Editorials

Jackson, Mississippi exemplifies the struggles blue cities face in red states, as Republican lawmakers repeatedly blocked funding for critical water infrastructure, contributing to the 2021 water crisis affecting 40,000 residents.

New federal student loan caps and the elimination of Graduate PLUS loans are forcing students, disproportionately Black, out of college and graduate programs. Marc Morial criticizes the Department of Education's targeting of majors like social work and cuts to diversity funding, urging restored support for higher education and HBCUs instead of limiting students' dreams and economic futures.

Dr. E. Faye Williams reflects on the Million Man March's 32nd anniversary, recalling her role as Co-Chair alongside Dr. Benjamin Chavis and the involvement of women like Linda Mercado Greene and Nisa Muhammad. She previews the Atlanta celebration on October 10-11 and urges unity, drawing on Minister Farrakhan's legacy and the spirit of togetherness.

A decade after calling on Black men to teach, the invitation remains — along with a responsibility to prepare, support and retain them.

David W. Marshall traces Christian nationalism's roots to Confederate Christianity, the pre-Civil War ideology that justified slavery as divinely sanctioned. He examines Jan. 6 symbolism—Confederate flags, crosses, nooses—and explores how Texas Senate candidate James Talarico challenges assumptions that evangelical Christians must vote Republican, potentially disrupting this historical political alliance.

Black youth in King County have the drive to work and learn, but often lack access to mentorship, networks, internships and reliable transportation. This commentary from the Judge Charles V. Johnson Youth and Law Forum argues that employers, institutions and community leaders must remove these barriers, ensuring young people know about opportunities and receive genuine support to pursue them.

Firearm possession among youth carries risks many young people don't fully grasp, from unknown gun histories to serious legal consequences under Washington law. This commentary from the Judge Charles V. Johnson Youth and Law Forum explores why fear and pressure drive teens toward guns, and calls on adults to build trust, offer alternatives, and guide youth toward safer choices.

Julianne Malveaux examines rising food insecurity across Washington DC, Chicago, and Los Angeles, highlighting stark racial disparities and the wealth gap that leaves Black families most vulnerable. She critiques recent SNAP restrictions that pushed millions off benefits and argues that charity alone cannot fix systemic failures, calling for lasting policy action beyond Hunger Action Month's symbolic gestures.

Marc Morial condemns the White House's expulsion of major media outlets from the press pool, calling it an authoritarian assault on press freedom reminiscent of 1930s tactics. He highlights the launch of "Trump TV," past targeting of Black journalists like April Ryan, and warns this censorship distracts from pressing issues while endangering democracy and marginalized communities' access to truth.

Rep. Joyce Beatty stands nearly alone on the Kennedy Center board, using lawsuits rather than statements to block Trump's attempted takeover of the JFK memorial institution. Julianne Malveaux contrasts Trump's "criminal audacity" with Beatty's "righteous audacity," questioning what Black political power achieves beyond access, and honoring her courage alongside Barbara Lee, Barbara Jordan and Maxine Waters.