When the ugly truths bubble up
As a political commentator, Kanye West makes a great rap artist. During an NBC TV fundraiser last week for Hurricane Katrina victims, the hip-hop star departed from his prepared script...
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When sluggishness isn’t OK
It didn't take long for the tragedy of Hurricane Katrina to turn into an eruption about race and class, especially in my e-mail box. Two days had barely passed when...
Narrower race gap, broader gender gap
Grammy winner Kanye West's debut CD was titled "The College Dropout." His follow-up is called "Late Registration." I don't know what will come next, although I'm betting it is not...
Declare victory and then start packing up
"Victory means exit strategy," a critic of the president once said, "and it's important for the president to explain to us what the exit strategy is." That presidential critic was...
In a permanent slump
If Democratic Party leaders were listening to me, I'd give them some good old-fashioned advice: Run to the head of the parade so that you can lead it. As remarkable...
Any need for random profiling?
Since the London terrorist bombings in July, a debate has been rekindled about "common-sense profiling." I hope such a thing still is possible. In the aftershock of Sept. 11, 2001,...
Looking back at America’s era of mayhem
Retired Black Panther leaders are trying to trademark the 1965 riot phrase "Burn, baby, burn" to use on a barbecue sauce. That, to me, is the most bizarre filing since...
Mr. President, can we talk about the war too?
I sympathize with Cindy Sheehan, the California woman who wants to talk to President Bush about her son Casey, who was killed in Iraq. I also sympathize with President Bush....
`Indispensable’
I don't remember everything that John H. Johnson, the pioneer black publisher, said when he was honored by the National Association of Black Journalists in 1987. But I probably will...
How cell phones sap your brain
Dear motorist: If you like to drive while chattering on your cell phone, it may be time to pull over to finish that conversation. Or, at least, think twice. According...