Critical race theory (CRT) is an academic movement of civil rights scholars and activists in the United States who seek to critically examine the law as it intersects with issues of race and to challenge mainstream liberal approaches to racial justice. Critical race theory examines social, c…
Paid family and medical leave is getting all the attention right now, and there is no doubt that the United States needs to catch up to the rest of the world. Offering federal paid benefits to parents or caretakers to assist with new child responsibilities or care for those long-term illness…
When I meet people for the first time and hand them my business card, there is almost always that moment of surprise -- that split second when they are creating a scenario in their minds of how I became Chairman and CEO of a highly esteemed community bank.
January 1, 1863, marked the first official day that the Emancipation Proclamation went into effect, effectively freeing enslaved people from the bonds that considered them property. However, it wasn’t until nearly two and half years later on June 19, 1865, when Union soldiers visited Galvest…
History is contested because the telling of history is powerful.
A year ago vehement protests were continuing in the light of the murder of George Floyd, 46, by former police officer Derrick Chauvin; while onlookers begged him to stop and fellow police officers stood by, as if giving silent assent.
Mayor Tishaura Jones has asked citizens to help decide how best to use $500 million in federal stimulus funds. This is a variation of “participatory budgeting.” St. Louis could very well be placing a huge amount of money into the hands of city residents – and they will make some the most imp…
"The lie of massive, rampant voter fraud is serving the same function today as it did during the rise of Jim Crow. It stokes fear in a segment of the population that democracy is in peril, and thus provides cover for laws that target Black voters with race-neutral language in the 21st centur…
Happy Pride month to Black LGBTQ readers and to all of us who love LGBTQ people!
Access to safe, reliable transportation is about more than just getting from point A to B – it has the potential to open countless possibilities for brighter futures for individuals and communities. But this critical resource is not readily accessible for all our neighbors. We must prioritiz…
Recently the St. Louis Post-Dispatch ran an opinion piece by Eric Scroggins of Opportunity Trust. In his commentary Scroggins invokes the words “white supremacy” in regard to public education in the St. Louis Public Schools (SLPS).
May 25 marked one year since George Floyd was murdered in Minneapolis with a police officer’s knee on his neck.
I want to extend on my “Is a next Civil War in our future” column published May 20.
May 13 and May 31 are the respective anniversaries of two of the most horrific events and their aftermath in American history.
I hope you’ve paid attention to the chatter following the “bombshell” announcement that Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms would not to seek another term this Fall.
St. Louis has ushered in a new era by welcoming its first African American woman
Judge Robin Ransom became the first Black woman to be appointed to the Missouri Supreme Court.
While the economy generated 916,000 jobs in March, it only generated 266,000 in April, essentially slowing the previous month’s momentum.
After January 6th it would not be hyperbolic to say the United States is facing a political crisis of potentially epic proportions.
Tennessee state Rep. Justin Lafferty recently extolled the goodness of the so-called “Three-Fifths Compromise” on the House floor, saying it was an honest effort to end slavery.
I’m going to give Texas Republicans their props.
Thanks to the voters who elected President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris, we now have a Department of Justice that actually cares about justice.
I just had the honor of delivering the commencement address at Tennessee State University.
In the St. Louis region, nearly one in five kids live in poverty, according to the United Way’s Community Needs Assessment released in 2020 – a staggering figure.
Two weeks have passed since Derek Chauvin’s conviction in the murder of George Floyd. But the images from that moment are seared in our memories forever: the murderer, led away in handcuffs; the Floyd family, Philonise Floyd, speaking through tears, at the microphones after the verdict; the …
White America's Zombie past that refuses to die
Days before the verdict of Derek Chauvin, I saw a meme on social media that basically said nothing had changed since the beating of Rodney King except the quality of the video. The poignant reference was about the flood of videos that have publicized the brutal assaults and cold-blooded murd…
Chauvin conviction marks a turning point on police accountability, but work remains if the nation is to achieve real justice
The conviction of George Floyd’s murderer is a small step toward accountability in a system that is not designed to safeguard the lives of Black people. Progress toward racial equity will require that we push for accountability in all our systems, places of work, and places of worship. This…
I recently watched “Amend: The Fight for America,” a Netflix documentary that I highly recommend, and once again came to the conclusion that America has a race problem. Captain Obvious would say America has always had a race problem, though we’ve never really talked about it because we have …
In the long arc of the nation’s history of racially-motivated voter suppression, 2021 will stand as a clear and distinct moment that changed everything that came after.
“Whether you live in Penrose or Holly Hills, South Broadway or Natural Bridge...I will be a mayor for you and your family, whether you supported me or not.”~ Mayor Tishaura Jones
People who care about equal justice under the law should be very happy about President Joe Biden’s first set of judicial nominees.
The Organization for Black Struggle worked the polls in the 22nd Ward on Election Day. An elderly voter approached the polling place entrance, taking slow and cautious steps with her walker. She was greeted by an enthusiastic OBS member who understood the obvious hardship it was for the sen…
Once again, we are witnessing an outbreak of gun violence in our region – both mass and individual shootings. We have seen too much of this in recent months, and it is only increasing.
Justice is on trial in the United States.
As leaders of organizations that are committed to racial justice and whose work seeks to counteract myriad forms of neglect, abuse, and systemic oppression in St. Louis, we are keenly interested in any plan that promises jobs, economic investment, and inclusive growth for our region. We beli…
This is arguably the most problematic, violable and dangerous time in the country’s history
The Souls to the Polls movement encourages African American church attendees to get out and vote. The churches that promote this movement cannot, because of their 501-c-3 status, endorse candidates. They can, however, emphasize the gospel of social and economic justice and preach the gospel …
The Oprah Winfrey interview with Prince Harry and Meghan Markle was a bombshell for many. The way biracial Meghan was being treated by The Royals was no surprise to most of us. And some of us knew that sistah-girl was not likely to put up with it for long. A few thought out loud that Meghan …
When I joined The Normandy Collaborative, less than a year ago, I worried that there wouldn’t be an appetite for true reform. My question during the interview process was whether the Normandy Schools Collaborative Board had a commitment to bold change. They assured me that they did and hav…
The threat is real. The vote is under attack. Two narratives are duking it out: voter fraud vs. voter protection. What’s becoming a tit for tat in a high stakes match must end in a resounding victory for voting rights. It should be more permanent than the Voting Rights of 1964.
President Joe Biden has nominated extraordinary women of color to high-level jobs in the Biden-Harris administration. Many of them are being attacked and smeared by the far right. That’s why People For the American Way has launched the #HerFightOurFight campaign.
Since 1987, the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) has celebrated Women’s History Month to recognize the role women entrepreneurs play in building and strengthening our local and national economies. Women have transformed the face of entrepreneurship across America in both urban and ru…
It is time for a maximum push for a new minimum wage.
Over the past year, COVID-19 and its variants have plagued the globe taking lives and interrupting normal activities in virtually all areas of life. For Black America, already plagued with steep health, income and wealth disparities, coping with the pandemic has been even more painful.
Ghana has always been dubbed the “Gateway to Africa,” and rightly so. From its geographical location on the West Coast to its warm greetings from the people, even down to the relatively low instances of civil wars, Ghana has always welcomed those who visit. For people of African descent in A…
