Category: OPINION

If ever the American people needed a strong president willing to stand for what is reasonable and right, that time is now. In 2008 and 2012, our rallying cry was “Barack Obama, we have your back.” Today, at this moment of truth for our country, we can thank God that President Obama has the strong […]

Sports is one of the most race-neutral meritocracies in America. From the record-shattering feats of Jesse Owens to the transcendent accomplishments of Serena and Venus Williams, there is no doubt that African Americans can excel at the highest levels in any sport if given a chance. Historically, that chance has rarely been given to aspiring […]

Almost 131 years ago, Steward Wylie, a member of Atlanta’s Big Bethel AME Church, made a courageous plea to his church members that if they could furnish a room at Clark College, they could build a school of their own. Armed with faith and belief in his mission, Morris Brown College, one of Georgia’s most […]

Last week I proposed common-sense legislation to ensure a real living wage for every worker in D.C. Our social justice advocates have led a contagious battle, and just this week California caught the bug and became the first state in the nation to commit to raising the minimum wage to $10 per hour. Now it […]

I have thoroughly enjoyed reading the recent newspaper document called Civil Rights – Why We March. I learned so much about the who, what and why of my history. There was so much that I had forgotten, or indeed, never heard before. The documentation of the first period, 1901-1919, stirred me so that I have […]

I’m a college sports fan who thinks that major universities are bullying small colleges and HBCUs who are also NCAA members. Each weekend during the football and basketball seasons we have to watch the horrendous scores of major NCAA powerhouses crushing small colleges and universities on the football fields and basketball arenas. This weekend, Sept. […]

“There’s something evil in our society that we as Americans have to work to try and eradicate…I would like you to put my trauma center out of business. I really would. I would like to not be an expert on gunshots. Let’s get rid of this. This is not America.” – Dr. Janis Orlowski, MedStar […]

As the more extreme House Republicans threaten Armageddon unless we agree to defund the Affordable Care Act (or, as we now typically call it, “ObamaCare”), the Affordable Care Act is already making a positive difference in people’s lives. We all know someone who now can obtain insurance, despite a pre-existing condition. As critical as this […]

We just proudly marched on Washington for the second time. Last week, we celebrated the 43rd Annual Legislative Conference of the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation. But if we are going to truly overcome the challenges that we face before the end of the 21st century, we have much work to do! Our forefathers and foremothers […]

I cringed as the scores came in over the weekend. Ohio State 76, Florida A&M 0. Florida State 54, Bethune-Cookman 6. Miami 77, Savannah State 7. Our HBCUs have traded their proud, rich football heritage for money. And I don’t think it’s worth it. There’s only one reason our HBCUs schedule games against schools whose […]

In the modern civil rights era, no year stands out in my memory more than 1963. I was a sophomore at Druid High School in Tuscaloosa, Ala. and living in McKenzie Court, the all-Black housing project on the west side of town. After a life of second-class citizenship, I finally saw the walls of segregation […]