Earl Ofari Hutchinson, 02/21/12

Author and Political Analyst

Some take the surge by GOP presidential candidate Rick Santorum as a convincing sign that the evangelicals are back. The joy is premature.

The Rev. Jacqueline J. Lewis, Ph.D., 02/21/12

Senior Minister, Middle Collegiate Church

It is not easy, nor simple for churches to "preach brotherhood and make it a reality within its own body." But the church is the place and our faith is the source with which we may be instruments of change.

Bishop T.D. Jakes, 02/21/12

Senior Pastor, Potter's House, Texas

Although taken far too soon and too unexpectedly, we can learn these things from Whitney Houston's home going services.

Gerry Hudson, 02/17/12

International Executive Vice President, SEIU

While the recent drop in unemployment numbers is great news, I wonder about how it will impact older African-American baby boomers. Our looming retirement security crisis, disproportionally affects African Americans, many of whom are retiring in poverty after a lifetime of work.

Bridgit Antoinette Evans, 02/17/12

Actor, human rights advocate, and founder, FuelChange.net

She wasn't arrested. Still, Ugandan writer Judy Adong knew the risks when she organized a recent reading of her play, Just You, Me, and the Silence, about her country's anti-homosexuality laws.

Megan Smolenyak, 02/21/12

Genealogy Expert, Author of "Hey, America, Your Roots Are Showing" & "Who Do You Think You Are?"

Michelle's maternal grandmother, Rebecca Jumper, did an admirable job of keeping her past a secret, but that's probably because she didn't know much about it herself. That's unfortunate, because hers is an intriguing history.

Catherine Meeks, Ph.D., 02/19/12

Author, Community and Wellness Activist

When I think about Jesus and the power that his life embodied I am always amazed about how much he sought the deserted places where great solitude was possible.

Leonce Gaiter, 02/20/12

Novelist and essayist

The Rufus Buck gang were neither saints, nor victims. But they are part of our history -- the part we foolishly agree to ignore because it does not fit the normative view of who we ought to be.

Kate Kelly, 02/17/12

Author, 'Election Day: An American Holiday, an American History'

Anna Julia Cooper (1858-1964) is not a household name, nor is she someone encountered in most U.S. history books. Yet throughout her life, she fervently pushed for progress, particularly for education and progress for African-American women

Tim King, 02/19/12

President and CEO of Urban Prep Academies

The idea that strong relationships impact student success shouldn't be anything new to educators. But the implication -- that race, background and gender are not destiny, and that focused interventions produce tangible results -- is enormous.

Elizabeth Dowling Taylor, 02/20/12

Author

Eight of our early presidents, beginning with George Washington, owned slaves during their tenure in the nation's highest office.

Alexis Adams, 02/16/12

18-year-old participant in Global Citizen Year

I visited a slave castle on Senegal's Goree Island, which was one of the most powerful slave trade ports in the world from the 16th to the 19th century. It's a constant reminder of this country's tragic past.

Zach Weisberg, 02/16/12

Founder and Editor-in-Chief of TheInertia.com

For Nick, surfing was a vehicle to improve his world. The ocean was his medium, which is fitting because the sea knows no prejudice; it's the ultimate equalizer.

Brandice Henderson, 02/15/12

CEO and Founder of Harlem's Fashion Row

If you lined up the work of Tracy Reese, Stephen Burrows, and Sammy B., would there be a common thread that could be traced back to their race? The common thread in each of their collections would be a reflection of American fashion. Black Fashion is American Fashion.

Latham Thomas, 02/15/12

Founder of Tender Shoot Wellness

As a wellness and lifestyle expert, my main function is to help clients embrace a healthy lifestyle. I notice that even your hairstyle can have an adverse effect on your overall heath.

Briallen Hopper, 02/14/12

Briallen teaches and preaches at Yale

The Chris Brown story illustrates real problems with the way Americans understand forgiveness and redemption. Too often, American-style forgiveness is a kind of forgetting.

Zandile Blay, 02/14/12

Style Columnist

The surge has roots in last season's awe-inspiring 'Arise Africa Fashion Collective' which showed at Avery Fisher Hall to over 1,000 celebs, editors, bloggers and buyers. The watershed moment exposed NYFW to a whole population of African designers who are primed and prepared for the West.