We’re back with our first new batch of op-eds for the year. I hope you had a great holiday season — we’re glad to be back in your inbox!
This week in OtherWords, Dedrick Asante-Muhammad and Chuck Collins mark this year’s Martin Luther King, Jr. Day — what would have been the late civil rights leader’s 95th birthday — by taking stock of our country’s progress in closing the racial economic gap. Drawing on their findings from a groundbreaking study, they show how racial economic inequality rapidly narrowed during King’s lifetime but note that progress has stagnated in our own century. How can we close it? Read on to find out.
Also this week, veteran attorney and civil rights activist Mitchell Zimmerman applies an old legal adage to the war in Gaza: “Men are presumed to intend the natural consequences of their acts.” He goes on to lay out a compelling case that there’s nothing accidental about the humanitarian crisis the Israeli invasion has caused — and calls on the Biden administration to revisit its support for the war.
Finally, we start the new year with a pair of good news pieces about a fact of daily life: transportation. In one, LeeAnn Hall highlights a new Biden administration rule that will mean more sustainable local transit and better local jobs. In the other, Liam Crisan explains the surprisingly simple logic behind a bold idea: Just make public transit free. More cities are doing it and reaping the benefits, he explains.
A happy belated new year from all of us at OtherWords!
New This Week…
MLK Would Have Been 95 This Year. Let’s Make His Dream a Reality. | Dedrick Asante-Muhammad and Chuck Collins
King’s lifetime saw substantial economic progress for Black Americans, but in our century progress has slowed to a crawl. Here’s how we get it back on track.
Civilian Casualties in Gaza Are No Accident | Mitchell Zimmerman
Israeli leaders have openly endorsed starving, killing, and displacing Palestinian civilians — and that’s what they’re doing. Is Biden listening?
The Case for Free Public Transit | Liam Crisan
Cities across the U.S. have been embracing a bold new transit policy: zero fares. The results are promising.
Biden’s New Transit Rule Is Good News for People and the Planet | LeeAnn Hall
The administration rolled out a new rule to make sure federal transit dollars are invested in sustainable projects that create local jobs and allow communities to be part of the solution.
Cartoon: Going for Broke | Khalil Bendib
All that military aid is starting to add up to real money.
In Case You Missed It…
As We Look to 2024, Here’s What Hope Looks Like |
When it felt like the world was falling apart, these movements brought people together to make what seemed impossible, possible.
Celebrating the Resilience of Low-Income WomenI’ve spent the last few years working with poor people advocating for change. Seeing their resilience firsthand, I feel hopeful.
On Gaza, Biden Is Violating International Law | by The U.S. government says it stands for justice and the rule of law. So why won’t it stand by those principles for Palestinians?
The Importance of Home For generations, poor people have relied on each other to keep a roof over their heads. But in the world’s wealthiest country, we need more.
