Dr. Anthony Asadullah Samad, PhD

The United States Supreme Court ruled last week that public education officials may not use race to achieve integration in public schools. Yes, you heard it right. After 52 years, the high Court reversed itself on the venerable case of Brown v. Board of Education, five separate cases consolidated under one oral argument—then called “the…

Illegal immigration reform is a salient issue in America today, particularly among the Republicans who consider this issue “a border crisis.” Congress’ effort to legislate a solution, that was met with a last minute Republican filibuster, stalled a viable solution to addressing the 12 million resident aliens in the country with a measured naturalization process…

Each year, I write at least one column on one of my few passions, sports. Particularly, the politics of sports. I’ll have to write at least two this year, one will be when Barry breaks Aaron’s home run record and all the haters come out of the shadows. The other one is this one, pleading…

There’s no drama like Hollywood drama. Yet, in two different situations, two different extremes played out to show how race in America offers great disparities in opportunities to correct social wrongs. The lessons of race in America continue to frame how we perceive each other and how the institutional systems react to those who violate…

This is the season for cotillions and now botillions, scholarships, luncheons and banquets, opportunities for those who have, and for those who work for companies who have, to send as many students to college as they can — or so they say. Or do they send as many students to college as they can? College…

The Great (great) Frederick Douglass, once said, “If there is no struggle, there is no progress.” Malcolm said, “We struggle in different ways” talking about the similarities between integrationist (access) and nationalist (identity) struggles for progress. Former Detroit Mayor Coleman A. Young once said, “We will struggle and there will be progress,” while former South…

The Southern California Black community sits on edge, as an emerging face off ensues for who will succeed the late Congresswoman, Juanita Millender McDonald, in California’s 37th Congressional District. Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger has set a special election date of August 21st, 2007. Several candidates have emerged, the highly respected, highly funded Latino State Senator, Jenny…

The nation, after 25 years, found its new Birmingham moment – in Los Angeles and to nobody’s surprise. The nation’s most abusive police department found a new way to capture the national headlines, trying to shut down the immigrants’ May Day march by firing 240 “rubber bullets” indiscriminately into a crowd. Depending on whose version…

Los Angeles recognized the 15th Anniversary of the nation’s largest (and worst) manmade disaster, the Los Angeles Civil Unrest, that occurred after four LAPD Officers were set free for the videotaped beating of Rodney King. If you are Black, it was a rebellion; if you are Korean (or a business owner of any race) it…