By Dr. Julianne Malveaux, Forward Times Staff The federal minimum wage has been stuck at $7.25 an hour since 2009. Several states have a higher minimum, but a predictable few, including Mississippi, Tennessee, Louisiana, South Carolina and Alabama, are stuck at that low minimum. If the minimum wage kept up with inflation, it would be […]
Category: OPINION
Posted inCommentary
Don’t ban the tool that helps Black-owned businesses thrive
By Olumide Shokunbi When a Black entrepreneur takes a risk, bets on their drive and their passion and stakes their future on starting a business, the stakes are higher than most people can understand. A successful Black- owned business is a building block in the empowerment of Black people everywhere. When those endeavors are successful, […]
Posted inCommentary
Commentary: A time to think: gun ownership and responsibility in America
By John Rydell Recently, my ever-patient real estate agent picked me up on a Saturday morning to show me yet another house during my exhaustive search for the perfect home. When we arrived at the single-family house in Reisterstown, there was no “for sale” sign in the front yard. I thought that was odd, but […]
Posted inCommentary
What is “freedom” to Black migrants?
By Anika Forrest and Haddy Gassama On Aug. 26 we marked 60 years since crowds descended on the National Mall for the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom. As we continue to reflect on the progress made in the decades since, the “freedom” part gives us pause. In the days, months, and years leading […]
Posted inOPINION
Having our say against carbon pollution
By Ben Jealous More than one million Americans told the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) that they aren’t willing to wait any longer. Their comments insisting that EPA move forward quickly to cut carbon pollution from new and existing coal and natural gas-burning power plants were delivered in person in Washington by a coalition of a […]
Posted inOPINION
Why is Medicare rationing Alzheimer’s drugs?
By Kenneth E. Thorpe The FDA has recently approved exciting new treatments that can slow the progression of Alzheimer’s disease, a scourge that claims more American lives than breast cancer and prostate cancer combined. One such medicine, Leqembi, reduced early-stage Alzheimer’s patients’ cognitive decline by 27 percent in clinical trials — a breakthrough that offers […]
Posted inCommentary
Commentary: Bridging the gap: cancer prevention for communities of color
By U.S. Rep. Glenn Ivey (D-MD-04) Cancer is a formidable adversary, no matter where it strikes here at home or across the world. But it’s a battle that at-risk communities like yours and mine often face with fewer resources and less awareness. To truly make strides in the fight against cancer, we must focus our […]
Posted inOPINION
Honoring Sen. Robert L. Dalton, the man who laid the foundation in East Baltimore
By Sen. Cory McCray (D-Md.-45) Earlier this year, I was watching the game between the LA Lakers and the Oklahoma City Thunder when Lebron James, a.k.a. “King James,” a.k.a. the “Kid from Akron,” became the NBA’s all-time top scorer. Minutes later, King James took to the microphone and spoke on the career-defining moment. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar […]
Posted inOPINION
Maryland’s Parole System Is Failing Us—And Has Been for A Long Time
By Shekhinah Braveheart, Special to the AFRO Maryland leaders wanting to address community concerns about rising crime should reform the state’s parole system. For too long, instead of providing incentives for good behavior and rehabilitation that would make our neighborhoods safer, Maryland parole has been associated with hopelessness and recidivism. Comprehensive parole reform, combined with […]
Posted inCommentary
Sixty years later, we still have a dream
By Dedrick Asante-Muhammad and Chuck Collins Sixty years after Martin Luther King’s “I Have a Dream” speech, our racial economic divide is vast as ever. But it can still be closed — and quickly. It’s now been 60 years since the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom — and the Reverend Martin Luther King, […]
Posted inOpinion
Niger coup: the U.S. needs to stop backing Françafrique
By Ke’Aun Charles The neocolonial French empire in Africa is crumbling. Across the Sahel anti-French military coups have overthrown their pro-Paris predecessors. Along the coast, protests against the French-backed CFA currencies and strongmen have rocked countries such as Togo. In country after country, France is in retreat, and players like China and Russia are entering […]
Posted inOPINION
The repeal of Affirmative Action: Implications for Black college women and rates of domestic violence
Authors Tenaj Moody, Isabelle Bisio, Myanna Johnson Introduction Affirmative action policies were introduced with the noble intention of redressing historical and systemic discrimination against marginalized communities, including Black women. While the effects of affirmative action policies have been felt across various marginalized communities, the repeal of such measures can disproportionately impact Black women and exacerbate […]