Category: Opinion

Juneteenth is more than a commemoration of delayed freedom. It is a warning about whathappens when people are denied timely access to truth, power, and the information theyneed to act. Freedom delayed is freedom denied. In 2026, that lesson still applies. When ourcommunities are the last to know how decisions are made in Sacramento, Washington,…

By David Marshall | Jacksonville Free Press (TriceEdneyWire.com) — It appears that every week, there is a news story or event that leaves us even more tired and weary of the political climate we live in. At a time when we should be paying increased attention to evolving events, we also face the personal need…

By BlackPressUSA.com An Interview With:    Tonia McMillian, Black Californians United for ECE  Black Californians United for Early Care and Education (BlackECE) is a powerful coalition of advocates, policy-influencers, civil rights organizations, researchers, university faculty, non-profit leaders, early educators, caregivers, providers, families, and community-based organizations.   BlackECE members have intentionally organized our influence around a…

Supporters of an athlete boycott say schools in states accused of gerrymandering should not benefit from Black athletic talent without protecting Black voting rights. by Terrance Harris America — particularly Black America — is at a difficult crossroads that literally threatens the complexion of our nation. Last month’s Supreme Court ruling that blew up Section…

By David L. Horne, PhD, OPED Contributor | Our Weekly In the continuing battle for political respect and inclusivity that Black folks in the U.S. have been immersed in since the end of the U.S. Civil War, a little bright bulb of hope and redemption just appeared in the southern sky. A federal court in…

Liyah R. Belvins Miss Black Awareness Queen 2022 Liyah R. Belvins remained steadfast in accomplishing her goals and continued to grow through every season of her journey. Today, she shares these words of encouragement with all who have ears to hear: “Since being crowned, my journey has taken me across several regions of the world…

Craig J. DeLuz | California Black Media  Editor’s Note: The views and opinions expressed in this commentary are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views, positions, or editorial stance of California Black Media, its publisher, editors, or affiliates. Some politicians believe making any promise loudly and confidently is an adequate substitute…

By Pastor J. Edgar Boyd Long before the United States became a nation, Black people helped build its foundation. Black men and women, some free and many enslaved, cleared land, tilled soil, built roads and bridges, and helped construct the nation’s capital. Yet while Black labor helped build America, Black Americans were denied full participation…

Zaidee Stavely Gov. Gavin Newsom’s latest education budget proposal for 2026-27 received mixed reviews from education leaders and advocates. Many applauded Newsom’s proposed increases to special education funding, but school districts and teachers unions continue to protest the governor’s plan to withhold billions in overall funding. Some advocacy organizations also called for increased funding for…

Pedro Noguera California students need more than instruction to succeed. They need consistent support from trusted adults who can help them stay engaged, attend school regularly and navigate the challenges that can interfere with learning.  That is why California should continue funding the Student Success Coach Learning Network in the 2026-27 state budget. Without action…

By Portia Wood Special to the AFRO On April 29, 2026, the Supreme Court handed down its decision in Louisiana v. Callais. The 6-3 ruling, written by Justice Samuel Alito who was joined by every member of the conservative supermajority, effectively dismantled Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act — the last remaining enforcement mechanism…

A quiet crisis is brewing in New York Streets, where immigrants are arrested in the neighborhoods they call home. By Lam Thuy Vo and Eileen Grench This story is part of Holding the Line in Queens, an ongoing series examining issues important to members of New York City’s immigrant communities. Lea esta historia en español….

Craig J. DeLuz | California Black Media    Homeownership has long been one of the most dependable ways for everyday families to build wealth—not through speculation, but through the steady accumulation of equity in a place they call home. For Black Californians, this path has always been narrower because of historical barriers to wealth building….

A Nation at a Crossroads: The Case of David Dew and the Meaning of Justice By Karen Marine There are moments in history when silence becomes a form of injustice. This is one of those moments. For 44 years, David Dew has lived behind prison walls—forty-four years in a place built to break the human…

By Frances “Toni” Draper This is not a moment to be silent. At a time when Black life, Black leadership and Black progress are too often presented through a distorted lens, it is important to say plainly what many in our community already understand: how a story is told matters just as much as the…

Edward Henderson| California Black Media    Editor’s Note: This California Black Media Q&A series with California’s gubernatorial candidates is intended to inform voters about where the candidates for governor stand on key issues. The opinions, assertions, and claims expressed are those of the candidates and have not been independently verified; they may or may not…

Dwight Brown at DwightBrownInk.com. (**1/2) You wouldn’t wish this wedding day on anybody. But there they are. Two lovers who should be in bliss are trapped in their own turmoil.  Norwegian writer/director Kristoffer Borgli has built a solid reputation for dark comedy (Sick of Myself). It’s an avenue he treads again, somewhat. Only this time…

By Karen Heslop There’s been a lot of buzz around the use of GLP-1 agonists for the past couple of years when it comes to weight management. In fact, statistics show that the use of these medications has reduced the country’s obesity rate by three percent in just as many years. However, researchers acknowledge that…

Kellie Todd Griffin | Special to California Black Media Partners  Every election cycle, the conversation starts the same way. Campaigns announce their outreach. Candidates say our name. They show up at our churches, our sorority events, our community gatherings.  And then, too often, they govern like they forgot we existed. That pattern is why the…

By  LaMonika Jones For countless families, children, older adults, disabled persons and veterans experiencing food insecurity, meeting basic human needs is like running a race you will never finish. The help is there, but for far too many families there are too many obstacles keeping them from reaching the finish line. Accessing critical resources shouldn’t…

By Erin Aubry Kaplan This article was produced by the nonprofit publication Capital & Main. It is published here, via Word In Black, with permission. Last month, on her 38th birthday, Georgia Fort told me that she finally feels like an adult. Not because her three kids are getting older or because she’s reached a…

Rhonda M. Smith | Special to California Black Media Partners    California has always been seen as the land of vitality — sunshine, beaches, and wellness culture. But beneath that image is a growing public health crisis we cannot afford to ignore.   Roughly 11 million adults in California — about 27% of Californians — are living…

Steep education staff cuts unable to correct loan servicer mistakes, says GAO  By Charlene Crowell  On March 10, a federal appellate court order effectively ended the popular Saving on a Valuable Education (SAVE) program. The likely effect will be an increased financial strain on 7 million borrowers who used the program to keep their monthly…

By Dayvon Love | San Diego Voice and Viewpoint Director of Public Policy, Leaders of a Beautiful Struggle In 1953, the United States and other Western forces collaborated to overthrow the democratically elected president, Mohammad Mosaddegh, of Iran. The stated rationale for pursuing regime change was based on the Cold War logic that Mosaddegh was…

By Dr. Julianne Malveaux Frederick Douglass did not know the day he was born. Like many enslaved people, he was denied even the dignity of documentation. Birth dates were approximations. Family lines were severed. Identity existed in property ledgers, not in public record. His mother, Harriet Bailey, called him her “little Valentine,” and Douglass later…