Commentary

Limit credit card use

Thursday, 28 May 2009 13:07 Judge Greg Mathis

The U.S. government is headed towards drastically restructuring the way credit card companies do business and, in turn, easing a heavy financial burden carried by so many Americans. Congress has approved, and the President is expected to sign, legislation that will, among other things, control sudden credit card interest rate increases and late fee charges. Of course, the credit card industry is not happy with these new restrictions and will look for new ways to generate profits. So, even the new law will protect consumers, individuals must still exercise restraint when using credit cards.

Minority homeowners hurt most

Thursday, 28 May 2009 13:06 Judge Greg Mathis

Owning a home is a key part of the “American Dream” and critical step in creating wealth; even low- and moderate-income homeowners are able to benefit from their investment. Unfortunately, with the recent crash of both the housing and financial markets, fewer Americans own homes than they did just a few years ago. The biggest declines were among minorities, with blacks and Latinos homeownership rates falling at a rate much faster than whites.

Fostering Adoptions Act will improve life for thousands of youths

Wednesday, 27 May 2009 13:59 Marian Wright Edelman

May is National Foster Care Month and this year is a good time to reflect on the progress we can make in improving the lives of children and youths in foster care by implementing the Fostering Connections to Success and Increasing Adoptions Act (Fostering Connections Act). This important new federal law, approved last fall with broad bipartisan support, will help hundreds of thousands of children and youths who have been abused and neglected. It’s now up to all of us to see that states implement it so that it truly benefits young people across the country.

Black families getting stronger

Thursday, 21 May 2009 15:49 Judge Greg Mathis

For decades there has been much discussion about the disintegration of the black family and of the negative effects single parent households tend to have on our children and our communities. It is no coincidence that many young gang members come from families where there is no real father figure or that teen mothers often had poor, if any, relationships with their own fathers. These young people would follow in their parent’s footsteps, creating a vicious cycle where active black fathers were the exception and not the rule.

Go east young man

Friday, 15 May 2009 13:25 Ahmed Tharwat

Just a whisper after his first 100 days in office, President Obama has decided to visit the biggest and most important Arab Muslim country, Egypt. On June 4th, the American president will deliver a speech from Cairo to the so-called Muslim World. (Every time you hear “the Muslim world,” you should seek shelter.)

Civil Rights in the 21st century requires keeping our eyes on the prize

Monday, 11 May 2009 15:59 Joseph C. Phillips

Last week I had the honor of participating in a panel discussion on Civil Rights in the Age of Obama sponsored by the Milken Institute. Appearing with me on the panel were Ben Jealous, current President of the NAACP; Wade Henderson, President of the Leadership Conference on Civil Rights and Myrlie Evers-Williams, Civil Rights Icon and former President of the NAACP. The panel was moderated by Dr. Beverly Tatum, President of Spelman College. I was, as my father used to say, “Steppin’ in some pretty high cotton.”

On President Obama's 100th day, democracy hangs in the balance

Friday, 01 May 2009 13:42 Benjamin Todd Jealous, NNPA Guest Columnist

On the 100th day of President Barack Obama’s administration, the Supreme Court heard arguments brought by conservative lawyers to try to derail the voting rights act.