Bill Fletcher, Jr.

The revelation of alleged steroid abuse by Alex Rodriguez has further demoralized many athletes and sports enthusiasts. After repeated denials, Rodriguez held a press conference announcing that he and his cousin had used some substance in the past; that he was ashamed; and that he had been young and stupid. While I take as a…

Last week’s comments by Attorney General Eric Holder to the effect that when it comes to race, the USA is a nation of cowards brought forth immediate condemnation by right-wing talk radio. This was to be expected. The more mainstream media also reacted, albeit more mildly. Nevertheless, they have tended to focus on Holder’s wording,…

The announcement of the unity government between President Robert Mugabe and opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai brought with it a very cautious sigh of relief. Friends and observers of the Zimbabwe crisis have been uneasy for some years, concerned that the political situation could devolve into a full-fledged civil war. The agreement for a unity cabinet…

It is easy for many people in the global North to write off Libya’s leader, Colonel Muammar Qaddafi, as an erratic dreamer. But this ‘dreamer’ is now the chairman of the African Union, a rotating position admittedly, but one with significance. It is in this role that Qaddafi plans on pushing with all deliberate speed…

The other day I went to a community meeting sponsored by my Congressional Representative, Ms. Donna Edwards. Donna Edwards is a very progressive, long-time activist in Prince George’s County, Maryland. The meeting was organized for the purpose of going over, with her constituents, some of the issues and challenges that she is facing on Capitol…

Growing up my father would regularly say to me that while the Great Depression officially ended during World War II, for African Americans it never really ended. While most economists would take issue with my father’s analysis, he was onto something that both mainstream economists and political figures wanted to avoid: structural racist oppression has…

I have found it difficult expressing my emotions in connection with the inauguration of President Obama. In the face of the jubilation, particularly but not exclusively among African Americans; in the face of the hopes and fears; in the face of severe crises across the USA and the planet; it has been difficult for me…

I opened the Washington Post the other day and saw an article detailing that National Public Radio (NPR), hit by the global economic crisis, was preparing to lay off in March 2009 more than 60 staff and eliminating two major programs, one being “News & Notes.” “News & Notes”, a program particularly targeted at people…

The president of the Maryland and DC AFL-CIO, Fred Mason, had an idea. Following the electoral victory of Barack Obama he found himself perplexed by the enthusiastic, yet very unfocused, response of organized labor as to what should happen next. While there was optimism in the air, what was missing was real content. But what…