By Dr. Kendrick RobersonWord in Black Although religious freedom and expression are firmly protected in the workplace by the 1964 Civil Rights Act, President Trump’s Office of Personnel Management (OPM)— following the suit of other agencies disregarding standing law and precedent — has issued a memorandum titled, “Protecting Religious Expression in the Federal Workplace,” which […]
Category: OPINION
Posted inOPINION
The time is now. The need is great: The Black family reunion must focus on family-owned land
Black family reunions provide a unique opportunity to preserve and leverage family-owned land, which can be used for food security, economic opportunity, and collective power.
Posted inOPINION
Too many clinics, too little healing: Rethinking addiction treatment in Baltimore
Baltimore’s opioid crisis is exacerbated by an oversupply of behavioral health clinics with little oversight, leading to a moratorium on new enrollments for certain services to evaluate provider quality and rebuild oversight.
Posted inOPINION
The truth about violence in our community
By Dayvon Love There are two major dynamics that are central to the intra communal violence that exist amongst Black people in the United States. The first is the dehumanizing propaganda of this society that deems Black people as inherently violent and inferior. Our youth are socialized in a pop culture environment that encourages them […]
Posted inOPINION
The Unfinished Work: Black Intellectuals and the MAGA Backlash
Black intellectuals must return to Harold Cruse’s blueprint for self-determination and build autonomous institutions to respond to the MAGA backlash and ensure Black voices are not silenced.
Posted inCommentary
Breaking cycles of poverty: The legacy of PATHS at UDC
For more than 20 years, the UDC PATHS Program helped African-American families in Washington, D.C., particularly single mothers, pursue education and long-term stability while breaking cycles of poverty. With its closure on Oct. 1, 2025, PATHS leaves a legacy of empowerment, equity and community transformation.
Posted inCommentary
Baltimore doesn’t need occupation — or threats
Baltimore City Mayor Bradon M. Scott and Maryland Governor Wes Moore have made it clear that they will not welcome federal intervention in response to threats from the 47th president of the United States– especially given that crime is down, according to 2025 data.
Posted inCommentary
Maryland must reckon with its juvenile justice past to protect today’s youth
By Marc Schindler I started my legal career in the mid-1990s as a Baltimore public defender representing children in juvenile court. In the late 1990s I joined a civil rights law firm addressing juvenile justice policies statewide and across the nation. These experiences taught me two things: The Maryland detention facility where many of my […]
Posted inOPINION
Foreign drug pricing models leave patients – and economic growth – behind
Kirsten Axelsen argues that adopting foreign-style drug pricing models in the United States would harm patients and stifle innovation. While other nations keep prices low by denying access through health technology assessments and rigid cost-effectiveness thresholds, the U.S. system fosters competition, broad access, and generics that lower costs. She contends the U.S. should push for fairer global cost-sharing rather than importing restrictive foreign policies.
Posted inOpinion
It’s time to make affordability a priority
Congressman Kweisi Mfume discusses the need for a living wage, affordable housing, healthcare, and education in order to build a prosperous America.
Posted inOPINION
Opinion: I beat the odds and made it to law school – others won’t get the chance
Olabisi Omoniyi-Alake, a Henry A. Wallace Fellow at the Institute for Policy Studies and incoming Georgetown Law student, reflects on the financial and systemic challenges marginalized students face in pursuing legal education. She warns that the 47th president’s plan to eliminate Grad PLUS loans will shut the door for many low-income students and further reduce diversity in law schools.
Posted inCommentary
How artificial intelligence furthers environmental racism in Black America
By Rev. Dr. Heber BrownWord in Black When one of my best friends (who is also a pastor) encouraged me to look into utilizing artificial intelligence (AI) tools for ministry purposes, I was exhilarated. It seemed like a game-changer at my fingertips. I used it to make presentations and outline Bible studies, saving time on […]