking down to African Americans.  Can this President kindly get a break!  He is accused of distancing himself from the African-American community, […]

Ray Charles sings about Georgia being on his mind. But as Troy Davis was laid to rest Saturday, Georgia was also on the minds of distraught death penalty opponents who saw him executed on the basis of questionable evidence and despite an array of witnesses who had recanted their original testimony. Georgia has been at […]

Is the subject “increase in poverty” discussed when lawmakers talk about furloughs, unemployment extensions, wage freezes, foreclosures, or jobs for inner city residents? I ask myself “What did they expect when there was a lack of viable solutions to tackle the unemployment or underemployment issue in the inner city? The U.S. Census Bureau released a […]

Since 1999, millions of Americans have received annual, detailed earnings statements from the Social Security Administration about their Social Security benefits.   These annual earnings statements are an invaluable tool that helps millions of Americans plan for their retirement. In March, the Commissioner of the Social Security Administration (SSA) announced that he would suspend the production […]