NNPA News Wire Columnist

What If Donald Trump’s Campaign Manager Was Black

Julianne Malveaux, NNPA News Wire ColumnistApril 7, 2016

It is probably not especially politically correct to bring more race matters into the debacle that is also known as the Donald Trump quest for the Presidency. He has called out and targeted racial and ethnic groups, as well as targeted individual women because of their appearance (or more, but we won’t go there). He has supported basic thuggery, offering to pay the legal fees for a man who sucker-punched an African American protester, and egging on others who beat up a protester. The latest goes from the amusing to the amazing. Although there is a video showing his campaign manager, Corey Lewandowski putting his hands on former Breitbart reporter Michelle Fields, he and Trump have said that eyes can lie. Even in the face of video evidence, he denied touching Fields. He and Trump tried to dismiss her as “delusional,” essentially “blaming the victim.”

Opinion

Where is Today’s Madam C.J. Walker?

Julianne Malveaux NNPA News Wire ColumnistMarch 9, 2016

Women entrepreneurs have a powerful role model when they consider Madam C.J. Walker. One of our nation’s first female self-made millionaires, her story of combining herbs to develop and manufacture a hair pomade, of empowering tens of thousands of women as sales agents for her products, and of establishing a beauty school to teach beauty techniques (and provide economic empowerment for even more women) are the stuff of legend. She was not only an entrepreneur, but also a philanthropist. She “lived large,” owning two cars and a sprawling estate, Villa Lewaro in Irvington, New York, but she shared her wealth

Opinion

Why Aren’t We Discussing Voter Suppression During an Election Year?

Bill Fletcher, Jr., NNPA News Wire ColumnistMarch 2, 2016

Bill Fletcher says that time and again throughout the history of the United States if the ruling elite wants to push through a nefarious measure, they first implement it in communities of color. There are many peculiar things about the 2016 election cycle, but one of them is what is not being discussed. There are two items that immediately jump to mind and, believe it or not they both have to do with elections. The first is, that in the state of Michigan, there have been a series of silent coups taking place in which Black-majority cities are losing control

Religion

Black Consciousness vs. Christianity

James Clingman (NNPA News Wire Columnist)January 27, 2016

This is not an attempt to proselytize or to shape your thinking regarding religion or spirituality. Rather, this is an attempt to delve into a subject that is often brought up among Black folks and used to separate us instead of bring us together around practical economic/public policy solutions. By example, in 1843, Christian minister and abolitionist Henry Highland Garnet, gave an inspirational speech that shocked the delegates of the National Negro Convention. Known as the “Call to Rebellion” speech, in which Garnet encouraged slaves to turn against their masters. “Neither god, nor angels, or just men, command you to

Op-Ed Opinion

Economic Inequality at Home and Abroad

Julianne Malveaux, NNPA News Wire ColumnistJanuary 27, 2016

Days before the opening of the World Economic Forum, Oxfam, the international organization that works on world poverty issues, released a report that addressed inequality. They found the international wealth gap growing rapidly. Last year, just 62 individuals had the same wealth as the 3.6 billion people who make up the bottom half of the world population.

Op-Ed Opinion

The Transformative Legacy of Martin Luther King, Jr., in 2016

Benjamin F. Chavis, Jr. NNPA News Wire ColumnistJanuary 6, 2016

There is no debate concerning the irrefutable fact that The Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. was one of the greatest leaders recognized, admired and affirmed by millions of people across America and throughout the world. King’s activism and leadership changed America and the world, as did Mahatma Gandhi and Nelson Mandela in their respective global impacts. As we prepare to celebrate the 87th birthday of Dr. King as part the official federal holiday celebrations, I believe it is very important to focus on how Dr King’s legacy today is still relevant and transformative for all people who cry out

Op-Ed Opinion

New Year Resolutions that Will Challenge Black America in 2016

Benjamin F. Chavis, Jr. NNPA News Wire ColumnistDecember 29, 2015

Whenever we begin a new calendar year, it can be useful to make New Year’s Resolutions to prioritize and focus for the immediate future. Beyond the traditional litany of making very personal and oftentimes private resolutions at the beginning of a new year, Black America as a whole, I believe, should be vocal and public about our determination to keep pushing forward for freedom, justice, equality and economic empowerment.

Op-Ed Opinion

This Is How the Holidays Expose Income Inequality

Julianne Malveaux, NNPA News Wire ColumnistDecember 29, 2015

In progressive policy circles, and during the Democratic presidential debates, people are talking about income inequality. Though this phenomenon has always been with us, the activists who are demanding $15 per hour pay remind us that some have much and too many have too little. Senators Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren have pulled Democrats into the conversation, some kicking and screaming. President Obama, who barely mentioned the word “poverty” in the first six years of his presidency, has recently talked about income inequality.

Op-Ed Opinion

Why Changing Building Names and Covering Murals Is Not Enough

Julianne Malveaux, NNPA News Wire ColumnistDecember 10, 2015

The University of Kentucky at Lexington (the flagship college), has shrouded an indoor mural that features paintings of enslaved African Americans bending to pick tobacco (or possibly cotton) while a train full of White folks seems to appear on their backs. There are other offensive images in the painting, but in many ways the painting reflects a Kentucky reality. Yes, there was oppression. The artist captured a reality that others might not find popular. University President Eli Capilouto agreed to cover the mural so that the campus has an opportunity to discuss it. While students object to the