Category: OPINION

Marian Wright Edelman Every day I wear a pair of medallions around my neck with portraits of two of my role models: Harriet Tubman and Sojourner Truth. As a child, I read books about Harriet Tubman and the Underground Railroad. She and indomitable and eloquent slave woman Sojourner Truth represent countless thousands of anonymous slave […]

George E. Curry Bernie Sanders on Sunday tried to attribute most of his losses to Hillary Clinton – his recent string of victories notwithstanding – to poor people not voting.  “Poor people don’t vote,” he said on NBC’s Meet the Press. “I mean, that’s just a fact. That’s a sad reality of American society.”  What’s […]

Elijah Cummings National Minority Health Month each April is a time when we are called to reflect upon the health of Americans of Color.  This year, a truthful assessment of our progress would be mixed. More African Americans have access to health insurance than ever before.  Yet, being Black in America continues to be a […]

J. Howard Henderson Empowering African Americans, women and other minorities is not just the right thing to do. It’s the smart thing to do. Earlier this month, Baltimore’s powerhouse leaders including Michal Cryor of One Baltimore, Plank Industries’ Demian Costa, B. Cole, founder of Brioxy, Jeff Cherry, executive director of Conscious Ventures Lab, Richard May, chair of Innovation […]

John R. Hawkins III As spring comes into full bloom, colleges across the nation are focusing on their upcoming commencements. They are called commencements because the event celebrating the completion of a course of study is as much a new beginning, prayerfully prepared by the completed course of study. It also brings to mind commissioning […]

Benjamin Jealous Both Representatives Chris Van Hollen and Donna Edwards are effective, progressive members of Congress who are deeply committed to their constituents.  There’s no question that Congressman Van Hollen could serve Maryland admirably. But only Congresswoman Donna Edwards would bring a unique perspective to a Senate that is often in need of a reality […]

Elijah Cummings Whenever I face a tough choice as a public servant, I just ask myself a simple question:  What’s best for the people of Baltimore?   So in considering which candidate is the right choice to succeed President Obama next January, I think first about who can make a positive difference for our city and […]

TriceEdney – Dr. E. Faye Williams Change (verb): To make the form…of something different from what it is or from what it would be if left alone: …to change the course of history. (Dictionary.com) I accept as completely valid that all things will inevitably change – and that change isn’t necessarily bad.  Accordingly, I’m pleased […]

As residents of Baltimore City enter polling places to cast their ballots, this week and next, they will likely have already made up their minds about who they will vote in favor of for the office of President, Mayor, City Council President, Council Member, and Comptroller.    However, one portion of the ballot is often […]

Marc H. Morial “No right is more precious in a free country than that of having a voice in the election of those who make the laws under which, as good citizens, we must live.  Other rights, even the most basic, are illusory if the right to vote is undermined.”       – The […]

Jesse L. Jackson, Sr. This country has made remarkable progress on civil rights over our history. We’ve moved from slavery to segregation to equal rights under the law. African-Americans have gained the right to vote, the right to equal employment opportunity. Open racism has become increasingly unacceptable. Gays and lesbians have progressed toward equal rights. […]

George E. Curry I have written about Bill O’Reilly, a/k/a “Bill O’Racist,” in the past and his proclivity to distort the facts when discussing African Americans. Well, he’s at it again.  On one of his recent shows on Fox News, he asked, “Don’t you think most African-Americans know there are super predators among their ethnic group? Don’t they know […]