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The State of Black Progress
- Details
- By Star Parker
As part of Black History Month 2024, my organization, CURE, Center for Urban Renewal and Education, has announced the release of "The State of Black Progress," published by Encounter Books.
This is a follow-up to "The State of Black America," published by CURE in 2022.
The objective of these tomes is to showcase first-class scholarship to paint a comprehensive picture for thinking much differently about the reality facing Black Americans than what has been the norm for many years.
Too Many Corporations, Like Universities, Have Lost Their Way
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- By Star Parker
Universities are not alone among our institutions that have lost their way. How about America's corporations, which now seem to think social justice is their job, beside efficiently delivering goods and services to the American public?
In a recent panel discussion at the Bipartisan Policy Institute, Jamie Dimon, chairman and CEO of JPMorgan, the nation's largest bank, rang the alarm about the nation's debt.
He noted what is already widely known -- that federal debt now equals 100% of GDP, on its way to 130% of GDP by 2035.
Winds of Change in the Black Vote
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- By Star Parker
Data shows that winds of political change are blowing among Black voters.
In volatile times like now, predictions can be made with only the greatest caution.
However, it seems clear that something is going on and Black voters are breaking with past voting patterns.
The New York Times reported last November that, per its polling with Siena College, 22% of Black voters in six key battleground states -- Arizona, Georgia, Michigan, Nevada, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin -- indicated they would support Republican Donald Trump.
Progressive Black Pastors Misguided on War in Gaza
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- By Star Parker
Some 1,000 Black pastors nationwide are reported to have weighed-in to pressure President Joe Biden to force a ceasefire in the war in Gaza.
According to one pastor, the war "has evoked the kind of deep-seated angst among Black people that I have not seen since the civil rights movement."
And per another, regarding the Palestinians, "we see them as a part of us ... They are oppressed people. We are oppressed people."
Freedom Is Not Free
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- By Star Parker
One picture worth a thousand words is a graph on the U.S. Department of Defense website showing U.S. annual Defense spending as a percentage of GDP, going back to 1953.
Two things jump out.
First, the lowest over the 70-year period was in 1999, at the end of the Clinton administration, when it stood at 2.7%. This is a little more than half the previous low, which stood at 4.5% 20 years earlier, in 1979.
A little over year after this historic low point in defense spending, our nation experienced the worst attack on its homeland in its history on Sept. 11, 2001.
Social Security: A Broken Socialist Dinosaur
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- By Star Parker
It seems many still harbor, or want to perpetuate, the illusion that our Social Security system is not in trouble.
Let me quote here from a press release from the Social Security Administration released March 31, 2023:
"The Social Security Board of Trustees today released its annual report on the financial status of the Social Security Trust Funds. The combined asset reserves of the Old-Age and Survivors Insurance and Disability Insurance (OASI and DI) Trust Funds are projected to become depleted in 2034, one year earlier than projected last year, with 80% of benefits payable at that time."
Abortion, Sacred Truths and Politics
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- By Star Parker
Speaking in Blue Bell, Pennsylvania, on Jan. 6, President Biden said that the 2024 election is about whether "democracy" is "still America's sacred cause."
But is democracy "sacred"?
Is the process by which we make choices "sacred," or is what we choose "sacred"?
This is the time of year we think about sanctity of life. Although Roe v. Wade is no longer law of the land, the abortion issue is still very much before us as the U.S. Congress and as states across the nation work to crystallize what the next chapter will look like regarding abortion policy in our country.
A Nation Dr. King Would Not Recognize
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- By Star Parker
This year, 2024, marks the 60th anniversary of the signing into law of the landmark 1964 Civil Rights Act.
Soon we observe the national day set aside to note and honor the leader of the movement that led to that act becoming law: Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
We must ask how, after 60 years, with vast changes in the world, with developments in technology unimaginable 60 years ago, that we remain obsessed with race. How is it that claims of racism, injustice and unfairness persist like nothing happened?
Securing Our Border at Home, Defending Our Values Globally
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- By Star Parker
With migrants now flooding our Southwestern border at a reported 10,000 seeking entry daily, it is essential that we take steps to crystalize a national immigration policy.
Republicans insist that $74 billion in funds that the Biden administration is asking in aid for Ukraine and Israel be part of a larger package that deals with border security and comprehensive immigration policy.
Agreement on such a package will benefit the whole nation.
Mazi Melesa Pilip: A Fantastic Republican to Replace George Santos
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- By Star Parker
A special election will be held in New York's 3rd Congressional District on Feb. 13 to replace George Santos, world-class conman, who Republicans recently expelled on ethics charges.
Republicans have picked a uniquely exciting candidate to run for this now open seat in Mazi Melesa Pilip.
Pilip is a Black Orthodox Jew and a mother of seven children who arrived to Israel at age 12 from Ethiopia, grew up there, served as a paratrooper in the Israel Defense Forces and continued on to earn a degree in occupational therapy at Haifa University, where she met her husband, and then earned a master's in diplomacy and security at Tel Aviv University.
Universities Symptom of Much Bigger Problem
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- By Star Parker
I have written in the past about the similarities of the stress and tensions in our country today to the stress and tensions that were taking place in the years before the Civil War.
A free country will always have debate and differences of opinion. But that debate becomes dangerous and destructive when the differences strike at the core premises that define the very existence of the nation. When we can no longer agree about who we are, what we stand for and why we exist, our very existence comes into question.
As Abraham Lincoln said, "A house divided against itself cannot stand." Then the basic premises of our free country were challenged by the existence of slavery.
The Patriotism of Sen. Tommy Tuberville
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- By Star Parker
After some 10 months blocking hundreds of promotions for senior military officers, Sen. Tommy Tuberville relented and backed off, allowing some 400 promotions to be confirmed by the Senate.
Tuberville stalled Senate confirmation for military promotions in order to pressure the Defense Department to back off its newly hatched policy on abortion in which DOD -- i.e., U.S. taxpayers -- will foot the bill for women in the military to travel out of the state where they are residing to get an abortion.
The policy was set forth after the Supreme Court ruling overturning the Roe v. Wade decision.
How To Fix Our Broken Culture
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- By Star Parker
Recently published projections for the U.S. population from the U.S. Census Bureau present a picture that should concern every American.
It's a snapshot of a dying society. It's surprising and shocking that it's not getting more attention.
The Census Bureau projects that the U.S. population will stop growing toward the end of the century. After peaking at 370 million in 2080, it will drop to 366 million in 2100, less than 10% higher than where it stood in 2022.
Ronna McDaniel Is Doing Her Job
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- By Star Parker
Moderator Lester Holt kicked off the last Republican debate by asking Vivek Ramaswamy, "Why should you be the nominee and not the former president?"
Ramaswamy ignored the question and chose instead to attack Republican National Committee Chairperson Ronna McDaniel, calling for her resignation, calling his party "a party of losers" and placing the responsibility for this accusation on her shoulders.
McDaniel may hold a high-ranking position in the structure of her party; she is chairperson.
The Importance of Tim Scott's presidential run
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- By Star Parker
Sen. Tim Scott left the door open for a future presidential run with his announcement that he is withdrawing from this one.
I hope it's the case. Although Scott's presidential campaign never ignited, his presence and campaign contributed immeasurably to our national politics, and perhaps this first experience of his in the national spotlight will make him that much more effective the next time around.
Why the Left Hates Israel and America
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- By Star Parker
This week, my organization, Center for Urban Renewal and Education, held an event in Michigan's 12th congressional district, the district of Rep. Rashida Tlaib.
Forty Christian pastors -- white, Black, Hispanic -- attended to speak out in support of Israel.
We brought these Christian spokespersons into the backyard of one of the most aggressive voices in the U.S. Congress speaking out against Israel and supporting the terrorism and aggression against the Jewish state.
Star Parker is president of the Center for Urban Renewal and Education and host of the weekly television show "Cure America with Star Parker." To find out more about Star Parker and read features by other Creators Syndicate writers and cartoonists, visit the Creators Syndicate website at www.creators.com

