COLUMNISTS

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.

On June 17, Charleston paused to mark the 11th anniversary of one of the darkest days in the city's history. Eleven years after a white supremacist entered the Wednesday evening Bible study at Mother Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church and murdered nine Black worshippers, church members, families, clergy, elected officials, and residents gathered once again to remember lives that continue to shape the conscience of Charleston and the nation.

When the International African American Museum opened in Charleston in June 2023, it was celebrated as one of the most important cultural institutions ever built to tell the story of African Americans. Located on Gadsden’s Wharf, where historians estimate that nearly 40 percent of enslaved Africans brought to North America first entered the country, the museum quickly became a destination for visitors from across the United States and around the world.

In the previous article we reviewed the first four (4) leadership styles. The last four (4) leadership styles are as follows:

Last month in Denver, Colorado, the City of North Charleston earned national recognition as one of ten cities to receive the National Civic League’s All-America City Award. Yet, three weeks later, a video surfaced of North Charleston juveniles beating and stomping a female police officer, portraying a troubling contrast. While Mayor Reggie Burgess is working to improve the city’s image and move North Charleston forward, others seem determined to cloud it.

To be eligible for benefits from the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), the claimant must be a veteran or, in some circumstances, a survivor or dependent of a veteran. By statute, veteran is defined as a “person who served in active military, naval, air, or space service, and who was discharged or released under conditions other than dishonorable.” For a servicemember to establish veteran status, generally the individual must have completed active military service for a min

There was a time when disagreement did not automatically end a relationship. Neighbors with opposing political views still borrowed cups of sugar from one another. Families gathered around holiday tables trusting that even spirited conversation couldn’t outweigh love. Friends debated passionately and still laughed together the next day.

Alas, it’s going to be a long, politically exhausting hot summer. Are you prepared? It’s been only a few months since the start of the 2026 midterm campaign season, countywide, statewide, and nationwide; but I am already experiencing election fatigue. The experience is exhausting—like being trapped in an endless political firestorm—and I am not even running for office. Regrettably, we still have months to go before the November midterm election.

The Black Voice joins countless family members, friends, mentees, and community leaders in mourning the passing of Arthur Chisolm—a man whose life was defined by service, faith, and an unwavering belief in the potential of others.

Hate is not born; it is learned. It is planted, nurtured, repeated, practiced, and passed from one generation to the next. No child enters the world carrying a “hate” gene, wearing a white hood, or holding a sign of hatred. Hate takes root in homes, schools, workplaces, and communities. It is amplified on social media and reinforced by peers until it begins to look acceptable—even normal. But hate remains a choice, and we must choose love instead.

Charleston County is at a crossroads. Over the next five years, millions of federal dollars will be invested in affordable housing, neighborhood revitalization, economic development, and homelessness prevention. At the same time, rising home prices, redevelopment, increasing insurance costs, and a shortage of affordable housing continue to reshape communities across the Lowcountry.

Every Fourth of July, Americans celebrate freedom with fireworks, parades, and speeches about liberty. But for many Black families in North Charleston, freedom can feel increasingly fragile. The American Dream has long been tied to one simple idea: owning a home. Homeownership offers stability, financial security, and the opportunity to build wealth that can be passed from one generation to the next. Yet for many Black families, buying a home—or simply keeping one—has become

South Carolina does not currently have a statewide hate crimes law. However, that does not mean crimes motivated by hate go unpunished.

Dr. Precious Jemison is a proud product of the Charleston County School District and a dedicated educational leader committed to student success and academic excellence. She began her career in education in 2019 as a teacher and coach at R.B. Stall High School, where she taught while coaching multiple sports. She later served as an educator at Buist Academy for two years before returning to R.B. Stall High School to continue her work with students and staff.