Category: OPINION

Black people are disappearing like tears in the rain. Each of these lives lost produces a new story – almost a new story everyday – that the media usually ignores. There are too many to speak on individually, but the sum total can’t be ignored. One story that encapsulates this phenomenon is the murder of […]

If you don’t follow Olympic gymnastics, you may not have heard about Gabrielle Douglas before this year. But the amazing grace of this 16- year old African American propelled her to Olympic gold last week, and she is the first African American to win an individual medal in gymnastics. Indeed, her performance toppled the Russians, […]

In February 2012, a joint state-federal settlement was reached with the country’s five largest loan servicers (Ally/GMAC, Bank of America, Citi, JPMorgan Chase, Wells Fargo) to address a pattern of unfair and predatory mortgage servicing practices. The terms of the settlement indicated that as much as $25 billion in relief could be provided to distressed […]

Conservatives continue to assert that anti-poverty programs have failed when, in fact, they have saved millions of people from plunging into poverty. Fox News, the house organ for right-wingers, has led this disinformation campaign. Let’s examine what two network contributors said on the same day (July 23, 2012): Mary Katherine in an appearance on “The […]

In an attempt to drum up more business, Chick-fil-A has ads and billboards featuring black and white spotted cows – acting in what the company calls their “enlightened self-interest” – urging people to “Eat Mor Chikin.” But that’s not what gay rights advocates want in the aftermath of the president of Chick-fil-A expressing his opposition […]

The national support for the victims of the recent Colorado shootings is great. However, if we believe in the equivalency of life, what about the lives of young men in Chicago, where there have been more deaths than in Afghanistan so far this year. While the hospitals in Aurora say they will cover hospital bills […]

During this summer of the Olympic Games, it is worthwhile to ask ourselves whether we, too, are willing to go the extra mile to achieve the goals that are important to us. Nowhere will our introspection have more lasting consequence than if it results in greater personal commitment to our public schools. We know this […]

From athlete Metta World Peace to accused assailant Rudy Eugene, African-Americans confronting mental health challenges are often portrayed as isolated examples of crazy or deranged people rather than members of a marginalized community suffering an illness. July is National Minority Mental Health Awareness Month, established in 2008 in honor of Bebe Moore Campbell, an acclaimed […]

For Jessica Nunez, a trip to the grocery store means at least 15 hours of work. Jessica makes minimum wage – just $7.25 an hour. With take home pay at $28 a day, Jessica feeds her partner and three daughters with three days’ work. Putting gas in the car takes six hours of work. Jessica […]

As I reflect on my upbringing, I’m grateful for the old stories told in my youth. Most often they were rooted in values that taught significant life lessons. Faced with real situations, the lessons prevented me from stepping into obvious trouble. Many of my friends have similar old stories. My friend, Steve Blakely, said he […]

It is becoming abundantly clear that the opponents of President Obama’s Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act care little about minority health. David Bositis, senior research director for the Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies, has observed in the {Washington Post} that about 36 percent of African Americans have no health insurance (compared to […]

The NAACP took a principled stand against voter suppression at their 103rd annual convention last week in Houston, Texas. The theme “Your Power, Your Decision – VOTE” was on full display as delegates heard from Vice President Biden and Gov. Mitt Romney and learned about attacks on the right to vote in states across the […]