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 […]
Category: OPINION
Posted inCommentary
Abusive cops won’t be punished– but #BLM isn’t over yet
By Joseph WilliamsWord in Black In 2020, when Louisville police gunned down Breonna Taylor during a botched raid, the incident helped galvanize the ascendant Black Lives Matter movement. Along with the murders of George Floyd and Ahmaud Arbery, Taylor’s killing spurred outrage and pushed nationwide police reform tantalizingly close to reality. How times have changed. […]
Posted inCommentary
Commentary: Baltimore County’s redistricting must reflect all of us
By Senator Charles E. Sydnor III (D-Baltimore County- District 44), Sharonda Dillard-Huffman and Peta N. Richkus On Aug. 17, the Greater Baltimore Urban League hosted an urgent discussion on Baltimore County’s redistricting. The message was clear: fair process, fair maps and fair representation. Bill 55-25—the County Council’s proposed plan—delivers none of these. Instead, Bill 55-25 […]
Posted inCommentary
The Black Press, public media, and press freedom: We must restore these cornerstones of a functioning democracy
By Shavon Arline-Bradley and Ja’Lia Taylor There is no democracy without a free press. That truth is especially urgent for Black women and our families, who have long relied on trusted media not only for information, but also for protection, representation and empowerment. In an era of disinformation, misinformation, political polarization and eroding trust in […]
Posted inCommentary
ASALH leads resistance to attacks on Smithsonian and U.S. history
ASALH is standing in opposition to the President’s directive to review archival materials and remove any exhibit or artifact that does not align with his definition of American exceptionalism, and is calling for daily acts of resistance to preserve and protect Black history.
Posted inCommentary
Defending the African American Museum of History and Culture is defending America’s truth
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 […]
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 inOPINION
Not a monolith: Reflections on ralph lauren, oak bluffs, and the beautiful complexity of Black legacy
By Lynn “Elle” Selby When Ralph Lauren unveiled his latest collection honoring Morehouse College, Spelman College and the Black American tradition of summering in Oak Bluffs, it wasn’t just about clothes. It was a quiet affirmation of something many of us already know: we are not a monolith. For some, the collection was a revelation. […]
Posted inCommentary
Where’s the class for grief? Why schools must make healing mandatory
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.
