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It’s Been Harder Than Obama Thought to End Our Middle East Wars
President Barack Obama has a problem. Just when he thought he was getting out of the Middle East, he keeps getting pulled back in. After declaring the successful conclusion of two wars initiated by his predecessor, the centerpiece of his foreign policy, external events have backed the president into a proverbial corner. And Wednesday night…
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Ferguson Is a Starting Point for a National Conversation on Race
On Sept. 15, at Tufts University’s Center for the Study of Race and Democracy, we will host the second annual National Dialogue on Race Day. This year’s program carries particular significance in light of the tragic death of Michael Brown and last month’s events in Ferguson, Mo., and we are committed to advancing a better…
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Ferguson Opened the Door to a Discussion of Black Equality
Suddenly the nation is talking about black equality. It took Molotov cocktails in Ferguson, Mo., to forcefully penetrate our slumbering racial consciousness. Ferguson has become a metaphor for race relations in the 21st century; a signifier for the convergence of poverty, segregation, police brutality, and federal and civic neglect. Most importantly, the Ferguson crisis has…
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After Michael Brown’s Killing, Echoes of the ’65 Watts Rebellion
The killing of Missouri teenager Michael Brown by police, followed by two consecutive nights of racial upheaval in his hometown of Ferguson, coincides with the anniversary of one of the nation’s biggest civil disturbances. Forty-nine years ago this week, Los Angeles’ Watts neighborhood erupted into a weeklong urban rebellion in the aftermath of a confrontation…
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We Need a New Voting-Rights Movement
This time next year, be prepared for rousing speeches, earnest commemorations and moving celebrations that mark the 50th anniversary of President Lyndon Johnson’s signing the Voting Rights Act. But even now, it’s worth having a national come-to-Jesus moment about the state of voting rights and democracy, especially for black folks, in advance of the coming…
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Mr. President, Simply Avoiding Mistakes Is Not a Foreign Policy
International crises, ranging from a Malaysia Airlines passenger flight being shot down by Russia-backed Ukrainian separatists to Israel’s escalating military intervention into Gaza, have highlighted the Obama doctrine’s political and policy limitations. And at a time when the world is crying out for bold, decisive leadership from the White House, President Barack Obama has appeared…
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LeBron James’ Return: Part Basketball, Part Urban Renewal
The King is back. LeBron James’ shocking announcement, via a letter posted on SI.com, that he will return to Cleveland has turned into a story that transcends sports. Civil rights leader Jesse Jackson identified James as a rare example of an athlete who embraced social responsibility. “I have joy in my heart today because LeBron…
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The Civil Rights Act Was a Turning Point in Our Nation’s Racial History
Fifty years ago today, President Lyndon Johnson signed the Civil Rights Act into law. The comprehensive, landmark legislation outlawed, among many other things, racial segregation in public accommodations. Jim Crow, in both its more overt Southern and subtler Northern manifestations, was officially proscribed, although racial apartheid would continue in American schools, neighborhoods and the workplace…
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The Central Park 5 Settled, but the Case of Racial Injustice in America Is Wide Open
New York City’s recently announced $40 million settlement with the five exonerated defendants in the infamous Central Park Five jogger-rape case appears to close the chapter on a painful historical episode. But in reality, both the injustice it represents, and the way race and class determine how the accused are treated, are very much open concerns.…
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Gun Violence Is the Civil Rights Issue of Our Time
Fifty years ago America redefined its social, political and cultural landscape by guaranteeing civil rights—and voting rights the following year—for all citizens, irrespective of race or background. A half-century later, too many young people of color, especially black boys and young men, are routine victims of gun violence. And stemming this rising tide of gun…
Black News and Black Views with a Whole Lotta Attitude
