Civil rights activist Rev. Jesse Jackson, who died on February 17, was a protégé of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and among the last remaining icons of the modern Civil Rights Movement. Known for his fiery oratory, he was once nicknamed “The Country Preacher,”
Black History Month is a time to acknowledge and celebrate the achievements and courageous acts of people of African descent in the United States and around the world. This year Black History month celebrates its 100th anniversary. Yet Black History Month has failed to fully
Heeding the call for healing The 2026 observance of Martin Luther King Jr. Day marks the 41st observance of the holiday. Its theme — “Mission Possible 2: Building Community, Uniting a Nation the Nonviolent Way” — already felt challenging in a politically polarized era. With
What does the reversal of Roe mean for Obergefell? Overturning marriage equality is now a present threat. Many of the issues both people of color and LGBTQ+ Americans confronted in President Trump’s first term — health care, unemployment, housing, immigration, voting rights, among others —
There will be parades and observances across America this Memorial Day commemorating U.S. service members who made the ultimate sacrifice. But not all service members will be honored for their acts of service, bravery, and patriotism. Back in the day, LGBTQ+ service members who died
Pope Francis, the “People’s Pope” and one of the Roman Catholic Church’s most beloved pontiffs, who was laid to rest today after passing into the arms of God on Easter Monday at age 88, nonetheless left behind a complicated legacy on LGBTQ+ inclusion in the
How faith shaped his life and public service We always remember our first experiences. My first experience to cast a ballot for the president of the United States was in 1976. James Earl “Jimmy” Carter Jr. — an engineer, a former naval officer, a humble
Why the proximity of the two holidays should provoke reflection This July 4th, America for the 248th time celebrates its independence from British rule. But the proximity of Juneteenth, now a federal holiday since President Biden designated it as such in 2023, should force Americans
There’s still a difference between accepting and affirming Last month, United Methodist Church delegates voted to repeal the denomination’s long-held exclusionary stance toward its LGBTQ+ members in church doctrine, polity, and social standing. The news was received with mixed feelings — cheers and tears. “We
Is this just a blunder, or has the Pope revealed his true colors? Pope Francis sent global shock waves when the news broke that he used the highly offensive F-word frociaggine (“faggotness” in Italian) in a closed-door conversation at the Italian Bishops’ Conference. During a