Category Archives: Race Relations

Defensive statements by Police Union hurt Police credibility

With its instantaneous response that race was not a factor in the McKinney, Texas debacle, the McKinney Fraternal Order of Police did a disservice to the credibility of defenders of the police. We’ve probably all seen the video out of McKinney, Texas – a white police officer verbally and physically abusing black teenagers at a… Read More »

Why Rudy Giuliani says President Obama doesn’t love America

I must admit to almost being floored by what Rudy Giuliani said at a recent Republican fund raiser: I do not believe, and I know this is a horrible thing to say, but I do not believe that the president loves America. He doesn’t love you. And he doesn’t love me. He wasn’t brought up… Read More »

What if Michael Brown had been taught to “turn the other cheek” in Ferguson?

The killing of Michael Brown, an unarmed black teenager, by a white police officer in Ferguson, MO has aroused a lot of emotions. When a grand jury refused to indict officer Darren Wilson for the killing, some of those emotions spilled over into rioting and violence. I find myself conflicted about the entire situation. On… Read More »

What Michelle Obama’s white ancestors tell us about ourselves

Using DNA testing to trace the forebears of Michelle Obama, New York Times reporter Rachel L. Swarns has been able to identify the First Lady’s white ancestors. Swarns used historical records to determine the most probable contributors to Mrs. Obama’s white heritage. Once that family was identified, DNA testing was used to confirm the relationship.… Read More »

The NBA is right to force Donald Sterling to relinquish ownership of the LA Clippers

I just read an online article that defended Donald Sterling’s right to continue as the owner of the NBA’s Los Angeles Clippers basketball team after his racist rant against African Americans was made public. The author presented it as a free speech issue. “[T]he last time I checked this is still a ‘free country’, where… Read More »

The Gospel smashes through prejudice!

In July of 2012, Charles and Te’Andrea Wilson had planned to be married in the church they attended, First Baptist Church of Crystal Springs, Mississippi. All the arrangements had been made, the invitations for the wedding sent out, and Pastor Stan Weatherford was ready to perform the ceremony. Then some members of the congregation who… Read More »

Remembering The 1963 Birmingham Church Bombing: the Terrorists Lost!

I wonder if terrorists ever get frustrated at the futility of their efforts. They should. September 15, 2013 is the 50th anniversary of the terrorist bombing of the 16th Street Baptist Church in Birmingham, AL. Four little African American girls attending Sunday School were killed. In addition, 22 others were injured by the blast. The… Read More »

Favorite Pics – Anacostia Mom and Daughter

One of the things I like is collecting photographs that have some element of historical or artistic interest for me personally. From time to time, I’ll post some of these photos here. “Mother and her daughter” by Gordon Parks, 1942 This photo was taken in the Frederick Douglass Housing Project in the Anacostia section of… Read More »

Favorite Pics – Gordon Parks’ American Gothic

One of the things I like is collecting photographs that have some element of historical or artistic interest for me personally. From time to time, I’ll post some of these photos here.                        “Ella Watson” by Gordon Parks, 1942 In 1942, groundbreaking African-American photographer Gordon Parks went to work for the Farm Security Administration in Washington,… Read More »