Dr. Julianne Malveaux, PhD

Why can’t we pay teachers fairly? If the teaching profession is considered as important as any other (and some might argue that it is more important than many) why does teacher pay lag so much behind other professions?

What if corporate leaders offered to support a few diversity leaders in developing training for police officers? What if corporate leaders convened some kind of gathering that talked about the correlation between police community relations and corporate profits?

To be sure, we have come a long way since 1865, since 1876. But the fact that, in contemporary culture, you still have white people who will wrap themselves up in a Confederate flag suggests we have not come quite as far as we must.

After witnessing an execution, and clearly not armed, why was Diamond Reynolds forced onto her knees and handcuffed? Did that sick white police officer think he was a god that had to be knelt to, paid homage to? He already had a license to kill. I guess a badge also gives you a license to humiliate.

Congressman Lewis and his colleagues were not successful in forcing votes on gun control. But they were successful in shutting the House down. Speaker Ryan was forced to adjourn Congress before he planned to, and Republicans sulked off like thieves in the night.

It does not erode anyone’s second amendment rights to restrict their right to assault weapons. One does not need a weapon with multiple rounds to protect oneself or, for that matter, to “hunt”. Whenever those NRA folks start talking about hunting, though, I really want to know what (who) it is they want to hunt.

White people must think it some kind of compliment to say someone “transcended” race. I consider it an insult. Race is nothing that someone has to overcome, or “rise above”. Race is not an impediment. It is simply a fact.

We don’t kill white supremacist hate by killing Dylann Roof. We don’t eliminate the ugly sentiments that propelled this extremely sick young man into a church with a gun by taking his life.