Joseph N. Cooper, UMass Boston (THE CONVERSATION) On the day after the New England Patriots ended their NFL season with a miserable 4-13 record, team owner Robert Kraft fired Jerod Mayo, the team’s first Black head coach. In a press conference following his decision, Kraft explained that he put Mayo in “an untenable situation” by […]
Category: OPINION
Posted inOPINION
Opinion: Black Vote, Black Power: What do we do now? 10 Action steps for the next 4 years
Keith Boykin outlines 10 action steps to stay engaged, make a difference, and protect Black America’s rights and interests in the face of a dangerous and divisive political environment.
Posted inOPINION
Maryland Equitable Justice Collaborative and the limits of liberal reform
Maryland’s Maryland Equitable Justice Collaborative, launched to reduce mass incarceration, has faced challenges due to political pressure from law enforcement and the general public. The group’s recommendation to limit the automatic charging of youth as adults was influenced by these pressures.
Posted inOPINION
While Biden rights wrongs, Marilyn Mosby’s legacy is overlooked
Marilyn Mosby, a key advocate for ending the war on drugs, was overlooked by President Biden for a pardon, despite her significant contributions to drug reform and her courageous stance against prosecution of drug possession.
Posted inCommentary
Commentary: How Super Bowl quarterbacks Jalen Hurts, Patrick Mahomes prove diversity matters on and off the field
Patrick Mahomes and Jalen Hurts, both African American quarterbacks, are leading their teams to the 2025 Super Bowl, proving the importance of diversity in sports.
Posted inOPINION
Op-ed: A people-first plan to balance the budget and ‘leave no one behind’
Maryland Governor Wes Moore has proposed a budget plan that prioritizes education, tax reform, and economic growth to balance the state’s budget, with a focus on helping those who have felt overlooked and left behind.
Posted inCommentary
The ‘American Dream…’ and nightmare
Martin Luther King Jr.’s dream for humanity has yet to be realized for many Black Americans, leading to a lack of dreams and a sense of apathy and irrelevance.
Posted inCommentary
Commentary: The ‘America first agenda’ and what it means for marginalized communities
President Trump’s “America First” agenda, which includes hardline immigration policies and a reduction in government hiring in DEI initiatives, could exacerbate existing inequities for Black Americans.
Posted inCommentary
Commentary: Resisting the current presidential administration: Look to Florida — and organize
Florida has become a laboratory for MAGA experiments in extremist education policies, but Fedrick C. Ingram, secretary-treasurer of the American Federation of Teachers, emphasizes the importance of organizing to resist these extremist policies.
Posted inCommentary
Commentary: Black Vote, Black Power: Don’t be fooled. The president’s J6 pardons are all about race
Donald Trump has granted clemency to every criminal involved in the January 6 insurrection, including those who attacked police officers, raising concerns about the U.S. legal system and the treatment of White supremacy.
Posted inCommentary
Commentary: Why Biden’s refusal to pardon Marilyn Mosby is a disservice to justice
Former President Joe Biden did not pardon Marilyn Mosby, the former State’s Attorney of Baltimore, despite her legal battles and public support, while he pardoned his son Hunter Biden, highlighting a systemic disregard for Black women in positions of power.
Posted inOPINION
Commentary: Mack Lewis Gym inspiring a community through grit and transformation
The Mack Lewis Gym in East Baltimore, founded in 1951, continues to serve as a safe haven for young people, providing discipline, purpose and a path forward through the sport of boxing, and has recently received a $200,000 capital bond initiative to upgrade the facility and prioritize academics over athletics.