Politics, Moderate
/Politics
ATTENTION 'FROM THE DESK OF DR. J' EDITORS: A MANDATORY CORRECTION HAS BEEN MADE TO THE FOLLOWING COLUMN. IN THE HEADLINE, "Deserve" HAS BEEN CORRECTED TO "Deserves". PLEASE USE THE FOLLOWING CORRECTED COPY. THANK YOU. -- CREATORS
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The Six Triple Eight Deserves a Day of Admiration
As Women's History Month nears its end, New Jersey lawmakers have introduced legislation to recognize the African American women who served in the Women's Army Corps' 6888th Central Postal Directory Battalion during World War II. The bill pending in the New Jersey Senate will designate ...Read more
60 Years After Bloody Sunday, We Have Not Completely Overcome
The 60th anniversary of Bloody Sunday was commemorated on March 7. On that day in 1965, civil rights marchers, led by then-Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee leader John Lewis and Southern Christian Leadership Conference special projects director Hosea Williams, were brutally attacked by Alabama state troopers as they attempted to cross ...Read more
Five Years Later: Reflecting on the Pandemic
National Public Radio recently posted a questionnaire on its website asking readers to reflect on their experiences when the COVID-19 pandemic shut everything down in 2020. For those who were able to quickly resume their usual routines after the World Health Organization announced an end to the pandemic in May 2023, the time probably passed ...Read more
'House of David': An Exciting Take on the Beloved Biblical Tale
Amazon Prime's biblical drama "House of David" is a series that I have been looking forward to since the beginning of the year. The famed underdog matchup of the shepherd boy David versus the 10-foot-tall Philistine warrior Goliath is one of the most well-known and beloved stories in Scripture. Growing up, most of us who attended church ...Read more
Recent Sitcoms Touch on Millennial Stresses
The new television sitcoms "Poppa's House" and "Shifting Gears" present thoughtful takes on the crossroads many millennials may face as they inch closer to middle age. "Poppa's House" debuted on CBS last October. Emmy-nominated comedian Damon Wayans stars as Poppa, a cynical yet easygoing father and grandfather who is savoring the success of ...Read more
Highlighting One of Black History's Notable but Lesser-Known Figures
With the controversy surrounding President Donald Trump's executive order terminating diversity, equity and inclusion programs "in the federal workforce, and in federal contracting and spending," many thought the administration was also banning Black History Month. Soon after Trump enacted his DEI measures, the Department of Defense announced ...Read more
As Food Prices Rise, Give to Those Who Are in Need
Eggs have never been a regular item on my grocery shopping list, but toward the end of last year, I began buying more of them because I was experimenting with various turkey meatloaf recipes. When I had extra time to cook breakfast, I prepared scrambled eggs using avocado oil as a base. Due to the ongoing effects of the 2022 bird flu outbreak,...Read more
Working Toward a Just, Racially Harmonious World
This year's National Day of Racial Healing, sponsored by the W. K. Kellogg Foundation, emphasized the importance of children growing up in supportive communities that nurture their talents and stimulate their desire to learn in school. In a short video presentation, the foundation's president and CEO, La June Montgomery Tabron, discussed how all...Read more
Reflecting on MLK's Legacy and Lessons
"Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy." -- Jude 24
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. used the beginning of this scripture in his "Strength to Love" chapter, "Our God Is Able." This message is undoubtedly needed as encouragement for those who have already ...Read more
Be Gracious to Those in Need
The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development recently released its 2024 Annual Homelessness Assessment Report, which found that over 770,000 people were unhoused in January of last year. This accounts for a disturbing 23% increase for those without permanent residence since 2023. Migration and natural disasters were cited as main ...Read more
Beginning 2025 on a Firm Foundation
Just before New Year's Eve, a Gallup poll survey headline accurately captured the feelings of many people in our nation: "Americans Predict Challenges in 2025, With a Few Bright Spots." The top concerns were unsurprising, including anxiousness about the economy and a growing budget deficit, intensified partisan conflict and more global disputes....Read more
'Mufasa: The Lion King' Offers Resonant Story of Jealousy and Betrayal
In anticipation of the December release of "Mufasa: The Lion King," I eagerly watched every trailer posted on YouTube. I was excited to finally examine Disney's revelation of Mufasa and Scar's backstory, and I was not disappointed. The computer animation in "Mufasa" is much better than the photorealistic depiction of the animals in the 2019 "...Read more