OPINION

These are some of the things we need to watch in September…

Every now and then, we need to have a Black talk silk. The clock is ticketing, and time is no longer on our side. We must wake up, recognize the urgency of the moment, and put divisiveness behind us.

There is something about a freight train passing by that still triggers one’s imagination about hobo life. That is certainly why I stopped beside the tracks earlier this week and took a few photographs for this article.

“Hand-Me-Down” is a familiar term to many. It basically is a used or second-hand item, usually some articles of clothing, passed from one person to another for reuse. However, hand-me-downs can be anything (clothing, furniture, books, toys, cars, etc.) that would benefit the recipient.

Gary A. McAbee weighs in on a mislabeled map of Africa, Philadelphia sports culture, and the unity surrounding the death of Nolan Wells.

What America still doesn't see about Black men who wander in search of honest work.

As school bells signal the beginning of a new school year, student safety must be the number one priority. Parents should be able to send their children to school confident that they will return home safely. Teachers should be able to focus on teaching—not on wondering whether their classrooms could become scenes of violence.

Raising children is a long-term investment. Showing up, paying attention and pouring into them today can shape the adults they become tomorrow.

Alas, it’s going to be a long, politically exhausting hot summer. Are you prepared? It’s been only a few months since the start of the 2026 midterm campaign season, countywide, statewide, and nationwide; but I am already experiencing election fatigue. The experience is exhausting—like being trapped in an endless political firestorm—and I am not even running for office. Regrettably, we still have months to go before the November midterm election.

Hate is not born; it is learned. It is planted, nurtured, repeated, practiced, and passed from one generation to the next. No child enters the world carrying a “hate” gene, wearing a white hood, or holding a sign of hatred. Hate takes root in homes, schools, workplaces, and communities. It is amplified on social media and reinforced by peers until it begins to look acceptable—even normal. But hate remains a choice, and we must choose love instead.

Every Fourth of July, Americans celebrate freedom with fireworks, parades, and speeches about liberty. But for many Black families in North Charleston, freedom can feel increasingly fragile. The American Dream has long been tied to one simple idea: owning a home. Homeownership offers stability, financial security, and the opportunity to build wealth that can be passed from one generation to the next. Yet for many Black families, buying a home—or simply keeping one—has become

Over the years, I have often found myself caught in the middle. As a Black conservative, that may not surprise some people. But what many do not understand is why. I grew up in Charleston, in a community that helped shape who I am. I learned values there. I learned resilience there. I learned the importance of faith, family, education, hard work, and personal responsibility there. Those lessons did not disappear because I became a Republican. If anything, they became stronger

Like so many in our community, I watched the recent incident involving a group of young people confronting a North Charleston police officer with concern and disappointment. The video has sparked strong opinions, with people quickly choosing sides. But perhaps we should pause long enough to ask a different question: What are we teaching our children about respect, dignity, and survival?

Where are the Politicians Who Pledged to Protect Black People From Being Exploited?