BLACK HISTORY

When Georgia voters open their ballots this November, they will find thirteen Black women asking for their votes — a number without precedent in the state's history, and arguably in the country's.

A new message greets visitors and residents to Sullivan’s Island, and it says much more about the community than its few words suggest. On June 11, just in time for the Carolina Day celebration this weekend, the town mounted an addition to its welcome sign where Ben Sawyer Boulevard becomes Station 22½ Street. It reads, “Battle of Sullivan’s Island, 1776.”

Muslims in the United States often face negative stereotyping and suspicion. Especially in the years following 9/11, Muslims have been frequently cast as outsiders. What many may not know is that Muslims have been part of the American story since its founding. Scholars estimate that as many as 30% of Africans who were enslaved and brought to the Americas between the 16th and 19th centuries were Muslim.

If you listen to some of today's political debates, you might think America has become tired of talking about race. Diversity, equity, and inclusion programs are being dismantled. Books are challenged. School curricula are scrutinized. Discussions about race are increasingly portrayed as divisive. In some circles, simply acknowledging that race has shaped American history is treated as a form of racism itself.

The word “plantation” evokes deep anger in many Black communities. Tree-lined dirt roads leading to a large white house and small one-room cabins where enslaved people once lived are powerful reminders of centuries of abuse and unpaid labor. Even now, many Gen Z White Americans still struggle to understand why Black people are demanding reparations.

This year, the United States marks 250 years since the signing of the Declaration of Independence. Across the country, Americans are celebrating the nation's founding with parades, ceremonies, speeches, exhibitions, and reflections on the meaning of freedom. Yet as we commemorate this milestone, it is worth asking a question that often goes unexamined: Which founding are we celebrating?

WASHINGTON — President Trump signed into law H.R. 3377, legislation that authorizes the President to award the Medal of Honor to retired U.S. Marine Corps Major James Capers, Jr., for his extraordinary heroism during the Vietnam War.

For Dacia Davis, earning a master’s degree from Georgia State University was more than an academic milestone. It became the beginning of a journey that deepened her understanding of history, identity, and heritage.

Throughout Scripture, there is a truth that rings clear: God has always worked through people the world has chosen to overlook. From the margins of society, from places of oppression, and from cultures often dismissed by power, God has consistently chosen vessels of faith, courage, and purpose.

Retired Chief Petty Officer James “Jim” John French, Sr., was born October 7, 1926, in Kansas City, Kansas, to Thomas J. French and Anna Miller French. He was married 69 years to Olivia Jackson French. Children: James Jr (Nickname, Jimmy), Nanette, and Simona.