Last week, somewhat unexpectedly, our president won the Nobel Peace Prize. More predictable was the instantaneous backlash against it.

Sadly, I'm not just talking about the hue and cry from the usual right-leaning outlets. Even factoring out the Rush Limbaughs of the world, the Nobel has instantly cut a divisive...

I've written and posted here before about how race is clearly the 800-pound gorilla in America's communal living room. I'm tired of that analogy; it offers a cartoonish version of a problem that I see more in the horrifying vein of a Francis Bacon painting. So let's instead see it...

I've been conflicted over the past several days, trying to come to grips with warring feelings over writing about my growing perception that the Barack Obama we elected is drifting ever farther off-course. Would the article be presumptuous? Would it give ammunition to some of his critics who seem intent...

Last week's cover story in the weekly magazine the Economist blasted the headline "Crunch Time" with a picture of President Obama. The article's sub-headline clarifies: "The next few weeks could determine the fate of Obama's presidency." The honeymoon's over this soon, apparently.

"If the opinion polls are to be believed,...

cc: First Lady Michelle Obama, Advisors David Axelrod, Ms. Melody Barnes, Robert Gibbs, Ms. Valerie Jarrett, et al

From: Clarence B. Jones

Re: Sgt. James Crowley and Professor Henry Louis Gates

Date: July 27th, 2009

In a short period of time, more comment and "advice" has probably been offered on...

During the past week, the public reaction to the death of Michael Jackson as reflected both in our media and the media in countries throughout the world drives home a cultural phenomenon in our country that I have observed for years: The African-American "experience," as expressed in language, dance, fashion,...

As we approach another anniversary commemorating the assassination of Martin Luther King, Jr., it is appropriate to pause and reflect on the challenges confronting Black Media under an Obama presidency.

Historically, the press has been characterized as the "Fourth Estate," a balancing factor to our three branches of government. Protection...

January 15th, 2009 will mark what would have been the 80th birthday of Martin Luther King, Jr. On January 19th we commemorate Dr. King's birthday as a national holiday. The following day, "January 20th, a country that, within living memory, denied some black citizens the right to vote will...

In 1962, in connection with the 100th anniversary of the Emancipation Proclamation, the celebrated black writer, James Baldwin wrote a dedicatory letter to his nephew on how to survive and deal with living with white racism in America. It was published as an Essay in New York Magazine under the...

The Clinton vs. Obama contest for the Democratic ticket of the upcoming residential race raises some provocative issues when reflecting on the Women's Movement and the African American community. So much so that a recent comment by Senator Hillary Clinton about it taking President Lyndon B. Johnson's signing of the...