Spiegel: Making progress against the pandemic
The end of the coronavirus pandemic has landed on the shoulders of biotechnology, biopharmaceutical and life sciences companies. But instead of crumbling under global pressure, these industries have come together, pooling their resources to fight COVID-19 and keep vulnerable Americans safe. (Daily Record)
Jones, Burton & Richardson: Show that black lives matter by funding Maryland’s HBCUs
Cascading demands for racial justice and equal rights unleashed by the murder of George Floyd led Maryland’s Lt. Gov. Boyd Rutherford to assert, in a June 3, Washington Post article, that America has reached “a turning point” in addressing racism and inequality in all American institutions. In his own state, this must include vindicating the constitutional rights of students at the state’s historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs) that suffer academic disparities described by Judge Catherine C. Blake as “worse than Mississippi of the 1970s.” (Balt Sun)
EDITORIAL: Prince George’s next police chief will face a clear reform agenda
Two things, seemingly contradictory, were simultaneously true about Hank Stawinski, who as chief of the 1,500-officer Prince George’s County Police Department in suburban Maryland, led the main law enforcement force in one of the nation’s largest majority African American counties. First, he was widely respected as an effective, data-driven leader, committed to reducing crime and proactive in reaching out to the community he served. (Wash Post)
Robinson: Now Is the Worst Time to Shortchange Community Colleges
Across the nation, we are seeing what happens when workers do not have economic security. Working families are having to choose between their health and paying their bills. COVID-19 has put everyone in a state of vulnerability, especially persons who live in underfunded communities. We are witnessing high numbers of COVID-19 cases, still. And countless people are being impacted directly or indirectly by the virus. Many of them are students and employees of Maryland’s community colleges. (Md Matters)
EDITORIAL: States must accelerate their plans for contact tracing
After the initial wave of coronavirus infections, the next period — waiting for an effective vaccine or drug therapy — will be a slog, and require a host of measures to suppress outbreaks and keep people safe. One essential ingredient for this next period is nowhere near ready. If the economy is to be reopened in a way that is smart and prevents a major virus resurgence, the states must accelerate plans for contact tracing. (Wash Post)Dionne Jr: Trump’s betrayal of American greatness
McCray: Don’t freeze planned minimum wage increase
The COVID-19 pandemic has given us all a powerful lesson on the importance of front line workers to our state and national ecoomy. Over the past few months, we have watched as grocery staff, nursing home professionals, hospital personnel and other front line workers have continued to ensure that the basic needs of people across Maryland are met. And they do this while many of us are able to enjoy the safety of our homes during the pandemic. (Balt Sun)Read Full Article
McDaniels: Aunt Jemima should have disappeared a long time ago
Quite frankly the decision by Quaker Oats, and its parent PepsiCo, to get rid of the demonstratively offensive Aunt Jemima brand is not impressive and deserves no applause. The company has known for years the problems with the mammy caricature. It was no secret. The image has boasted its offensiveness prominently on grocery store shelves my entire life. Even after Quaker Oats cleaned it up with a more modern-looking auntie, one that removed the head scarf slave women were forced to wear. (Balt Sun)Read Full Article
