Category: Opinion

Maxim Elramsisy | California Black Media In December, OpenAI, a San Francisco-based artificial intelligence (AI) research lab, released a free, publicly available version of their AI-based bot called ChatGPT. The “GPT” stands for Generative Pre-training Transformer. Transformers are programs, originally invented by Google, that use data to predict — as you’ve more than likely seen…

Joe W. Bowers Jr. | California Black Media When Gov. Gavin Newsom presented his 2023-24 budget, educators around the state were happy to hear his funding plans for California’s public schools. The deficit had little impact on education funding. K-12 per-pupil funding is $17,519 from the Prop 98 General Fund and is $23,723 per pupil…

By Congressman James E. Clyburn (D-SC) Martin Luther King, Jr. visited Ghana in 1957 to participate in the celebration of the country’s independence from British colonialism. Upon returning home, he delivered a sermon called “The Birth of a New Nation,” and introduced his idea for a post-Jim Crow society in this country. He explained the…

By Terry Allen, Texas Metro News Sitting on the back porch with my grandmother, Lucille “Big Mama” Allen as she filled her three sons and three daughters, 16 grandchildren, 50 great grandchildren, 38 great-great grandchildren, seven great great-great grandchildren and a host of nieces, nephews and bonus family members with customized “Big Mama” playbooks with…

NNPA NEWSWIRE — Although we have millions of dollars here in California allocated to the issue of homelessness, one unanswered question is how do we reduce or eliminate homelessness without addressing the issues of “rent control?” By Dr. John E. Warren, Publisher | San Diego Voice & Viewpoint Newspaper Locally in the State of California,…

THE AFRO — Although it cannot be medically diagnosed, burnout can lead people to lose their sense of self and feel as if they are not accomplishing enough. Since the arrival of the COVID-19 pandemic, the American Psychological Association found that the risk of burnout has increased for workers due to extra stress, increased household…

By Dr. Benjamin F. Chavis, Jr. I will not be silent on the issues of racial hatred, violence, and prejudice. I am speaking out publicly in support of the recent call by billionaire African American business leader and philanthropist, Robert F. Smith, to stand up against the resurgence of racism and antisemitism in America. Blacks…

By Rev. Dr. Benjamin F. Chavis Jr. Using geolocation data has changed the way elections are fought and won. This last election cycle, the Democratic Party defied historical trends and a challenging national environment to expand its Senate majority and limit its losses in the House of Representatives. Democrats spent almost four times the amount…

NNPA NEWSWIRE — Many African American and other BIPOC news outlets are independently owned. Furthermore, these news outlets have developed and grown their audiences because mainstream media publications excluded the perspectives of minority voices. The Black Press built our own news outlets to support our own voices. As a result, this legislation would only further…

By Akil Bello and Harry Feder | The AFRO College admissions is undergoing a sea change. The pandemic accelerated the already fast-moving trend of colleges reconsidering the value of SAT and ACT scores in the admission process. Many colleges have stopped considering test scores at all (test blind/free) or have allowed students to decide whether…

Valeria Howard-Cunningham| Special to California Black Media Partners Los Angeles City Councilmember Bob Blumenfield claims that I torture animals. Blumenfield, the author of a motion that will ban rodeo and equestrian events in Los Angeles, says in plain English in a new ordinance in front of the City Council that I and people like me…

By Congressman James E. Clyburn In his January 20, 2022, Inaugural Address, President Joe Biden called on us to, “look ahead in our uniquely American way – restless, bold, optimistic – and set our sights on the nation we know we can be, and we must be. But many Americans were looking back to the…

Faithfull Utterances By Dr. Froswa Booker-Drew As I get older, I recognize that feelings are real and yet, they can be dangerous. Our feelings, if unchecked, can wreak havoc and confusion. Just last week, I received a voicemail from an angry lady. She was livid about something that happened to her and spewed frustration about…

By Emil Guillermo Don’t think for a second that Asian Americans are rooting to end affirmative action. You might get that impression as the Supreme Court heard two cases concerning the use of race in college admissions at Harvard and the University of North Carolina. The Harvard case in particular has Asian American plaintiffs represented…

By Donald M. Suggs | The AFRO Clarence Thomas has been a controversial figure since day one — and it’s time for him to step down from the United States Supreme Court. From the allegations of sexual harassment by Anita Hill and his ethically questionable behavior and connections with his politically active wife, to his…

Teaching all children about our shared history by exposing them to books by excellent authors like Carole Boston Weatherford and others who are part of the CDF Freedom Schools curriculum, and by taking them to visit important historical and cultural sites like the Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad National Historical Park, are ways of giving children…

By Congressman Jim Clyburn One definition of recovery is, “a return to a normal state of health, mind, or strength.” Another is, “the action or process of regaining possession or control of something stolen or lost.” I can’t think of any more appropriate descriptions of the first 20 months of President Joe Biden’s Administration. History…

Jasmyne Cannick | Special to California Black Media Partners The situation with disgraced Los Angeles City Councilmember Kevin de León reached a new low Wednesday when he calmly declared during a news interview that he is not resigning, putting to rest any hope that he would do the right thing and step down. “No, I…

NNPA NEWSWIRE — One could argue that President Donald Trump revealed the true nature and depths of ignorance, prejudice, xenophobia, institutionalized racism, and systemic stupidity camouflaged as heritage and American tradition. I would argue, the true danger in Trumpism is that it reveals, promotes, and endorses the true nature and depth of ignorance, prejudice, xenophobia,…

By Ben Jealous There is always a new low for Trump Republicans. And that is pretty frightening. Take the latest exercise in lawlessness, dishonesty, and cruelty from Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis. He chartered a plane to send dozens of mostly Venezuelan asylum seekers from Texas to Martha’s Vineyard, an island community off the coast of…

By James. E. Vann Propositions 26 and 27 on the November ballot appear to be related, but their differences are substantial, and both are exceedingly harmful. Proposition 26 would result in vast expansion of gambling methods within American Indian lands, with a new extension to California racetracks. Proposition 27 would result in vast expansion of…

NNPA NEWSWIRE — Roy Bryant, the husband of the woman who claimed she was whistled at and brother-in-law, J.W. Milam kidnapped and brutally murdered Emmett Till. They dumped his body in the Tallahatchie River. This murder shocked the nation by gaining global media coverage. In turn, this case infused a generation of Black Americans to…

Rhea Boyd and Jade Davis | Special to California Black Media Partners We are living in unusual and challenging times, when despair and despondency have replaced hope as a more common, and perhaps as the more acceptable lens, through which too many of us view the future. In the wake of widespread disease, mass loss,…

By Ben Jealous, president of People For the American Way Just when you thought far-right attacks on public education couldn’t get any more absurd, we hear about something new. For the first time in almost 15 years, Sarasota schools this fall are turning down hundreds of free dictionaries from the local Rotary Club. Why? Because…

By Treva Reid As a small business owner, I know that small businesses are truly the lifeblood of our community. With the recent closures of corporate retailers like Walgreens and Walmart in East Oakland last year, many residents were left with limited options to access fresh produce. Thankfully, our mom-and-pop neighborhood grocers stepped up to…