Shortly after she shaved her head, my friend got a $1,600 bill in the mail. Just 39 years old, she was diagnosed with breast cancer recently. She had surgery to remove the cancer and both her breasts. And even though…
Missing Black children deserve national attention
Many white Americans are questioning — even resenting — the continued focus by Black America on the disappearance and death of Nolan Wells. To them, he’s just a teenager who made some bad choices. To us, he’s another Black child…
Building the new world: Pope Leo, ZekeUltra and AI
New York issued the nation’s first statewide moratorium on data center construction. This is the loudest note in a growing chorus of voices demanding accountability from government and industry. Two wildly different voices have reached for the same ancient image. Pope Leo…
Why rural families need support now
There are nearly 20,000 small towns across the United States, home to roughly 46 million people. I grew up in one of them. Sunnyside, Wash., was a farming town of about 11,000 people when my family arrived from Wilmington, Calif., in…
When the president targets Muslim kindergartners, families like mine also pay the price
Like many Americans, I was appalled when I heard about President Donald Trump’s anti-Muslim social media post bullying kindergartners in Minnesota for wearing hijabs. Since then, many have voiced their support for the 5-year olds, including the popular YouTube educator Ms….
Belgian footballer set an example for men worldwide
Earlier in this year’s World Cup, Belgian winger Jeremy Doku decided to be with his wife, Shireen, during the birth of their son instead of playing in the first few matches. French broadcaster France Pierron labeled the moment “disgusting,” adding…
Conscientious AI objectors: HR’s role in keeping workplaces human
In the aftermath of Pope Leo XIV’s encyclical letter Magifica Humanitas, human resource professionals are gearing up for a previously unexplored scenario — religious accommodations to avoid using artificial intelligence tools in the workplace. Pope Leo’s letter cautions humanity about the potential…
We are a nation of bullies
“Mommy, Jason is being mean to me, and I can’t get him to stop!” My 6-year-old daughter was calling from her hour-long school bus ride home (no, she doesn’t have a phone but uses a Fitbit watch for emergencies). In…
Women need less religious shame, more leadership
A recent study suggests Gen Z women are losing their religion. Honestly, we’re not surprised. While women make up 60% of U.S. congregations, we have historically been relegated to the pews. This discrimination pushed us out. But some churches are…
Protecting Epstein survivors should be a bipartisan priority
With news of Prince Andrew’s arrest, it is even clearer that the survivors of Jeffrey Epstein’s abuse deserve justice and healing. During the recent testimony of the U.S. attorney general to the House Judiciary Committee, Rep. Thomas Massie, R-Ky., was…
Our love for Black children must speak louder than headlines
When I saw the recent headlines of 5-year-old Liam Conejo Ramos being reunited with his father after being held in a Texas detention facility for more than a week, I softened at the sight of the blue bunny hat. And…
Too many Black churches have stopped doing the work
Since its inception, the Black Church has stood for activism. It has been loud when the world demanded silence. Emotive in a culture that prizes stoicism over vulnerability. Communal in the face of capitalism’s insistence on individualism. Faithful amid unrelenting…