12 Voices

My mother, born and raised in Pittsburgh, Pa., had flawless diction. Folks in our neighborhood accused her of “talking white.”

I noticed a picture of some Black mayors smiling as Sen. Barack Obama spoke at the annual meeting of the Conference of Mayors in Miami that took place on June 21.

The Fourth of July is a date that historically brings about much confliction in the African American community.

I’m a news junkie. No matter how hectic my day, when I have a free moment, I’ve got to get my news fix.

Over a 48-hour period this Memorial Day weekend, 21 people were shot in New York City, six fatally. A gunman opened fire on a crowd in a shopping district in Queens and wounded five people. A 15 year old was killed while leaving a party in Manhattan. A 13

It was early evening on April 4, 1968 - nearly 40 years ago - a day that would forever be etched on my memory. As woman's editor, I was in the Chicago Defender's lower level composing room, overseeing the final makeup and layout of my pages for the Defend