James Baldwin was my exact age — 63 — when he died in 1987. At the time of his death, he had written essential novels, plays and essays and had given a multitude of powerful speeches, including a 1965 debate…
How whiteness protected itself in America’s election
As we close the book on the 2024 election cycle, we should look beyond the campaign promises and headlines to understand what truly fueled this election. It wasn’t just about the economy, gas prices or immigration policies, although these were…
Here’s the toxic racism and misogyny you let loose with a vote for Trump
If Kamala Harris had won, no Black people would be receiving text messages threatening to make them slaves again, and no women would be being told, “Your body, my choice.” When Trump wins, those things happen. And when Trump loses,…
The mysteries of the Latino vote for Trump
I’m furious at white evangelicals today, and especially at my white evangelical neighbors. A little over a month ago, Hurricane Helene left our neighborhood looking like a disaster zone. To this day, we still have large trees down in our yards and…
Letter to my Black daughter on the 2024 election
Zyan, you haven’t gotten home yet from school, but there are tears running down my eyes as I hear Vice President Harris in the background conceding the election. This morning when you went to school, I could tell in your…
Black bodies provide cover for Republican racism
There was a time when Black Republicans like Frederick Douglass championed the cause of racial justice. They were the “progressives” of their day. None were perfect, but most had a sense of integrity. Colin Powell comes to mind when I…
When white male pastors challenge Black female leaders
Supporters of the Association of Welcoming and Affirming Baptists expressed surprise and shock when leaders of the American Baptist Churches in the USA recently sent a cease-and-desist letter asking to be removed as a “partner” on AWAB’s website. The original…
Three community leaders weigh in on Trump’s claims about ‘Black jobs’
One of the divisive claims made by presidential candidate Donald Trump is that immigrants are taking “Black jobs” and “Hispanic jobs” from Americans. To better understand how this rhetoric is heard in the community, BNG interviewed three diversity and faith…
Tisby’s new book tells stories of faith and justice
History “has the receipts,” according to Jemar Tisby. “History is just stories, and woe to us history teachers who ever make it boring,” said the professor at Simmons College of Kentucky and author of the new book The Spirit of…