Editorials

Wes Moore's historic election as National Governors Association chair highlights a persistent pattern: Black governors have long served in isolation, from Douglas Wilder to Deval Patrick. Kevin Harris argues 2026 offers unprecedented opportunity to elect multiple African American governors simultaneously, creating collective influence on policy that single historic firsts cannot achieve alone.

Julianne Malveaux revisits Dolly Parton's "9 to 5" to examine how workplace exploitation has evolved, from sexist bosses like Franklin Hart to today's gig economy and algorithmic bosses. She highlights Black women's historical exclusion from feminist narratives, the erosion of predictable schedules, and argues workers must again fight for fair pay, dignity, and boundaries between work and life.

Marc Morial warns that African-American studies programs face elimination amid federal budget cuts and anti-diversity executive orders, with universities like Texas, Iowa, and Kansas reducing offerings. He argues this field, exemplified by Du Bois's scholarship, teaches vital lessons about democracy, resistance, and history essential to preventing America from repeating past injustices and systemic inequities.

Amid federal DEI rollbacks that fueled 251,000 Black women's job losses since January 2025, Black women are fighting back through politics and entrepreneurship. From Keisha Lance Bottoms and Juliana Stratton's campaigns to over 2 million Black-owned businesses employing 647,000 people, this piece explores how Black women continue leading America's path toward liberty and opportunity.

David W. Marshall examines eroding presidential and military traditions under Trump, from skipping inauguration protocols to the USS Abraham Lincoln's grueling 250-plus day deployment amid reported crew crises.

The Congressional Budget Office projects a federal deficit of $1.9 trillion this year. We will spend more than $1 trillion simply paying interest on the debt—money that cannot be spent repairing bridges, educating children, housing families, or providing health care.

Marc H. Morial explains why the legacy of the March on Washington isn't just about reflecting on history. It is a vital, ongoing call to action to protect voting rights, demand civil rights legislation, and shape the future of our country.

Stephen A. Smith’s problem isn’t his opinions, it’s his ability to take accountability for his actions. NABJ called him out over Black women. His response suggests Smith can dish it out but can’t take it.

Nolan Wells’ death has left his family grieving in uncertainty—and awakened a deeper, historically rooted fear among Black parents who know that unanswered loss rarely feels like an isolated tragedy.

When Head Start was launched in 1965 as part of Lyndon Johnson’s War on Poverty. Yet the Trump administration is preparing to take a wrecking ball to the federal standards protecting Head Start children, dressing up the demolition in the bloodless language of efficiency, flexibility, and local control.