(CHICAGO – June 28, 2024) – “I’ve only been called the N-word to my face by a white man once in my life, and it was on the campus of Duke University while I was doing work with the basketball team. Today, he was named the new head coach of the Los Angeles Lakers. What a world.” With that tweet on June 25, Halleemah Nash, a Duke alum, author, speaker, and founder of startup Rosecrans Ventures, put the spotlight squarely on JJ Redick, the underqualified, never-coached-anywhere new head coach of the NBA’s Los Angeles Lakers. Her tweet got over 30.2…

(PHILADELPHIA – June 23, 2024) – Are you one of the more than 100 million Americans who live somewhere that was (or still is) under a heat advisory? As I write these words, the mercury is soaring. The world is reeling from the deadly impact of extreme heat and weather events. This is climate change in action. We are living it. And the thermometer-busting temperatures are just the tip of the (melting) iceberg. Jocelyn Richards of Manassas, Virginia, is staying in Maine to escape the summer heat in the South. She suffers from Chronic Inflammatory Response Syndrome (CIRS) from past exposure to mold. Heat…

“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” – Jeremiah 29:11 (BALTIMORE – June 13, 2024) – In the economically depressed area of Sandtown-Winchester in Baltimore City, a troubling trend has emerged: outsiders arriving with ill intentions. These individuals, often masquerading as benefactors or concerned citizens, leverage the community’s challenges for personal gain. Rather than offering genuine assistance, they criticize local residents and grassroots organizations, seeking to profit from the very blight, miseducation, and hardship they claim to address.…

(NEW YORK – June 11, 2024) – In the ever-evolving landscape of the accounting profession, the resistance to change, particularly in Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI), has become increasingly indefensible. Despite clear and compelling evidence that diverse teams drive better performance, innovation, and decision-making, many within the profession cling to outdated norms and practices. This sad and stubborn resistance is detrimental to the long-term relevance of our industry and the individuals who continue to feel marginalized and undervalued. The time for mere discussions and half-hearted initiatives has long passed. It’s time for decisive action and an unwavering commitment to fostering…

(BALTIMORE – June 11, 2024) – This past Saturday, Baltimore Unity Hall was the vibrant epicenter of change as over 200 community members from neighborhoods stretching from Mt. Royal to Walbrook Junction gathered for the second West North Avenue Development Authority planning meeting. This remarkable turnout is unprecedented, signaling a unified vision and shared hope for the future of West North Avenue. In a powerful move that underscores the importance of this initiative, Governor Wes Moore has allocated $28 million to this effort, facilitated by State Senator Antonio Hayes. This substantial investment is a testament to the potential seen in West…

(CHICAGO – June 10, 2024) – When Israel bombs, starves, or shoots Palestinians, mainstream media downplays the atrocities. Loss of lives is chalked up to mistakes or the tragedy of wartime mayhem. It’s not. It’s murder. The Israeli Defense Force’s recent slaughter of hundreds of Gazans to retrieve Israelis taken captive by Hamas is another bloody example of unlawful killing, genocide, and murder. “Hell.” That’s what the Israeli military attack, artillery shells, and bombings looked like, said Mohamed al-Habash. “We saw many fighter jets flying over the area. We saw people fleeing in the streets. Women and children were screaming…

JACKSON, MS – May 29, 2024) – Generative Artificial Intelligence, also known as AI, is no longer a thing of the future. It is here now and is reshaping industries and ways of life in ways previously unimaginable. From education to healthcare, entertainment, finance, retail and manufacturing, just to name a few, generative AI is leaving its mark on the overall human experience and how businesses and industries operate, innovate, and compete. At The Bean Path, my tech nonprofit, we recognize May as AI Month. Our goal was to demystify AI by showcasing its transformative power across various sectors and…

By Naba’a Muhammad, StraightWords.com (CHICAGO – May 18, 2024) – The tears and cries of Chantemekki Fortson were heartbreaking as she spoke of her son, U.S. Air Force Senior Airman Roger Fortson, shot to death by an Okaloosa County, Fla., sheriff’s deputy. His family and attorneys say deputies went to the wrong apartment responding to reports of a disturbance. Through her tears came a sense of pride in her son and a demand that law enforcement “tell the truth.” End the lie a deputy killed Roger in self-defense, they said.  Atty. Ben Crump, who has represented many victims of unjust police…

(BALTIMORE – May 17, 2024) – For Black women, it’s time. It’s time we stood up and acknowledged the truth that happens to us at work, in our business and in our daily lives. It is not a pleasant truth but often truth isn’t pleasant especially to say it out loud when we have only whispered about it. Yet saying & facing the truth is critical for our own mental health & our liberation along with the liberation of those who fall into this category. We need not call them names. We need not express “hate” about them or to…

(CHICAGO – May 10, 2024) – Not all media is created equal and media coverage isn’t immune from miscues and outright misses. Looking at the Gaza genocide and Israel’s war on Palestinians, there are major media failures. Part of the problematic pattern is ignoring Palestinians and devoting major airtime to the Israeli and Jewish point of view, which includes highly personal and moralistic stories about their suffering. It includes extended appearances by Israeli government officials whose claims and talking points go unchallenged. Twisted versions of history that wipe away over 70 years of Israeli oppression, humiliation and killings of Palestinians…