Category: Opinion
COMMENTARY: White ISIS?
By Vincent L. Hall, Activist, Texas Metro News/Garland Journal “Senior Political Correspondent” Hasan Minhaj and Trevor Noah of The Daily Show are co-creators. After another man-made catastrophe, Minhaj, an American Muslim and Noah unveiled a name for White terrorists: “White ISIS” or “WISIS.” They pointed to the ugliness of terrorism, which somehow becomes more tolerable…
COMMENTARY: White ISIS?
LOS ANGELES, March 28, 2019 — The Foundation for Individual Rights in Education sued the University of California, Los Angeles yesterday for failing to fulfill a public records request filed over a year ago. In the 391 days since FIRE submitted a request for records related to a campus speaking appearance by U.S. Secretary of…
COMMENTARY: Russia Targeted African-American Voters
By: Derrick Johnson, President & CEO NAACP Baltimore, Maryland – Attorney General William Barr released a four-page letter to Congress that raises more questions than answers. Congress and the American people deserve to see the full report and findings from the investigation, not just a summary from Trump’s hand-picked Attorney General. It is absolutely imperative…
Witness For Justice #937 Commentary: Moving Beyond Thoughts and Prayers
Written by Noel Andersen Another heart-wrenching tragedy resulting in the loss of innocent life has once again reminded us that, although thoughts and prayers are important, we must put our faith into action. Like the attack on the Tree of Life Synagogue in Pittsburgh, and at Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church in Charleston, the horrific…
COMMENTARY: #CancelMichaelJackson? — It’s Not That Easy
By Stacy M. Brown, NNPA Newswire Correspondent @StacyBrownMedia After a riveting documentary that revisited some of the alleged crimes by R&B superstar R. Kelly – even before his high-profile arrest on child pornography and other sex-related acts – a major social media movement got underway to #MuteRKelly and #CancelRKelly. Now, a possibly equally explosive documentary…
COMMENTARY: Elected Enemies – The Government Shutdown That’s Crippling America
By Jeffrey L. Boney, NNPA Newswire Political Analyst Imagine having to choose between paying your mortgage and picking up the much-needed prescription for your health crisis because the job you report to and the federal resources you have relied on to live day to day are no longer available to you because of things beyond…
COMMENTARY: Kamala Harris is Right Choice to ‘Save our Country’
By Stacy M. Brown, NNPA Newswire Correspondent @StacyBrownMedia That Democratic California Sen. Kamala Harris announced her candidate for president on Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day is no coincidence. For her supporters and those who know her well, Harris has long been a fighter for freedom, justice and equality and she’s often invoked the spirit…
COMMENTARY: We Shall Protect Your Healthcare
By Congresswoman Eddie Bernice Johnson The latest attack on vulnerable Americans who need assistance to ensure that they, and their families, have adequate and affordable health insurance comes not from the United States Congress, where the law providing such insurance was challenged more than sixty times by the Republican Party. This time it comes from…
OP-ED: Beverage Taxes Are Not the Health Solution that Working Families Need
“…the fact that these beverage taxes are masquerading as public health initiatives means that they can often come at the expense of effective community health programs that have a positive impact on the lives of working-class people.” By Stuart Appelbaum, President of the Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union (RWDSU) Every month, it seems another…
COMMENTARY: Refugees
By Bill Fletcher, Jr., NNPA Newswire Contributor The hysterics in connection with the Central American refugees seeking asylum in the USA would, under other circumstances, be comical. A few thousand people seeking to enter a country of 350 million people and Trump tell us to panic and prepare for armed action. International human rights law…
COMMENTARY: Public Schools Are More Segregated than They Were 40 Years Ago
By Speakin’ Out News On November 4, 1952, Dr. Helen Kenyon addressed the Women’s Society of Riverside Church in New York City and opined that, “Eleven o’clock Sunday morning is the most segregated hour in America.” Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. often paraphrased the quote. Today, sadly, our public schools best reflect Dr. Kenyon’s and…
COMMENTARY: A Nation Dangerously Divided
By Ron Edwards As of the writing of this column, a series of hate-driven, murderous events have taken place, either racially or religiously motivated, from October 24 – 27, across the country. Among them are the following hate crimes: Two African Americans were murdered in Kentucky by a White man who had tried to enter…
LETTER TO THE EDITOR
Mr.Clifton Harris ***Editor I’ve been told that often times a simple thing can channel a lifetime achievement into a vacuum. I can now see this vision and validity of this statement. Your quote by Fredrick Douglass and your Mission statements amplifies my feeling. However I am confused after reading a recent commentary. If…
COMMENTARY: Let Your Voice Be Heard
By Morgan A. Owens, NNPA Newswire Contributor I was in my early twenties, he was a guy I was casually dating. He wanted me to engage in activity that I wasn’t comfortable with. I pulled away and he grabbed me by the wrist. I wasn’t sure if he was joking or not when he mentioned…
OP-ED: The only Democrat who can beat Trump
By Earl Ofari Hutchinson Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren is the only Democrat who can beat President Donald Trump. I like Joe Biden. I mean anyone who publicly boasts that he would beat the hell out of Trump you have to like. Yes, he later apologized for getting in the street with Trump on that, but…
COMMENTARY: So Much Hate; So Little Tolerance
The Democratic Congress is going through a mental crisis at the expense of our normal political process. By Harry C. Alford Political rivalry is as much a part of Americana as “Red, White and Blue.” We expect it and cheer on whatever side we support. Throughout the history of our great nation, elections would bring…
OP-ED: It’s on the Ballot — Health Care, Go vote
By Tony Evers, Democratic Candidate for Governor Tony Evers, Democratic Candidate for Governor of Wisconsin Across our state, millions of Wisconsinites are dealing with the crisis of rising health care costs and inadequate coverage. It’s an issue that hurts our families, our economy, and our ability to ensure that our communities can grow and thrive….
COMMENTARY: The deafening drumbeat of the unfree
By Stephen Cooper Above the din of disturbing news – that discordant banging you’re hearing, steadily getting louder and louder, that you can no longer ignore – that’s the drumbeat of the unfree. Dehumanized by the labels “prisoner,” “inmate” and “convict,” even reduced to serial numbers like Victor Hugo’s Jean Valjean in “Les Misérables,” these…
Letter to the Editor RE: Boys & Girls Club of San Bernardino
It is understandable that many people are concerned about the status of the Boys & Girls Club of San Bernardino (BGCSB), since losing its charter under the Boys & Girls Club of America (BGCA). However, my opinion as a former board member feels that this charter that SB held for more than 50 years was…
OP-ED: Jim Clyburn for Speaker of the House
By Benjamin F. Chavis, Jr., NNPA President and CEO Washington, DC — No one questions the fact that for the past six decades, African Americans have overwhelmingly supported and voted for Democratic Party candidates for the United States Congress. In the upcoming 2018 midterm elections, African Americans by the millions will once again cast the…
COMMENTARY: I Fought for our Country — Now NFL Players are Kneeling for me
By Samuel Innoncent I’m a veteran of the U.S. Army. So it may come as a surprise that the day I read about NFL players kneeling during the national anthem, I could not have been prouder. I was proud because after serving my country for seven years, it felt like someone was finally looking out…
COMMENTARY: Baltimore City Schools, Throwback to Jim Crow Era
Submitted to the AFRO by Karsonya Wise Whitehead I have been a Baltimore City resident for close to fifteen years. My husband and I are raising our sons here and teaching them how to navigate city life. I have worked as a middle school teacher, at one of the most persistently dangerous schools in Baltimore,…
COMMENTARY: Criticism of Rev. Jasper Williams Follow His Remarks at Aretha Franklin’s Funeral
BlackPressUSA , Lauren Victoria Burke Saying his subject was “Aretha the Queen of Soul,” Rev. Jasper Williams of the Salem Bible Church in Atlanta gave the audience gathered for Aretha Franklin’s funeral a few unexpected memories laced with political commentary. Though he began simply, referring to the history of soul music and gospel,…
COMMENTARY: Our Children’s Education is on the Ballot this Year
Submitted to the AFRO by Elijah E. Cummings More than half a century ago, my parents and a wonderful teacher named Mr. Hollis Posey followed their hearts and championed my right to learn. As a result, I received the empowering education in our City’s public schools that would transform my life. Although I am grateful…
OP-ED: We Have to Get Real about the Achievement Gap between Black and White Students
By Nate Davis (CEO and Board of Directors Chairman, K12 Inc.) Our nation’s graduation rate is at an all-time high. The national figure shows 84 percent of young people, overall, graduating from high school within four years after first entering the 9th grade, a trend that has been on a consistent upswing since the 2010-2011…
