Category: Opinion

By Dr. Benjamin F. Chavis, Jr. President and CEO of the National Newspaper Publishers Association Words matter. With all of the diversionary and distractive attacks on Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (D.E.I.), it is time not to retreat from freedom’s demand for equal justice. In America today it is time to move forward. “Forward ever. Backward…

Sonya Young Aadam | Special to California Black Media Partners At California Black Women’s Health Project, we believe a healthier future is possible when women are empowered to make choices in an environment where equal access and health justice are community priorities. Gov. Gavin Newsom’s revised budget proposal includes the California Department of Health’s complete…

by Breanna Reeves A California appellate court unanimously ruled that the Temecula Valley Unified School District (TVUSD) can no longer enforce a ban on critical race theory (CRT) while pending legal action takes place. The ruling came on May 20, as the Court of Appeal reversed a lower court’s decision to deny students and teachers’…

Kevin Yoder | Special to California Black Media Partners Neither snow nor rain nor heat nor gloom of night can stop the U.S. Postal Service, but the mismanagement of former Postmaster General Louis DeJoy just might. Although DeJoy resigned this spring, the U.S. Postal Service continues to follow his failed “Delivering for America” plan into…

BLACKPRESSUSA NEWSWIRE — Nearly half of Oregon’s media outlets are now owned by national conglomerates with no lasting investment in local communities. According to an OPB analysis, Oregon has lost more than 90 news jobs (and counting) in the past five years. These were reporters, editors and photographers covering school boards, investigating corruption and telling…

By Aqeela Sherrills  In recent months, the Department of Justice “cancelled hundreds of grants to community organizations and local governments,” which included funding for programs authorized under the bipartisan Safer Communities Act.  Hundreds of organizations doing life-saving work that makes communities safer and more resilient are dealing with the devastating and reeling impact of these…

By Stacy M. Brown As the nation approaches the fifth anniversary of George Floyd’s murder, a new Pew Research Center study reveals a sobering assessment from Americans: the heightened focus on race and racial inequality following the 2020 protests has largely failed to improve the lives of Black people. In the immediate aftermath of Floyd’s…

By Civitas Special to The AFRO I. Introduction: The illusion of a free republic has collapsed The United States no longer teeters on the edge of authoritarianism—it has crossed the threshold. In a single week, the Trump administration and its aligned agencies have moved to suspend habeas corpus, reopened Alcatraz as a prison for “ideological…

BLACKPRESSUSA NEWSWIRE — Conducted March 14–25, 2025, the poll surveyed 2,096 respondents across the country. More than four in 10 say they are “barely getting by” financially. Young Black Americans continue to face deep financial stress, with 45% reporting hardship. By Stacy M. Brown A new national survey from the Institute of Politics at Harvard…

BLACKPRESSUSA.COM NEWSWIRE — To those companies who do embrace the inclusion of their diverse consumer base, we say this: Stand with us not just in words, but in deeds. Show your commitment by investing in our communities, supporting our businesses, and partnering with Black-owned media companies that have long carried the mantle of truth, justice,…

by Charlene Crowell Under the guise of reducing government fraud and waste, a series of executive orders  (EOs) from the White House aggressively reduced budgets and staff in federal agencies that directly deliver public services. But when agencies spark job creation and leverage public investments to attract even larger private ones, there’s no logical reason…

By Civitas Special to the AFRO “It is time for you to leave the United States.” — Department of Homeland Security mass email, April 2025 This is not a warning from the past. It’s not a quote from 1942. It’s not fiction. It’s the opening line of a message received by thousands of immigrants this…

By Black PR Wire (Black PR Wire) Each April, National Minority Health Month provides an opportunity to reflect on our country’s collective progress toward health equity. This year’s theme, “Advancing Commitments to Eliminate Health Disparities,” reminds us that achieving equal health outcomes requires sustained attention and collaboration across communities. Dr. Rudy Moise, a highly regarded…

G. Maciel De La Vega | California Black Media The Vibe Shift is an ongoing series covering the political, institutional, and cultural realignment in California caused by Trump’s win in the 2024 presidential election. On March 16, the California Republican Party elected its first Black female chair, Corrin Rankin. However, she doesn’t want her identity…

Craig J. DeLuz, Special to California Black Media Partners OPINION – When California Democrats recently proclaimed their intention to “Make California Affordable Again,” it echoed a familiar refrain that has been heard time and again in the annals of political promises. However, a deeper examination reveals that this pledge may be more about optics than…

by S.E. Williams Overview: Extremist President Donald J. Trump has launched an investigation into three California colleges, Cal State San Bernardino, the University of California Berkeley, and Cal Poly Humboldt, among dozens of colleges across 40 plus states. This investigation is seen as a move to exploit racism for political gain, and a call to…

By S.E. Williams In this moment, as President Donald Trump spreads chaos across America, we must stayed focused like a laser on impacts to every day life in our community. This is because issues and incidents at the national and local level often overlap. Take for example what Veterans Affairs Secretary Doug Collins told FOX…

Joe W. Bowers Jr. | California Black Media The California State Senate Budget and Fiscal Review Subcommittee No. 1 on Education, chaired by Sen. John Laird (D-Santa Cruz), held a hearing on Feb. 27, where State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond provided a State of Education address and discussed key education funding priorities.  Facing…

by Breanna Reeves Overview: A coalition of organizations and advocates in Riverside County, California have launched a petition demanding accountability within the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department. The petition calls for the creation of an independent community oversight committee, the appointment of an inspector general, and the separation of the coroner’s office from the sheriff’s department….

By Stacy M. Brown NNPA Newswire Senior National Correspondent (NNPA Newswire) – The Trump administration has launched a full-scale and racist assault on diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) in education, threatening to strip federal funding from schools that offer race-conscious programs, scholarships and student resources. Inside Higher Ed first reported that the Department of Education’s…

Overview: Riverside County’s Constitutional Sheriff, Chad Bianco, is running for governor of California, despite his controversial history and questionable policies. Bianco has been criticized for his tough-on-crime stance, which targets Black people disproportionately, and his support for Donald Trump, who has been found guilty of multiple felonies. Bianco’s campaign is seen as a continuation of…

Kellie Todd Griffin | Special to California Black Media Partners We are standing at a crossroads –where our history meets our future. And in this moment, we have to ask ourselves: What would our ancestors do? Over the last six months, we’ve watched companies quietly step away from their commitments to diversity, equity, and inclusion…

By State Representative Ron Reynolds Less than ten days into Trump’s second term, and already it feels like one of the darkest chapters in modern American history. This administration’s rapid dismantling of progress is staggering. The warning signs were there—but witnessing them in real time is a different kind of pain. The Strategy of Fear…