I’ve heard that Martin Luther King Jr. did not want my dad Hosea Williams to March this time. Hosea had led many marches across the southeast by then, he was hired by Martin King because of his success in organizing and leading working people to march. Hosea was sent to this small Southern town to manage the movement there until Dr. King could get there. They had a phone call about the rising sentiment of the people there, especially about the murder of Jimmie Lee Jackson and the decision was…
Editorials
By Ramona Houston, Ph.D., PMP As we enter the final days of the 2020 election cycle, African American men have taken center stage in the conversation about this transformative election. Despite the political realities of the last four years, polling data shows a small, yet significant percentage of African American men supporting President Donald Trump, and another notable percentage choosing not to participate in the political process at all. Considering the current state of Black America, one thing is clear: African Americans have suffered immensely under the Trump administration. For…
When voting for the president of the United States, historically, African Americans have more often than not felt compelled to vote against a candidate due to the threat the person poses to our community. Not until the presidential campaign of Barack Obama, who represented hope and change, did African Americans feel like we had someone to vote for. This year we have both. President Donald Trump’s egregious lack of leadership is a threat to the very existence of African Americans. During his presidency, African Americans have lost jobs, wealth, health care, voter protections,…
OTIS’ DREAM #VOTETHEDREAM Voting mattered then, and voting matters now! In 1946, when attempting to vote was literally deadly, some among us were willing to do whatever was necessary to vote. This film follows Otis Moss, Sr. through his day long journey to cast his ballot in rural Georgia. Powerful, poignant, and prescient as today’s struggles with voter suppression multiply.
2020 Elections: Restoring Hope and Expanding Opportunities By Antoine M. Thompson While many of us are counting down the days until Election Day on Tuesday, November 3rd, most Americans, especially Black Americans are looking forward to the start of the New Year. This year was supposed to be a break-through moment because of the magic and mystique around 2020. Unfortunately, we have experienced a resurgence of police brutality, economic and racial turmoil, and the COVID-19 pandemic. Furthermore, over half of black businesses are projected to close, over 2 million property…
By Reverend Dr. Otis Moss, Jr. Every day, some speaker, writer, analyst, teacher, commentator or someone in casual conversation quotes the words of Dr. King. However, there are two things we often miss or avoid. The first is Dr. King’s total commitment to non-violence and social and political transformation – a revolution of values. Secondly, Dr. King’s sermon topic sent to the church secretary for the Sunday worship at the historic Ebenezer Baptist Church, Atlanta, Georgia, before his assassination, “Why America May Go to Hell.” I had a conversation with…
