Michael Cottman
Is there a pattern of racist behavior in public school classrooms across America? I’m not an alarmist, nor an expert in polling, and even though this may be a small sampling, it’s still worth considering these critical facts: Last week, a white Florida teacher was suspended after an investigation revealed that David Swinyar used the […]
“If you want to learn how to celebrate Black history and culture during this month you can ask the Black students at this school instead of patronizing us with Koolaid, watermelon and ribs.” –Nia Harris, a student at New York University. What were folks at New York University thinking when they decided to serve students […]
A white man, Patrick John Owens, who claimed two African-American brothers robbed him at gunpoint, lied about the incident and is now behind bars. Turns out the crime was reversed: Owens actually pulled a gun and tried to rob Christopher and Jerry Tate on a St. Louis street corner. The Tate brothers are thanking their […]
“I love a good cry” – Poet Nikki Giovanni Twelve years ago, I sat in a classroom at Virginia Tech and watched poet and educator Nikki Giovanni inspire a group of black male students, all college football players who had dreams of ascending to the NFL. Giovanni was teaching the young men humility, patience, how […]
President Donald Trump, in his first State of The Union address, claimed he wants to unite America, but his speech on Tuesday further divided an already racially-polarized nation. Trump has shown his disdain for immigrants and people of color during his first year in office and Tuesday Trump was consistently intolerant in his approach to […]
President Donald Trump lashed out unnecessarily Sunday at another high-profile African-American on Twitter: Jay Z. Trump scolded Jay Z Sunday after Jay Z said Trump’s comments about “shithole countries” like African and Haiti were “hurtful.” The Grammy-winning rapper also questioned Trump’s assertions that he’s created jobs for African-Americans. “Somebody please inform Jay Z that because […]
NASA Astronaut Dr. Jeanette Epps has been abruptly grounded. Epps was on track to become the first African-American to travel through space and live on the International Space Station for an extended six-month assignment. But now that Epps has been abruptly pulled from the NASA mission, Epps’ brother says “racism” is the reason why his […]
A white University of Alabama student has apologized for posting social media videos using the N-word and other racial profanities about African Americans – but she was still expelled from the southern college. Harley Barber, a 19-year-old from New Jersey, went on a bizarre racist rant last week in which she posted multiple views about […]
Frigid weather has forced Howard University to temporarily close its classrooms to students. Howard University students are experiencing an unexpected extended holiday because of sporadic power outages and extensive damage to ruptured pipes caused by freezing temperatures in Washington, D.C. The historic Black university has postponed undergraduate and graduate classes for more than a week. […]
A police officer in Grand Rapids, Michigan should be reprimanded – and fired – for handcuffing a terrified 11-year-old girl at gunpoint and forcing her into the back of his squad car. The incident happened on Dec. 6 but on Thursday Grand Rapids Police Chief David Rahinsky said the officer who handcuffed Honestie would not […]
“You became my target at the time because I did not believe that people of different races should live together,” Rev. William Aitcheson. Would you accept an apology from a former Ku Klux Klan member who burned a cross on your lawn 40 years ago? Phillip and Barbara Butler are faced with this real-life question. […]
“I really don’t see how special it is. I just see it as a normal thing.” –– Malikah Barfield Two teenage boys from Glendale, Arizona are being hailed as humble heroes. Their split-second random act of kindness is a tale of courage, selflessness and intelligence. They deserve all the accolades bestowed on them — and the […]
