By Dr. Frances Murphy DraperAFRO Publisher and CEO America cannot afford to whitewash its past. Yet that is exactly what is at stake in the current review of the National Museum of African American History and Culture. To question whether slavery and racism belong in the story of this nation is not only dangerous—it is […]
Category: Commentary
Posted inOpinion
Opinion: Weaponizing democracy and human rights in the age of doublespeak
Jared O. Bell is a former U.S. diplomat and scholar of human rights and transitional justice, dedicated to advancing global equity and systemic reform. In this article he warns of the growing use of doublespeak to twist the language of democracy and human rights into tools of repression, drawing on examples from the U.S. and abroad to show how rhetoric is being weaponized to erode freedoms.
Posted inCommentary
August is ‘Make a Will Month’: Here’s why it should matter to every Marylander
Making a will is an important legal document that allows you to protect your family, your wishes and your legacy, and should be done by everyone regardless of age, marital status, or whether they have children.
Posted inCommentary
Where’s the class for grief? Why schools must make healing mandatoryÂ
By Kanika Cousine In March 2025, 16-year-old Sincere Jazmin was fatally shot while seated at a bus stop in Jamaica, Queens, after stepping off his school bus. According to the New York Post, he ran into a nearby deli before collapsing and dying on-site. Just days later, a 16-year-old student at Lansdowne High School in […]
Posted inOPINION
The republic is no more: Federal crackdown, civil rights collapse and the urgent need for community defense
The author argues that the 47th president’s federal takeover of D.C.’s police and deployment of National Guard troops—despite declining crime rates—marks a dangerous consolidation of executive power. Coupled with rollbacks of civil rights protections, judicial retreat from constitutional freedoms, and the end of federal police oversight, it signals an accelerating slide into authoritarianism that demands urgent community defense.
Posted inOPINION
Opinion: Breaking down barriers to give justice-involved Marylanders a fair shot
Cory V. McCray represents Maryland’s 45th Legislative District in the State Senate and is the author of The Apprenticeship That Saved My Life. He focuses on equitable policymaking, public safety and expanding economic opportunity.
Posted inCommentary
The 60th anniversary of the Voting Rights Act and you
By Dr. John E. Warren As some of us celebrate the passage of the Voting Rights Act of 1965, there are those among us determined to destroy what’s left of its significance. The Civil Rights Division of the Department of Justice has been gutted by Donald Trump with senior staff either being fired or quitting. […]
Posted inOPINION
Opinion: Baltimore’s roads were built on Black suffering; now it’s time to build something different
Steven K. Ragsdale argues that Baltimore must reckon with its legacy of slavery and disinvestment—particularly in West Baltimore—by fully committing to projects like the Red Line, which can serve as a form of reparative justice for communities historically harmed by systemic neglect.
Posted inCommentary
Commentary: Why we paused—and why getting BLocal right matters for the Baltimore region
Greater Baltimore Committee president and CEO Mark Anthony Thomas explains why the organization paused BLocal to restructure it as a long-term, scalable initiative aimed at boosting local hiring, procurement and investment across the region.
Posted inOPINION
Navigating your first job with confidence
Janet Currie is president of Bank of America, Greater Maryland. This week, she offers advice to the recent graduates who are navigating the job market.
Posted inOPINION
The double standard of anger: The White male effort to police Angel Reese’s emotions
Delgreco Wilson is a leading political analyst, educator, and advocate whose work centers on empowering Black Americans through a deeper understanding of political strategy and its historical roots in the fight against systemic racism and White supremacy.
Posted inCommentary
Opportunity interrupted: The crisis of Job Corps suspension and the need for community-rooted support
By Kanika Cousine In underserved communities across America, opportunity is not just a path to success but a lifeline. For countless at-risk youth, access to vocational training, stable housing and mentorship can mean the difference between building a future and falling through the cracks. Many young people enter programs like Job Corps because they already […]
