EDITORIAL
The Black Press Maintains its Seat at the Table
The Ukrainian War Crisis is the major headline news event on every broadcast network and in every newspaper and news magazine commonly referred to as “mainstream.” The horrific story of the recent unprovoked war by Russia against Ukraine is but another example of how these organizations feed into a consistent pattern of racism and discrimination against Black journalists who work for the Black Press. Once again, only journalists from white-owned media are invited to a seat at the table to analyze the headlines and issues impacting all Americans. Reporters from the Black Press, however, are consistently excluded. The unspoken reality is that every headline news story today happens to involve an institution led by a Black man or woman currently serving in the Biden Administration. The U.S. role in the war in Ukraine includes the leadership of U.S. Secretary of Defense General Lloyd Austin, the first African American to serve in that post and the person who will dictate how U.S. troops will respond militarily to help Ukraine defend itself. When he speaks on “mainstream” media, there’s no Black journalist from a Black-owned news organization there to question him or provide analyses of the U.S. role. The person who speaks on behalf of the U.S. at the United Nations is Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield, the second African-American woman to serve in that role and responsible for carrying out the nation’s participation in the world body. Thomas-Greenfield appears on national networks to address diplomatic talks about the war in Ukraine but never to a member of the Black Press. Meanwhile, President Biden nominated U.S. District Court of Appeals Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson to a seat on the U.S. Supreme Court, the first African-American woman nominated for the post. Her nomination brings greater diversity to the preeminent U.S. legal institution, whose legal decisions have historically impacted the lives of Black people. Still, no journalists from the Black Press are invited to a seat at the table to analyze what her nomination means for all Americans and how her decisions will impact Black Americans’ constitutional rights. On March 16, 1827, when the first Black-owned newspaper in the U.S. was founded, it was because Black voices were shut out of the debate over the abolition of slavery. In their first editorial, Samuel E. Cornish and John B. Russwurm wrote: “In short, whatever concerns us as a people, will ever find a ready admission into the Freedom’s Journal.” One hundred and ninety-five years later, the mission of the Black Press has not changed. No matter whether Black Press journalists are invited to a seat at “their” table, the voices of those the Black Press represents will always have a seat at ours. WI
Still, no journalists from the Black Press are invited to a seat at the table to analyze what her nomination means for all Americans and how her decisions will impact Black Americans’ constitutional rights.
As Gas Prices Reach Record Highs, Many Brace for New Economic Hurdles
No matter where you live in the U.S., gas prices continue to soar with a national average price per gallon surpassing $4 – a price not seen since July 2008. And with Russia’s recent invasion of Ukraine and President Joe Biden’s decision to invoke further sanctions against President Putin and Russia, experts fear oil supply shortages will further impact the price of gasoline at the pumps. The District and Maryland pump prices soared to a record high on March 7, according to AAA as consumers are now paying 40 cents more per gallon than just one week ago. As of March 7, D.C.’s average gas prices were well above the national mean at $4.225 per gallon, based on AAA reports – 60 cents more than one month ago and the highest since 2011. In Maryland, the average price per gallon, at $4.09, comes in just a bit lower than in the District with Montgomery County reporting the highest price. Around the DMV, Virginia’s average
TO THE EDITOR Rest easy to the former D.C. Fire and EMS chief Kenneth Ellerbe. He served the District well. Though the sudden loss saddens us, his legacy and life works will forever be remembered. Marvin Talley Washington, DC
I’m not sure how I feel about Maryland allowing kids to go maskless. I think it’s scary because of unknown consequences. But, I do understand both sides of the argument. It’s hard for adults to wear masks all day long, let alone school children. I just pray that everyone takes the precautions they think are best and gets vaccinated. Deborah Rogers Suitland, Md.
price may be the best for now at $3.90 per gallon but in Northern Virginia, all jurisdictions continue to post prices above $4 per gallon. Analysts at GasBuddy predict prices will continue to climb given the fact that demand typically increases during warmer months as travel season kicks off. And as the pandemic appears to be more contained, workers are being encouraged to transition back from teleworking to working in offices, therefore requiring commuters to either drive or take public transportation. Some commuters may decide to ride together in order to save money. Others may decide to make Metro their primary means of transportation. Some may even hope to stick it out at home for a few more months. But no
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matter how we proceed, experts believe gas prices will break the $5 per gallon mark in the coming weeks. And watch out for those unscrupulous businesses who take advantage of consumers and try to make a profit with gas gouging. Spring may almost be here in the DMV with the glorious return of cherry blossoms. And excitement may dominate our emotions as mask mandates continue to be lifted in most of the region. But with surging food and now record-high gasoline prices, economic insecurity will continue to plague us all. We can only hope that President Biden, members of Congress and our local politicians have strategies in motion to help citizens make it through these financially turbulent times. WI
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