On February 21, 1965, Malcolm X was fatally wounded. This step into immortality has been retold countless times over the past 60 years in movies, books, and documentaries. The controversies that persist surrounding Malcolm X’s death continue to cast a shadow of suspicion over the leadership of the Nation of Islam (NOI) and our federal
With Inauguration Day and MLK Day coinciding this year, it is worth reflecting on what this means, how far we have come as a nation, and how far we have yet to go. In the circles I frequent, there is little to be optimistic about. After decades of struggle towards racial equality and the real
The Martin Luther King, Jr. (MLK) National Holiday provides all Americans with an opportunity to reflect and refocus our energies on solving the issues profoundly impacting American society. Indeed, much uncertainty looms around American citizen’s social, economic, and political existences going into this new year. Although we are enduring global conflicts, plagues, and pestilence, we
Very few Americans (of any demographic) would be able to draw many positive similarities between 2024 President-elect Donald J. Trump and the late Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Yet, on January 20, 2025, the legacy of the two notable historical figures will be entwined in American history. In August 2024, Trump compared supporters of then-President
In my family, education is foundational. Howard University, University of the District of Columbia, South Carolina State University, Alabama A&M University, North Carolina Central University, and now Prairie View A&M University: HBCUs have always been at the forefront of how we pursue further education. From a young age, my parents have always instilled in me
Photo credit: @Bailey.Photography_ My name is Akela Woodard-Mardis, and I am a proud alum of Prairie View A&M University. I earned my bachelor’s degree in criminal justice in 2022, and on December 13, 2024, I will graduate from Prairie View A&M with my master’s degree in juvenile justice. My journey has not been
As the 2024 election ushers in a new administration, libraries must advocate strongly for their role as independent, neutral spaces that foster free access to information for all people. In the 2024 legislative sessions, a record number of bills were introduced that threaten library protections and freedom of access. Those include proposals to remove legal
Sadly, here we go again. Another Black life was extinguished at the hands of someone who should not have been in law enforcement. On July 6, 2024, a 36-year-old mother of two, Ms. Sonya Massey, called law enforcement to investigate a possible intruder. What seemed like a routine interaction between a citizen and an officer
As the 2024 hurricane season begins with concerns over projected activity, Tropical Storm Alberto swiftly impacted South Texas and Central Mexico. The storm's early arrival underscores the unpredictability of these weather events. Reflecting on the 2023 Atlantic hurricane season, which was initially expected to be average, it unexpectedly became the fourth-most active on record, featuring
Figure 1: Picture of Charles Joel Robinson, courtesy of the Williams Family General Gordon Granger formally decreeing slavery’s end in Galveston on June 19, 1865, was an epoch event that demolished the existing social, economic and political foundations of society in Texas. Moreover, the end of slavery in the Lone Star State ushered