Sociologists and historians would remind us that it is the kind of thing to be expected when the country is in social upheaval and economic stress. Folks start looking for scapegoats, and they usually point the finger of blame at some kind of “other” – other race, other gender, other region, other religious group. But […]
Category: OPINION
Posted inCommentary
Ron Walters…Blacks Split With Obama Over Education Reform
(NNPA) — At the recent National Urban League convention, President Obama’s speech took aim at criticisms launched by the Black civil rights community over the educational reforms proposed by Secretary of Education Arne Duncan. The 17-page document, “Framework for Providing All Students an Opportunity to Learn through Reauthorization of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act,” […]
Posted inCommentary
Life is a ‘Pre-existing Condition’
Last March, President Obama invited me to join him at the White House as he signed our Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (H.R. 3590) into law. While waiting for the President to arrive at that historic ceremony, my thoughts went out to the millions of Americans whose lives will be transformed for the better […]
Posted inEditorial
Living Wage Is Key for Rebuilding Baltimore’s Economy
The Baltimore City Council is considering a new law to guarantee that the city’s major retailers, such as Wal-Mart and 7-Eleven, pay employees decent, living wages. It’s smart economic development policy: full-time retail workers would see around $100 more in their paychecks each week, boosting consumer spending just when the city’s economy needs it most. […]
Posted inEditorial
The Benefits of Smart Grid
In Maryland, as across the nation, we are on the cusp of a giant leap forward in the way families and businesses use technology to monitor and manage energy consumption. The capabilities of smart grid are transformational and will rival the advances we have seen in information technology, telecommunications and life sciences – all of […]
Posted inCommentary
Debbie Hines…Race Conversation is Necessary
What do the Tea party, NAACP, New Black Panther party, Shirley Sherrod and Attorney General Eric Holder have in common? They all teach us about racism. Racism is something you can see, sense, feel and hear, yet, it’s hard to quite put into words. A precise definition is difficult to come by. The law forbids racial […]
Posted inCommentary
Sen. Benjamin Cardin…Congress Acts to Protect ‘Main Street’ from Wall Street
Congress recently passed the Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act, legislation that will protect consumers, investors and taxpayers by ensuring the financial services industry has the appropriate oversight to avoid the type of financial collapse that has rocked our nation and global markets. ? Over the last 30 years, our regulatory framework has not […]
Posted inCommentary
Adrienne Washington…Reclaiming Civility
Sneers, jeers, and outright outrageous shouting. That is the ugly tenor that mars most political forums during this critical mayoral campaign. It seems that what one lesser-known candidate called “the steamroller of gentrification” demolished Southern gentility along with Washington, D.C.’s “Chocolate City” moniker during this steamy campaign season. With barely six weeks to the Sept. […]
Posted inCommentary
Carl Eeman…Of Cowards and Class
OK, let’s see: The White House. Secretary of Agriculture Vilsack. The media in general. Andrew Breitbart. Benjamin Jealous. The NAACP. Fox News. All of these players are standing around the kitchen, hit by the mess surrounding Shirley Sherrod. Shirley is fine, but everyone else has been splattered, like when the lid is left off the […]
Posted inEditorial
The Great American Racial Abyss
The summer of 2010 will not only be remembered for record-beating heat but also record-baiting racism. It’s ironic that 18 months into the historic presidency of Barack Obama this nation is sweltering in intolerance, ignorance and bickering, the likes of which civil rights icon W.E.B Du Bois might never have imagined would still exist. “The […]
Posted inEditorial
NUL Crosses The Century Marker
This year, the National Urban League is celebrating 100 years of existence. It’s also celebrating a century of service. Ruth Standish Baldwin and Dr. George Edmund Haynes founded the Committee on Urban Conditions Among Negroes on Sept. 29, 1910, in New York City. Later this group merged with the Committee for the Improvement of Industrial […]
Posted inCommentary, OPINION, Technology
Technology Can Keep Kids Learning Throughout the Summer
By William R. Roberts With summer vacation in full swing, thoughts of warm weather fun, sleeping in and spending time with friends tends to top most children’s to-do list. For too many youngsters, however, one essential activity is missing: retaining much of what they learned during the previous school year. The National Summer Learning Association […]