Various efforts to integrate sports began after World War II. First was Jackie Robinson in baseball and later Althea Gibson in Tennis. The integration push in golf occurred on two fronts—professionally and recreationally. First, Joe Louis assisted Black professional golfers in integrating the Professional Golf Association, a task that took until the 1960s. Throughout the … [Read more…]
Republicans, with the help of a few misguided Democrats, are hell-bent on destroying public education. They are moving with deliberate speed to privatize K-12 education through vouchers and charter schools—money from the state education budget funds both programs. We got started in this direction by President George H. W. Bush. I was invited to the … [Read more…]
Black History Month has always had a purpose—to highlight things African Americans have done for the Country and things the Country has done to African Americans. But we may not be accomplishing that purpose nowadays. Instead, we emphasize Black culture—eating, singing, and dancing—but not Black history. I was reminded of that point as I watched … [Read more…]
American democracy may be crumbling, and we should be alarmed. Of course, for Black Americans, democracy—on paper—has only existed between 1965 and 2013. But, in a democracy, all people have a right to vote. And the Voting Rights Act of 1965 finally guaranteed that right for Black Americans. This only lasted 48 years, until 2013, … [Read more…]