Commentary

It looks like Memphis-Shelby County Schools (MSCS) will be restarting its search for a new district superintendent. The process has been so convoluted that it is hard to imagine any top-tier superintendent being interested in a place with such turmoil.  So,...
The U.S. Supreme Court is, again, living in the Land of Make-Believe. On Thursday, six of the Court’s nine justices issued a ruling that bars colleges and universities from using race as a factor in admissions. However, this decision locks in advantages...
Over the last 50 or more years, consumers have experienced an avalanche of technological innovations that have impacted almost every aspect of their lives. Three of the more impactful of these innovations include (1) the personal computer, (2) the internet,...
by Eric D. Harris -- After the 2023 TCAP scores were released, I spoke with two school leaders regarding their school’s performance.  Both revealed different levels of performance and had different interpretations of that performance. Amazingly, both school leaders came to this...
by Angela Johnson -- Last week, we told you about a Miami-area parent whose complaints about Amanda Gorman’s poem, “The Hill We Climb,” caused its removal from a local elementary school. Now, that parent is admitting to what the rest of...
by Dr. Benjamin F. Chavis Jr. -- Whether we accept it or not, obesity continues to be a complex, chronic disease that kills thousands of Black Americans every year. Indeed, nearly half of Black Americans live with obesity, so we...
There was something extra special about last week's Teacher Appreciation celebrations. As an educator, I had the opportunity to work with some great classroom teachers during my career. But given what teachers have endured over the last three years, my...
As we wrap up state TCAP testing this week, I congratulate and commend all our teachers and administrators for the hard work put in this school year to improve the achievement levels of our children. Now the waiting begins. This always...
by Clennon “Wayne” Murray and Brandon Murray -- The highly anticipated and long-awaited Murray-Haley Family Reunion is set for July 20 through July 23 and will spread over Memphis, Henning and Ripley. The planning of the reunion event was initially discussed...
I am not the kind of person who likes to say, “I told you so.” But I told you so! It never fails, somehow or another “drama” has a way of finding a welcoming seat at the table when it comes...