The Charlottesville Tribune has been a staple source of
news and opinion serving the African American community for 50 years. I’ve
known Tribune Publisher Agnes White since our children went to elementary
school together. Agnes recently asked me to contribute a monthly editorial
column and I’ve taken pleasure in adding some Democratic balance to her very
conservative Republican views.
My columns often begin by setting a historical or personal
context to a contemporary problem. I try to inform readers in the process of
making my case, and always research the issue thoroughly before writing about
it. Each column is limited to 500 words, which forces me to be very efficient
with my prose. I hope you enjoy reading them.
Wal-Mart is the Scrooge of Christmas Present
"When he began his enterprise, Sam Walton sounded like
Santa. But somewhere along the gold-paved way, Wal-Mart turned into Ebineezer
Scrooge..." Read more
What would Barbara Jordan Say? Black Empowerment and Elected
School Boards
"I have no doubt where civil rights pioneers like Barbara
Jordan would fall: They would favor the direct participation by all members of
the community in the selection of the School Board..." Read more
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What is a Living Wage?
"It doesn’t take a UVA professor to calculate the
discrepancy between the federally-defined poverty standard used to calibrate
the Living Wage, and the stark, day-to-day reality of poverty..." Read more
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From War on Poverty to War on the Poor – Is Anyone Paying
Attention?
"We have just scratched the surface in our understanding
of poverty in America. Even the statistics grossly underreport the numbers of
poor..." Read more
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Oh, Give me a Home...
"Government policy has traditionally rewarded the
American Dream of homeownership. But Virginia’s present tax policies
penalize, rather than reward, homeownership..." Read more
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Tearing up the Social Contract: From New Deal to Raw Deal
"The test of our progress is not whether we add more to
the abundance of those who have much; it is whether we provide enough for
those who have too little." – Franklin Delano Roosevelt... Read more
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"No Child Left Behind": Fix it and fund it,
or forget it!
"It was hailed as an extension of ‘The Texas Miracle’
– a gift to the nation’s struggling inner-city schools. ‘The Texas
Miracle’ proved to be all hype, and – like so much else in the Bush
administration – a fraud..." Read more
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Trains at the Crossroads: Relic of the Past or Promise of
the Future?
"Virginia spends 78.7% of our state transportation
dollars on highways and 0% - yes, that’s zero percent – on rails..."
Read more
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Stealing from Grandma
"Social Security is a contract between generations. Break
the cycle, and you might as well be removing cash from behind your grandmother’s
mirror..." Read more
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The Bush Presidency Doesn’t Measure Up
"Great presidents inspire us to follow their lead,
instead of misleading us so we will follow. We should hold The Presidency to
higher standards..." Read more