By Ernest Quarles It is high political season once again and our street corners are engulfed with increasing numbers of signage for individuals who would be best described as mere strangers. This brand of political graffiti is almost circus-like in its visual aesthetic. The names that remain indelibly etched in our minds are not there […]
Category: Commentary
Posted inCommentary
Prostate cancer rising in Black America
By Dr. Benjamin F. Chavis, Jr., President and CEO, National Newspaper Publishers Association As the United States continues to grapple with its legacy of systemic racism, debates on issues such as police brutality and racial profiling, the economic gulf between Blacks and Whites, and the dearth of access to affordable educational opportunities, there is one […]
Posted inOPINION
Commentary: The Moore Report – Senator Tim Scott, Justice Clarence Thomas and Herschel Walker: Who are these guys?
By Ralph E. Moore, Jr. When the other-than-Lindsey-Graham-U.S. Senator from South Carolina, Tim Scott (R-S.C.), an African-American, voted against the confirmation of Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson to become the first African-American woman to sit on the Supreme Court, many wondered: who is this guy? Justice Clarence Thomas, only the second African-American to sit on the […]
Posted inOPINION
Community’s support for education funding creates opportunities
By Sonja Santelises Recently, I had the honor of officiating our mid-year graduation. The graduates crossing the stage at this time of year often arrive the hard way: persisting through challenges that would bring many adults to their knees. The faces and smiles of more than 100 beaming candidates, surrounded by cheering family members and […]
Posted inOPINION
Op-ed: A New Dream Team of Federal Judges
By Ben Jealous Something amazing just happened in the U.S. Capitol. On one day, the Senate Judiciary Committee held a confirmation hearing for five extraordinary women of color who have been nominated to federal judgeships by President Joe Biden. This judicial Dream Team will make our courts more representative of the American people. As judges, […]
Posted inCommentary
The Pandemic: an impetus for reviving and valuing the role of parents as their children’s first teachers in the home
By Maxine Johnson Wood, Ed.D. Before and during the pandemic there have been limited formal proposals that support a direct, renewed focus on the significant role that parents play as their children’s initial teachers in the home. Enhancing this could positively improve student learning. Interest and investment in promoting, encouraging and identifying children’s learning, beginning […]
Posted inCommentary
Addressing cost, stigma, and treatment disparities key to improving access to mental health care in Black and Hispanic communities
By April Jeffries and Dr. Manuel Garcia-Garcia Most Americans are frustrated with the mental healthcare system in this country- despite the historic reckoning around mental health that the pandemic has forced to the foreground for two years (and counting). This dissatisfaction holds particularly pointed implications for Black and Hispanic communities, who report being more concerned […]
Posted inCommentary
Commentary: Senator Tim Scott (R-SC) and his choice to oppose- not confirm- the first Black woman on the U.S. Supreme Court
By Robert J. Walker South Carolina Senator Tim Scott (R-SC) missed his “Profile in Courage” opportunity when he did not vote to confirm Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson to the Supreme Court. This vote should have been a no-brainer for Scott. Being the only African-American republican senator and considering the historical significance of the moment—you would […]
Posted inBaltimore News
The Moore Report: Hope on the Horizon: guaranteed annual income program is coming to Baltimore (What it Means)
By Ralph E. Moore, Jr. Last week, Mayor Brandon Scott announced a guaranteed annual income program for poor folks in Baltimore. The initiative, entitled the Baltimore Young Families Success Fund, is exciting and welcome news for a too little known nor long remembered segment of our city’s population: the poor, the low income, and the […]
Posted inOPINION
Op-ed: An Extraordinary Life, Linking Past and Present
By Ben Jealous I was trained to fight by my grandmother, Mamie Bland Todd. She would often remind me, “Pessimists are right more often, but optimists win more often.” “In this life you have to decide what’s more important to you.” Then she would add, “As for me, I’ll take winning.” My favorite optimist died […]
Posted inOPINION
Op-ed: Freeing Brittney Griner is More Than a Slogan
By Rep. Kweisi Mfume She has worked in Russia for 7 years. She is one of the best players in a sport loved by both Americans and Russians alike. She plays on behalf of our country for Team USA Basketball. She is endorsed by a global, iconic sports brand in Nike. Now she is a […]
Posted inOPINION
Opinion: With automation putting Black and Brown jobs in jeopardy, it’s time to retrain
By Sonny Messiah Jiles for Word in Black Automation is touching our lives daily and letting us function more efficiently. Household conveniences now include vacuum robots and smart home push buttons or voice commands for lights, TVs, security and even refrigerators. “Powerful new technologies are increasing productivity, improving lives, and reshaping our world. But what […]