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Issue: 227

April 26, 2007

Commentary

A Guy Named “Bob”: Life In This Brave New World

By Bill Fletcher, Jr. Editorial Board

Over the years I have gotten to know a guy named “Bob” [not his real name]. The government would probably classify him as an independent contractor, but he works for this company that does what can broadly be described as home maintenance. “Bob” is a 40-ish, African American. Very personable, he is equally reliable in…

Over the years I have gotten to know a guy named “Bob” [not his real name]. The government would probably classify him as an independent contractor,…

Continue reading 4 min

Commentary

Raped And Then?

By Jamala Rogers Editorial Board

When I read Bill Fletcher’s BC article last month on the rape of his friend, it was like déjà vu. “My Friend was Raped” underscored an all-too familiar response to sexual victimization of Black women by Black men, that of silent suffering. I had just heard an eerily similar story chronicled in “NO! The Rape…

When I read Bill Fletcher’s BC article last month on the rape of his friend, it was like déjà vu. “My Friend was Raped” underscored an…

Continue reading 7 min

Commentary

Color of Law: Those Who Live By the Gun

By David A. Love, JD Executive Editor

When used as directed by the manufacturer, a gun will make it easier to take a human life. So, should we be surprised that a nation such as the United States—with over 200 million privately-owned guns, nearly one gun per adult—violence and murder are so prevalent? The Virginia Tech shooting, in which a student, Seung-Hui…

When used as directed by the manufacturer, a gun will make it easier to take a human life. So, should we be surprised that a nation…

Continue reading 5 min

Commentary

Through Barbed Wire: Riding With the Devil

By The Black Commentator Guest Commentator

My plan was to come to Boston to purchase marijuana and pills, but (unknown to me) I was dealing with the devil. It was late on a Tuesday night, in October 1971, and I was almost running out of drugs. I had been binging for over two days now, using heroin, smoking herbs, drinking, taking…

My plan was to come to Boston to purchase marijuana and pills, but (unknown to me) I was dealing with the devil. It was late on…

Continue reading 5 min

Commentary

Inclusion: The Other N-Word

By The Reverend Irene Monroe Editorial Board

Imus has always been an equal opportunity offender for more than three decades. His no-holds-barred humor has assailed broad demographics of the American public, from heads of state to homeless citizens. So why now his firing? And any explication that Imus’ firing is because his influence is far more reaching and egregiously vile than the…

Imus has always been an equal opportunity offender for more than three decades. His no-holds-barred humor has assailed broad demographics of the American public, from heads…

Continue reading 3 min

Commentary

Between The Lines: “Ain’t No Such Thing As A Black Santa Claus”

By Dr. Anthony Asadullah Samad, PhD Columnist

A great woman passed away this week. Congresswoman Juanita Millander-McDonald. She was a living example that if you stand for right and walk in faith, God will elevate you to places beyond your expectations. This woman was an advocate for the oppressed and underserved in the truest sense of the word. I’m not talking about…

A great woman passed away this week. Congresswoman Juanita Millander-McDonald. She was a living example that if you stand for right and walk in faith, God…

Continue reading 5 min

Commentary

Worrill’s World: Overview of Reparations Movement History

By Dr. Conrad W. Worrill, PhD Columnist

The issue of reparations for African people throughout the world has become a widely discussed topic that is manifesting itself into a variety of action plans and strategies. Some of these surfaced in the Reparations Corporate Lawsuit Federal Appeals hearing, recently held in Chicago. In my travels around the country, the issue of reparations appears…

The issue of reparations for African people throughout the world has become a widely discussed topic that is manifesting itself into a variety of action plans…

Continue reading 5 min

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