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Oct 09

Please, stop calling them Christians – they aren’t.

Not unlike many younger Black men specifically, some peers whom I hold in high regard, have rightfully taken (America’s portrayal of) Christianity to task as being the “white man’s religion”, with questions emerging pertaining to how could I, a Black man, worship the same religion white slave masters, who brutalized our ancestors for centuries, used to excuse their atrocities as well as justify their actions in doing so? Numerous such conversations occurred over the years, and so, this is my attempt to summarily address such queries that I know I am not alone in having to grapple with in rationalizing, as well as in answering.

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Sep 26

Our (Camden) Kids Gon’ Be Alright!

…Remembering Hope in reflecting on my child’s and Camden Students’ educational journey

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Sep 12

Governors and Mayors: Dissolve Police Unions NOW, for the safety of us all! (sincerely, a union president)

More clearly: all police unions should be dissolved as they serve no discernible good to the public, public safety, or good policing.

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Aug 16

URGENT Action needed on Urban Hope Act (that only impacts Camden)

…That said, the Urban Hope Act (UHA) of 2012, must be radically reformed, sooner than later.

Aug 06

I live and work in Camden, the New Jersey city that disbanded and rebuilt its police force. We’ve been upheld as a model for cities like Minneapolis, but there’s a lot more to the story.

The evening of June 7, I received a direct tweet from Michael Leo Owens, professor of political science at Emory University, that read, “So many [eyes] gonna be looking to Camden for predictions re Minneapolis.” I didn’t believe it. I was slightly amused that Camden would ever be suggested as an exemplar Continue Reading…

Aug 06

Pa. coronavirus numbers double what they were last month; back-to-school worries intensify

by Anthony R. Wood, Melanie Burney and Oona Goodin-Smith, Updated: July 22, 2020 Access article at https://www.inquirer.com/health/coronavirus/coronavirus-pennsylvania-cases-camden-schools-new-jersey-quarantine-trump-20200721.html

Aug 06

Camden to reopen schools with in-classroom and remote learning

by Melanie Burney, 7/28/2020 Access article at https://www.inquirer.com/news/new-jersey-camden-schools-reopening-plan-coronavirus-pandemic-20200728.html

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Aug 02

When “leaders” don’t truly listen, difficult times only get worse; and my very New Jersey-centric suggestion for (not) “reopening” schools this Fall

DISCLAIMER: In no way am I suggesting that online, remote learning should ever subsitute in-person learning under normal societal conditions. Further, I am aware of what I am suggesting here for safety reasons, may leave parents who must return to work in a bind, and no small one at that. Continue Reading…

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Jul 13

In schools’ reopening plans, there will be no winners: District plans to reopen amdist COVID19 embodies the selecting of the best choice among all bad options

There will be no “winners” or community of individuals emerging happy at the unveiling of their district’s approach to manage education within a pandemic, and non-existent federal leadership. This is, indeed, a perfect storm that hopefully we can all survive whenever, if ever, it may end.

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Jun 24

My Fear was that I’d Fail You…But Look at You Now

Indeed, I am all over the place, but I guess I simply want to say to my Nadine publicly: “I love you. I am proud of you and expect great things from you.”