The fireworks have dimmed, and the Fourth-of-You-Lie sales are waning. In this country, we commemorate through commerce and celebrate through retail activity, so even though we are just a few days into July, back-to-school signs are already shouting from store windows and websites.

Who is going back to school, and under what circumstances?

As with every milestone in this country, inequality roars. Some students will return to school with new laptops, quiet rooms, family-paid tuition, and networks that cushion every stumble. Others will return carrying debt, doubt, family obligations, food insecurity, transportation challenges, and the accumulated disadvantages of underfunded schools and under-resourced communities.

The back-to-school season is marketed as a fresh start. For too many students, it is also a reminder that opportunity in America has always been rationed.

That is why Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) still matter. Indeed, that is why HBCUs remain the vanguard.

The vanguard is not always the largest part of the army. It is the front edge. It moves first. It absorbs blows. It clears the path. By that definition, HBCUs have always been the vanguard. They were built because this country’s higher education system excluded Black people by law, custom, violence, and contempt. Their founding question was not, “How do we reproduce privilege?” Their founding question was, “How do we cultivate genius where America has refused to see it?”

That question remains urgent.

HBCUs enroll only a fraction of Black college students, but their impact is outsized. In 2022, HBCUs enrolled about 9 percent of Black college students, yet they produced 16 percent of the bachelor’s degrees earned by Black students in 2021–22. UNCF reports that HBCUs generate $16.5 billion in annual economic impact, support more than 136,000 jobs, and that the 2021 HBCU graduating class is projected to earn $146 billion over their lifetimes.

These are not sentimental institutions. They are economic engines, leadership factories, and community anchors.

Still, HBCUs are too often asked to do transformative work with transactional support.

That contradiction is especially sharp now, as federal student loan policy shifts under the feet of students and families. The Biden-era SAVE plan — Saving on a Valuable Education — was designed to make repayment less punishing by tying payments to income and family size, reducing monthly payments for many borrowers, limiting runaway interest, and creating a shorter forgiveness path for some small-balance borrowers. Now SAVE has ended, and millions of borrowers have been told to move into other repayment plans.

The change lands first on borrowers already in repayment, but current students are not untouched. Undergraduates will face a narrower repayment landscape when they leave school. Families will confront new Parent PLUS limits. Graduate and professional students will face new borrowing caps just as advanced credentials remain expensive and often necessary. Graduate PLUS loans, which previously allowed many graduate students to borrow up to the cost of attendance, are being phased out for new borrowers. Grad PLUS was the backstop many students used when tuition and living costs exceeded unsubsidized loan limits.

These numbers are not abstractions. They determine who can become a nurse practitioner, a physical therapist, a psychologist, a professor, a public health leader, a lawyer, a dentist, a physician, or a minister. They determine who can move from the first degree to the next rung. They determine whether talent is nurtured or stranded.

For Black students, the stakes are higher because the debt burden is heavier. Black students are more likely to borrow for college, more likely to borrow more, and more likely to struggle in repayment because the racial wealth gap follows them from home to campus and from campus to workplace. A loan policy that may look race-neutral on paper can still deepen racial inequality in practice.

That is the context in which HBCUs do their work. They educate students through inequality, against inequality, and beyond inequality. They do not merely polish privilege. They cultivate possibility. They take seriously the students America too often treats as afterthoughts, and they turn potential into leadership.

Having led an HBCU, I know both the miracle, the math, and the myth. At Bennett College, I saw daily what HBCUs do with too little: stretch dollars, nurture brilliance, hold students close, and insist that Black women’s futures were worth fighting for. I know the devotion of faculty, the exhaustion of administrators, the anxiety of families, and the constant scramble for resources. I also know this: HBCUs cannot be praised in February and underfunded in July. They cannot be applauded at commencements and ignored in appropriations. They cannot be celebrated as cultural treasures while their students are left to navigate a debt system that punishes aspiration.

The country loves the symbolism of back-to-school season. New backpacks. New notebooks. New slogans. But the real question is not what is on sale, it’s what is at stake.

If HBCUs are the vanguard, then the question is not whether they have earned our admiration. They have. The question is whether they will receive the investment, protection, and respect that their record demands.

Back to school should not mean back to debt, back to rationed opportunity, or back to the same old inequalities dressed up in fresh retail packaging. It should mean back to possibility. Back to purpose. Back to institutions that have carried us when the broader society would not.

HBCUs are still carrying us. The question is whether public policy will finally carry its share.

The Connection Between School Quality and Neighborhood Vitality

Research consistently shows that the quality of local schools is one of the top factors families consider when choosing where to live. When a neighborhood earns a reputation for excellent public education, it tends to attract and retain residents who are deeply invested in the long-term health of that community. Property values stabilize, local businesses benefit from consistent foot traffic, and civic organizations gain the engaged membership they need to function effectively. This dynamic creates a virtuous cycle in which strong schools produce informed, motivated graduates who go on to become the teachers, entrepreneurs, and community leaders of tomorrow.

In Los Angeles specifically, this pattern plays out across dozens of neighborhoods. Families who once felt they had no choice but to relocate in search of better educational options are increasingly finding that high-quality public schools exist closer to home than they realized. Identifying those schools, and understanding what makes them successful, is the first step toward making informed decisions for children and communities alike.

What Sets the Top Public Schools Apart

Not all schools that perform well share the same formula, but the most consistently successful institutions tend to share a few core characteristics. Strong instructional leadership, a stable and experienced teaching staff, high expectations for all students regardless of background, and genuine family engagement are recurring features of schools that outperform their peers. Equally important is a school culture that treats students as capable individuals rather than passive recipients of information.

For parents navigating the complex landscape of public education in Southern California, resources that aggregate and contextualize school performance data are invaluable. A thorough look at the best schools in los angeles reveals that high performance is not limited to any single zip code or demographic. Charter schools, magnet programs, and traditional neighborhood schools all appear among the top performers, which speaks to the diversity of educational models that can succeed when the right conditions are in place.

The Role of Community Investment in School Success

Schools do not exist in isolation. Their success is deeply intertwined with the communities they serve and the broader networks of support that surround them. Parent-teacher organizations, local business partnerships, nonprofit foundations, and city government all play meaningful roles in determining whether a school can sustain its performance over time. When these stakeholders align around a shared commitment to student outcomes, the results can be transformative.

Community investment also takes more tangible forms. Volunteer tutoring programs, after-school enrichment activities, mentorship initiatives connecting students with working professionals, and fundraising campaigns for technology and arts programs all contribute to an educational environment that goes beyond what standardized test scores can capture. Schools that thrive in Los Angeles are almost always embedded in networks of community support that extend well beyond the classroom walls.

Education as an Engine of Economic Mobility

The economic argument for investing in public education is compelling and well-documented. Students who receive a strong foundational education are significantly more likely to complete high school, pursue post-secondary credentials, and enter the workforce with the skills employers actually need. Over a lifetime, the income differential between those who complete a quality education and those who do not is substantial, and those individual outcomes aggregate into measurable effects on local and regional economies.

As Pew Research Center has documented through decades of social and economic analysis, educational attainment remains one of the strongest predictors of economic security and upward mobility in the United States. In a city as economically diverse as Los Angeles, where the gap between high earners and low earners is among the widest in the nation, the stakes of educational access are especially high. Every student who gains access to a quality school represents not just an individual success story, but a concrete contribution to the city’s long-term economic resilience.

Looking Forward: Building on What Works

The encouraging news is that Los Angeles has no shortage of models worth scaling. Schools that have managed to close achievement gaps, raise graduation rates, and send first-generation college students to four-year universities are demonstrating every day that the obstacles are not insurmountable. The challenge now is ensuring that the lessons learned in those high-performing environments can be applied more broadly, and that families across the city have the information they need to advocate for their children effectively.

Policy conversations about school funding equity, teacher recruitment and retention, and the expansion of successful school models are all part of this larger picture. So too are the quieter, less headline-grabbing efforts of individual principals, counselors, and classroom teachers who show up every day committed to making a difference. Progress in public education rarely arrives in dramatic leaps. It accumulates through sustained effort, honest evaluation, and a willingness to learn from both successes and failures.

Los Angeles is a city with enormous potential, and its schools are both a reflection of that potential and one of the primary means of realizing it. When communities rally around the goal of educational excellence, the benefits extend far beyond any individual student or classroom. They ripple outward into neighborhoods, economies, and generations, shaping the kind of city Los Angeles is capable of becoming. The work is ongoing, but the evidence that it matters could not be clearer.

Staff Writer; Walter Jones

In the House, it narrowly passed 218-214.

Not one Democrat voted for it in either chamber.

President Donald Trump signed it into law on July 4, 2025.

One provision in this narrowly passed law had the potential to help school children all across the country. It was the Federal Scholarship Tax Credit program. This program, now set to begin in 2027, will give Americans a nonrefundable tax credit of up to $1,700 per year for making donations to support school-choice scholarships set up in the states.

“Under the program,” explains the Congressional Research Service, “taxpayers will be eligible to receive a tax credit of up to $1,700 for the value of cash contributions to certain scholarship granting organizations (SGOs). These organizations, in turn, will be required to use these contributions to grant scholarships to students at private and public elementary and secondary schools located within their states.”

Recipients of these scholarships would be subject to a family income limit. “Eligibility for scholarships,” said the CRS, “will be limited to students whose family income is below 300% of their area median income.”

Recipients will be able to use the money from these scholarships to cover basic educational costs, including tuition and books, at elementary and secondary schools, whether they are “public, private or religious.”

Whether or not to participate in this school-choice scholarship program was left to the states themselves. “States (and the District of Columbia) may choose whether to recognize eligible SGOs within their jurisdictions,” explained the CRS report. “To qualify for the credit, a contribution must be made to a state-sponsored SGO (which need not be located in the same state as the taxpayer), and the organization must only provide scholarships to students located within the state that recognized it. This effectively allows states to decide whether to make students who live within their borders eligible for the program.”

Why would the political leadership of a state prevent students in their state from receiving scholarship money voluntarily contributed by individual Americans? Because they want to prevent families, who would otherwise lack the necessary resources, from choosing to send their children to private or religious schools rather than to government-run schools.

By contrast, Republican Gov. Jim Pillen of Nebraska wasted little time in signing his state up for these scholarships. On Sept. 29, 2025, he went to St. Teresa Catholic School, not far from the Nebraska capital, and signed an executive order backing his state’s participation in the program. “This program is a game-changer for Nebraska students and their families, generating funds that will help send students to the school of their choice,” he said.

South Dakota soon followed Nebraska. Republican Gov. Larry Rhoden announced on Nov. 14, 2025, that his state also would be joining the school-choice scholarship program. “Parents should have the freedom to choose the learning environment that sets their kids up for success,” he said. “I am grateful that President Trump has the same conviction and is helping us create more opportunities for our students.”

Yet it was not just Republican governors who had their states join the program. The Colorado Sun reported on Dec. 5, 2025, that Democratic Colorado Gov. Jared Polis “said it was a no-brainer for the state to take advantage of the federal tax credit scholarship program, describing it as ‘a real boom of investment in kids.'”

“I mean, it would be crazy not to,” he said.

When the Kentucky state legislature passed a bill in March that opted their state into the Federal Scholarship Tax Credit program, Democratic Gov. Andy Beshear took a different approach. He vetoed the bill. “Kentuckians have been firm that public dollars should only be used for public education,” Beshear said.

“Kentuckians love our public schools,” he said.

The Kentucky legislature overwhelmingly disagreed — with the state senate voting 31-5 and the state house voting 77-14 to override Beshear’s veto.

What did California, the nation’s most populous state, do about the Federal Scholarship Tax Credit program? Republican Rep. Vince Fong of California sent Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom a letter in January urging him to bring their state into the program. “By electing to participate, you would ensure this new federal education benefit will flow to California students, regardless of whether they attend a public or private school, and at no cost to the State,” Fong wrote to Newsom.

The IRS published a list indicating that, as of June 22, there were 28 states that had signed up to participate in the Federal Scholarship Tax Credit Program. Newsom’s California was not one of them.

Newsom, as this column has noted before, attended Notre Dame des Victoires, a Catholic grammar school in the heart of San Francisco.

When that school marked its 100th anniversary in 2024, Newsom recalled the remarkable opportunity it had provided him.

“Attending Ecole Notre Dame des Victoires was a transformative experience,” he said. “It was here that I learned not only how to conjugate verbs in French, but also about the rich tapestry of French Catholic history. This foundation has stayed with me throughout my life, and I am grateful for the lifelong connections and values instilled in me during my time at NDV.”

So, why is he not supporting a program that would provide funding to help children in San Francisco today embrace a similar experience?

The 2025 National Assessment of Educational Progress “long-term trend” tests showed a continuing pattern in American education: Catholic school students outscored public school students in reading and math. Among 13-year-olds, the average reading score among public school students was 255 out of 500. Among Catholic school students, it was 276 out of 500. The average mathematics score among 13-year-olds in public schools was 269 out of 500. Among Catholic school students, it was 291 out of 500.

Embracing unlimited school choice, where every student gets a voucher equal to the full per-pupil expenditures in the local public schools, would be good for students and for our country.

Written by Terence P. Jeffrey

Official website; http://twitter.com/terryjeffrey

The Chinese leader’s assessment of the United States may have been self-serving, but it is a true. The United States as a world superpower is on the decline. Our respect on the world stage is diminished, and we are humiliated over the events and negotiations surrounding the Iran war. Any person can be quick to defend the United States against criticism or against things said that would place the nation in a negative light.

Some will go as far as to reframe the truth to avoid having America’s weaknesses and moral failures exposed. In other words, they will outright lie without reservation.  In a follow-up post to Truth Social, Trump said, “When President Xi very elegantly referred to the United States as perhaps being a declining nation, he was referring to the tremendous damage we suffered during the four years of Sleepy Joe Biden and the Biden Administration, and on that score, he was 100% correct.”

There was no indication that Xi was referring to Biden in his comments.  When the President of the United States habitually lies to the American people without hesitation, it not only shows the disrespect he personally has for the office he holds, but it becomes evidence to show how we are a nation in moral decline. Unfortunately, the president is not the only high-ranking official within the administration who produces reckless lies.

Vice President JD Vance falsely denied that Black history is being erased from public spaces under the Trump-Vance administration during a televised interview on the “The View”. While being pressed by hosts Whoopi Goldberg and Sunny Hostin, Vance was challenged on the administration’s polices to censor or remove Black history exhibits across the country, and the loss of tens of thousands of jobs for Black Americans as a result of President Trump’s executive orders targeting diversity, equity and inclusion programs. He was challenged on cuts to the federal workforce, where Blacks have been overrepresented for decades. When pressed further, Vance denied that the White House made efforts to eliminate Black history, telling “The View” hosts, “Black history is not erased from public spaces.”

Black prosperity is part of what makes America great. It is Black resilience that makes America great. The fact the enslaved Blacks built the U.S. Capitol, and their descendants would later occupy it as elected lawmakers is part of the Black experience that makes America great. These are the true stories about the Black experience that JD Vance and others are attempting to whitewash.

One of the reasons United States has become a nation in decline domestically comes from the decision to erase Black history and hold back Black progress. It may not be the political decline referred to by the leader of China, but it becomes a moral decline resulting from implementing white supremacy goals and objectives. “JD Vance can play confused on television all he wants, but we’ve seen this administration spend 18 months erasing Black history from our military, museums, and monuments,” said Brandon Weathersby, a spokesperson for American Bridge 21^st Century, a Democratic research think tank.

We just celebrated the Juneteenth holiday. But does the true meaning hit home with us or is it just another day? The history behind Juneteenth is complex, and is another truth about the Black experience many people would like to see forgotten. Many of us are familiar with the story of how the Emancipation Proclamation took effect, yet in Texas slavery continued in practice for more than two additional years.

It wasn’t until federal troops arrived in Galveston on June 19, 1865 that an estimated 250,000 enslaved Black people learned of a freedom that had already been declared over two years earlier. The delay was structured by power and greed, not by accident: those who benefit from slavery used the delay as a tool to keep extracting labor and wealth from Black bodies. Juneteenth exposes an entrenched unwillingness to grant Black people full justice and freedom, even after laws legally changed.

There are immediate and long-term consequences resulting from the overall anti-Black agenda that we are witnessing today. Every Black high school student and young adult should take a hard look at the fact that Black history is being erased, but also consider how the type of denial by the vice president plays a major part in the moral decline of our nation. They need to fully understand the policy shift by seeing how the Trump administration moved aggressively to dismantle diversity, equity and inclusion efforts across federal agencies, contractors, and schools receiving federal dollars. They need to reflect how these policy shifts will impact their future career goals, dreams and aspirations as a person of color. Teenagers and young adults need to stay informed. The same agenda to withhold justice and freedom to enslaved Blacks still exists today, but under a different covering.

Written by David W. Marshall

Official website; https://davidwmarshallauthor.com/

One may purchase his book, which is titled; God Bless Our Divided America: Unity, Politics and History from a Biblical Perspective.

Rowe has been warning anyone who would listen that our skills gap in the trades was widening to a chasm so large that the economic effect on U.S. manufacturing companies, in particular auto and steel industries but also defense, construction and energy sectors, was going to be nothing short of catastrophic.

Few listened. Rowe appeared before Congress. Twice. He sent an open letter to then-President Barack Obama. Crickets. Nonetheless, Rowe persisted. His alarm bells were not hyperbole. In fact, the gap has continued to widen. Last week, the Tech Times reported that the construction sector alone needs 349,000 net new workers just to keep pace with demand in 2026.

In April, the property services firm JLL issued a report showing that by 2030, 2.1 million skilled trades positions for electricians, HVAC technicians, plumbers, welders, pipe fitters and equipment operators were at a high risk of going unfilled. These are the key jobs needed to build homes, offices, buildings, energy infrastructure and artificial intelligence data power centers.

Some raw facts from the American Builders and Contractors Association are even more chilling: 39% of electricians in this country were 45 years old or older. Another disturbing stat: For every five plumbers leaving the workforce, only two apprentices are entering. As baby boomers age out, the industry faces an estimated shortage of up to 550,000 plumbers, according to the Merrow Report.

Same with auto mechanics. Currently, the United States is facing a shortage of 600,000 auto mechanics, according to that same report.

All these shortages are creating a downward and slippery slope for both consumers and builders alike, including higher costs and growing safety risks. And it creates wait times for services that extend beyond days into weeks, months and even years for larger projects.

Dina Powell McCormick, president of Meta, said that she first saw the impact of this escalating problem when she joined her husband, Sen. David McCormick, a Pittsburgh Republican, when he was running for office in 2022 and 2024.

Both listened to the growing concerns of small, medium and large business owners of manufacturing facilities and their worries over the expanding skills trade gap.

Last year, Rowe spoke at the Energy Innovation Summit in Pittsburgh, the first of its kind in bringing leaders and workers in the trades together with the intellectual capital at Carnegie Mellon University, along with the industries that need them both for energy and AI data power centers. Rowe bluntly addressed the problem in a panel. McCormick was listening, and it was then that she knew she wanted to help bridge that gap.

The problem, Rowe warned a somewhat stunned audience, wasn’t just in traditional manufacturing. All the tech companies that were clamoring to build infrastructure for AI were running into the same challenge. They couldn’t find “skilled workers to not just build the data power centers needed to power the future but also (to) keep them humming,” Rowe said.

But it wasn’t until she became president of Meta earlier this year that McCormick’s ability to “do something” could finally be realized. Last week, McCormick and Rowe, as CEO of mikeroweWORKS Foundation, announced America’s Workforce Academy. The new effort is a training initiative aimed at connecting workers with skilled trade careers tied to data center and infrastructure development.

In a dual interview with the Washington Examiner, McCormick said that it’s an honor to partner with Rowe. “He is the greatest evangelist for the American worker, and he has been for 18 years,” she said of his decadeslong efforts to inspire people to get into the trades. Rowe’s foundation runs a scholarship program trying to fill the gap between the massive demand for plumbers, electricians, welders and fiber technicians, and the growing shortage.

“What Meta is launching today is America’s Workforce Academy,” she said, “a program that within five weeks gives you paid training, a credential that you have for life, and a guaranteed job on a Meta job site or anywhere else you want to take that credential.”

Meta, the parent company of Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp, among others, has a mission for America’s Workforce Academy to fast-track the certification process to make job site-ready graduates, McCormick said.

“This is an opportunity for people like Uber drivers, waitresses, grocery store clerks and anyone out there who is living paycheck to paycheck,” she said. “The challenge has always been, how do they take the time off unpaid to learn a trade? How do they pay for the expensive training and do all that without a guaranteed job? Well, that is what we are solving with America’s Workforce.”

Rowe said that the whole “supply-demand thing” has evolved in the past six years, since he first talked about micro- and macroeconomics. “The idea that whatever the solution will ultimately entail is going to involve government at the highest levels, private industry at the highest levels, small business at every level, and guidance counselors and parents at the most granular level,” he said. “And then ultimately (it’s) the worker, him or herself, who’s going to have to decide for themselves what the definition of a good job really is.”

Rowe has been in the space of reframing the conversation of work. Some of his work has centered on debunking stigmas and stereotypes. However, a lot of it has to do with just showing people the enormous totality of opportunities that actually exists in the trades.

“People just don’t know, and the third leg of the stool — which Meta is addressing perfectly, I think — is to remove all the friction,” Rowe said.

Rowe succinctly lays out the problem, calling it vocational training on steroids. “You don’t have to pay for a flight. You don’t have to pay for your transportation. You get a stipend, you get paid to learn over a five-week period, and when you come out the other end, you’re certified, you’re work ready, (and) you’re guaranteed a job within the metaverse, and if you leave, your skills go with you.”

Rowe said that he cannot find a chink in the armor. “It’s a great way to grease the skids for those people who are grappling with that primary barrier, but there are other barriers too. This is maybe the most important way, I think, to get the supply freed up, but it doesn’t mean (that) there’s not a role for trade schools.”

Applicants accepted into the program get tuition, lodging and airfare fully covered. The locations for the first wave of programs are in Baton Rouge, Louisiana; Columbus, Ohio; Houston, Texas; and Indianapolis, Indiana.

Rowe said what Meta is doing is showing the broader scope of how this is being done, and that it’s available to young people at trade schools all across the country.

McCormick explained that the people they are investing in are feeders for trade schools if they want to get more advanced training for specific roles. “This is a program, though, (that) because you get a certification from the National Council on Construction, Education and Research, that makes you job site ready,” she pointed out.

The program empowers workers with safety credentials to get on a job site and be paid while they work. “Then you can go into electricity, you can go into fiber training, pipe fitting, welders, and you can even go on and get more training at trade schools,” she said.

Rowe said that we need to look at workers in the trades throughout our history with clear eyes and see them as the American heroes that they are. Rowe pointed to their work during World War II, when workers, many of them women, came together to physically build the arsenal that defeated tyranny worldwide.

McCormick agrees. “Today, if we don’t build the infrastructure that’s going to fuel American AI leadership, then we’re going to lose this race,” she said. “And that means they’re on a different kind of frontline in America today. And I think that we should show them the respect and dignity of what that work really means.”

McCormick said it is important to note that America’s Workforce Academy is bigger than Meta. “This is a problem that’s way bigger than any one company. We hope that we will build a national coalition to invest even more,” she said.

Rowe said that it’s too early to take a victory lap. “But I’ll tell you that the thesis that informed ‘Dirty Jobs’ 23 years ago and kept it on the air to this day is the exact thesis that’s informed this endeavor,” he said of his iconic show, which has him working in just about every job imaginable, from garbage man to being 10 feet underground in a sewer.

“It starts with appreciation and gratitude,” he said. “It’s being fueled today by a level of practicality that wasn’t necessarily in the works 20 years ago, but it is now. So this is an effort for our times.”

Rowe said he was thrilled to be part of this. “It’s only a matter of global hegemony, but it also trickles all the way down to anyone who has ever pledged allegiance to our flag and thought about pursuing something that looks like happiness and wanted to do it in a way that made sense to their brain and to their talent.”

If it weren’t for “Dirty Jobs,” Rowe may not be part of this today. In fact, today may not have even happened. “I’m really grateful that there are enough macros out there in the world right now paying attention to get this thing elevated to where it ought to be,” he said, adding, “It is only a matter of national security.”

Written by Salena Zito

Official website; https://twitter.com/SalenaZito

As with most college reunions, the university did not miss the opportunity to solicit donations from its graduates — giving that helps maintain the “margin of excellence,” as its marketing materials put it.

While I can appreciate the school’s interest in soliciting graduates to fatten its coffers, I was struck by the lengths that our country’s hallowed institutions of higher learning go to protect their enormous endowments. These college presidents appear to believe that there is a special right reserved for elite institutions to receive the highest rate of returns on their investments and pay the lowest tax rates on those profits.

In many ways, colleges these days look more like major corporations rather than not-for-profit places of learning. The top 20 richest colleges — all but three of which are private — sit atop over $500 billion of savings. Harvard’s and Yale’s combined endowments alone total nearly $100 billion, more than the annual GDP of some countries.

Unlike private businesses, however, these schools enjoy cush tax breaks that allow them to shield their money from the government. The wealthiest colleges pay a mere 8% tax rate on the profits that the endowments make from their investments. Compare that to the average corporate rate of 21%.

At the same time, universities receive significant handouts from the government in the form of federal grants. The eight Ivy League schools alone collectively received over $6 billion in grants annually. While ostensibly intended to advance important research, these giveaways often pump taxpayers’ money into the left’s radical DEI agenda.

Under former President Joe Biden, the U.S. Department of Education doled out more than $40 million to promote a diversity program. In 2024, the City University of New York received $19 million for its “equity center.”

Why should hardworking families, many of whom cannot afford to attend these uber expensive institutions, be on the hook for funding their liberal ideology? It seems obvious to me that these wealthy schools should contribute to our country’s economy, not the other way around.

When I was in school, my alma mater’s informal motto was, “In the nation’s service,” and other schools similarly shroud themselves in patriotism, especially when it comes to fundraising. One would assume then that they would gladly pay a fair rate on their tremendous profits. Instead, they fight tooth and nail to protect those gains while hoarding every dollar of federal grants that they can get their hands on.

Schools spend lavishly to protect their darling status. Last year major research universities spent $38 million lobbying federal policymakers, more than a 30% increase over the previous year.

President Donald Trump has not shied away from pulling back the curtain on federal funding to hold schools more accountable to students and weed out the liberal wokeism that is pervasive at most colleges today. In addition to the president’s focus on some of the nation’s most prominent universities, the One Big Beautiful Bill Act finally raised taxes on the profits earned by these large endowments from a paltry 1.4% to the 8% noted above.

One can guess why colleges upped their lobbyist spending last year — they did not want their precious nest eggs to be targeted. It’s nimbyism in academia.

Our national debt — which exceeded the size of the U.S. economy this year for the first time since immediately after World War II — is spiraling out of control. Getting on a sustainable path to pay it down will require greater tax revenue alongside real spending cuts. No sector should be excused, especially not the liberal bastions of higher education.

That’s the trouble, though. Like lawmakers in Washington — who are utterly reluctant to cut federal programs, even as they drive our country deeper into the poorhouse — no college or university wants its ox to be gored.

If academia chooses to use patriotic slogans in its marketing materials, then it should help get our national debt onto a sustainable trajectory and pay its share of taxes. Why should liberal schools be rewarded for peddling their woke ideology while the government forces ordinary Americans to pay a higher tax rate on their investment returns?

Democrats rally around their “tax the rich” mantra. If they are serious about it, they should start with higher education. Of course, they won’t, because these schools are purveyors of their liberal orthodoxy. But Republicans should follow Trump’s lead and finally hold academia to my old school’s motto: in the nation’s service.

Written by Ken Buck

Official website; https://x.com/BuckForColorado

A lot of Black men understood early that Obama was going to face pressure most presidents never had to deal with. You could feel it before he even entered the White House. Folks questioned where the man was born. They mocked his name. Some acted uncomfortable simply because a confident Black man with intelligence and composure suddenly stood in front of the entire world commanding attention. Brothers watching all this unfold knew exactly what was happening even when television tried pretending otherwise. Many of us grew up understanding how quickly society can become threatened once a Black man carries himself with confidence without asking permission from anybody.

What impressed me most about Obama was the restraint. Now let us be honest as Black men for a second. There were countless moments where many brothers would have snapped publicly dealing with the level of disrespect he faced. People interrupted him. Mocked him. Lied about him daily. Tried reducing everything about him down to anger, race, or conspiracy theories. Yet the man stayed composed over and over again. That taught many young Black men something important without him even saying it directly. Emotional control is power too.

See, many brothers grow up being told we must remain calm in situations where others are allowed to lose control freely. One emotional reaction can cost us jobs, opportunities, freedom, or even safety. Obama understood that reality deeply. He knew certain people desperately wanted him angry because anger would have fed stereotypes already sitting inside their minds. Instead, he often answered pressure with preparation, patience, humor, or silence. Watching that level of discipline inspired many brothers quietly whether they admit it or not.

The thing I respected was that Obama never came off weak either. Some people confuse composure with softness because modern culture worships loud behavior. Obama never needed fake toughness to command respect. He walked into rooms filled with world leaders and looked completely comfortable standing there. The brother understood who he was. Young Black men needed to see that badly during those years because too often society pushes brothers toward extremes. Either you are expected to be overly aggressive or completely passive. Obama showed another lane entirely.

And let us talk honestly about what it meant seeing a Black family inside the White House carrying themselves with dignity. That mattered deeply inside Black households across America. Seeing Obama speak proudly about his daughters. Seeing the respect between him and Michelle Obama. Seeing structure, education, love, and discipline connected to a Black family on the world stage changed how many young brothers viewed themselves mentally. Some people will never fully understand how powerful that image became for Black America.

For years society pushed narratives about broken Black homes constantly. Television loved showing dysfunction while ignoring millions of hardworking Black fathers raising families quietly every day. Obama represented another image entirely. The brother looked like somebody grounded. Somebody thoughtful. Somebody trying to lead while still protecting his family from the madness surrounding politics. A lot of older Black men respected that because many came from generations where carrying yourself with dignity mattered heavily.

Another thing young brothers connected with was Obama making intelligence look powerful. Let us keep it real. In some environments, young Black boys get pressured into hiding intelligence just to fit in socially. Some brothers grow up feeling like education somehow makes them less authentic. Obama changed that mindset for many people. The brother read books openly. Spoke carefully. Thought deeply before answering questions. He made professionalism look strong instead of corny. Teachers noticed it. Parents noticed it. Young Black men noticed it too.

Even the way Obama handled criticism taught lessons. There were politicians and media personalities saying outrageous things about him constantly. Some crossed lines previous presidents probably never would have experienced publicly. Yet Obama rarely lowered himself into emotional chaos. That patience frustrated many people because they wanted him rattled publicly. They wanted to see the angry Black man stereotype come alive on television. Instead, Obama stayed disciplined.

Now that does not mean everybody agreed with every political decision he made. No president escapes criticism. Some brothers wanted him to move differently on certain issues. Others wished he addressed race more directly during particular moments. That conversation is fair. But this article is bigger than political debates. This is about recognizing how the man carried himself under unbelievable pressure while the entire world watched his every move.

A lot of Black men saw pieces of themselves in Obama’s balancing act. Going into workplaces where you know people question your intelligence before you even speak. Feeling pressure to remain composed while others get emotional freely. Understanding one mistake can follow you longer because you are Black. Obama navigated all of that publicly on the biggest stage imaginable. That reality connected deeply with many brothers trying to survive similar pressures in everyday life.

I also think older Black men felt emotional watching Obama because they came from generations that never believed they would see a Black president during their lifetime. Some lived through segregation. Some marched during Civil Rights years. Some grew up watching Black men denied opportunities openly. Then suddenly there was a Black family living in the White House carrying themselves with grace while representing America globally. That meant something beyond politics.

Young brothers especially needed that example though. They needed to see a Black man operate with confidence, intelligence, patience, humor, and emotional discipline without constantly proving masculinity through aggression. Obama gave many young men permission mentally to think bigger about themselves. College suddenly felt more reachable for some. Public speaking looked cool again. Reading books did not seem lame anymore. Representation matters whether people admit it or not.

One thing I always respected was how Obama never seemed desperate for validation. The brother looked secure inside himself. He could joke naturally. He could speak seriously when needed. He could stand firm without screaming. That type of confidence inspired many Black men because true strength usually speaks calmly.

Now before somebody jumps straight into policy arguments, understand this piece focuses more on the cultural and emotional impact Obama had on many Black men across generations. Brothers respected how the man handled pressure because life already teaches many of us how heavy pressure can become.

And honestly, I would like to know what moment during Barack Obama’s presidency connected with you personally the most. Was it election night? A speech? Watching him interact with his family? Or maybe it was simply seeing a Black man carry himself with grace while the whole world waited for him to fall apart publicly?

Staff Writer; L.L. McKenna

Politics explained through the lens of justice and equity. Offering perspective that informs, challenges, and empowers.

One can contact this brother at; LLMcKenna@ThyBlackMan.com.

Key Takeaways

• Podcasts offer flexible, accessible learning for career advancement.
• Listeners can choose from a wide variety of topics, helping boost both industry expertise and personal development.
• Consistent podcast engagement ensures professionals stay updated on the skills and trends essential to thriving in their fields.

In an era of constant workplace evolution driven by technology and market demands, professionals need practical strategies to stay ahead. One of the most effective resources today is the podcast about career growth, which provides on-the-go learning opportunities accessible to anyone with a smartphone. Podcasts have become a staple for ambitious individuals looking to enhance their knowledge, adapt to change, and stay competitive in their respective industries.

Podcasts offer more than just convenience. They connect listeners directly with thought trendsetters and real-world stories from diverse professions. By tuning in, you can absorb critical insights into industry-specific challenges, personal branding, and emerging job opportunities. With so many options available, you can personalize your learning journey to match your career aspirations and interests.

Whether you’re seeking to navigate the impact of artificial intelligence or broaden your understanding of business trends, podcasts act as a dynamic tool for professional development. They present complex ideas in digestible episodes, allowing you to gain new perspectives while commuting, exercising, or even relaxing at home.

With research indicating that over half of Americans have listened to a podcast in the last month, the medium’s influence on professional growth is undeniable. For more information on the broader impact of podcasting in the workplace, see this insightful Forbes article.

The Rise of Podcasts in Professional Development

The podcasting landscape has exploded in the last decade. Reports from Edison Research reveal that by 2025, 75 percent of Americans aged 12 and older will have listened to a podcast. This surge coincides with the need for ongoing professional education outside traditional classroom environments. Podcasts nicely fill this gap, delivering content to put new ideas into practice within your daily tasks and immediate strategies

Benefits of Incorporating Podcasts into Your Career Strategy

Bringing podcasts into your regular routine can transform your professional journey. Here are just a few key advantages:

• Flexibility: Access insights while multitasking, during a commute, lunch break, or workout.
• Diverse Perspectives: Hear from a global roster of experts, influencers, and innovators.
• Cost Savings: Many top-quality podcasts are completely free, offering world-class advice at no financial risk.

Top Podcasts for Career Advancement

If you’re ready to jump into the world of podcasts, start with these recommended options:

• Friends With Money: This podcast explores the impact of AI on the workplace and equips listeners with strategies for adapting to technological change. Find more on this topic here at The New York Times.
• The Talent Development Hot Seat: Tune in for expert tips on embracing technology and building a robust personal brand, two essential skills for modern professionals.
• Biz: Focuses on anticipating industry changes years in advance and actionable advice for securing your career in a shifting landscape.

How to Effectively Utilize Podcasts for Career Growth

1. Curate Your Playlist: Choose episodes and shows that align with your sector and personal goals.
2. Set a Listening Routine: Dedicate specific times in your week for professional listening to establish consistency.
3. Engage with the Content: Pause to take notes and seek ways to immediately put new ideas into practice within your daily tasks.

Integrating Podcast Insights into Your Career Plan

• Network: After gaining knowledge, reach out to guests or hosts on professional platforms like LinkedIn to establish connections and continue the conversation.
• Apply What You Learn: Don’t just listen passively. Take the time to pilot new strategies and measure their impact on your role or team.
• Share and Collaborate: Bring valuable insights back to your team or network, sparking discussions or workshops to foster a growth-focused culture.

Staying Updated with Emerging Trends

Subscribing to diverse podcasts and industry newsletters ensures you don’t miss breaking trends or insightful episodes. Engaging with online podcast communities helps surface trending topics and encourages peer-to-peer learning.

Expanding Your Podcast Learning Toolbox

In addition to listening, many professionals now take advantage of supplemental materials offered by popular podcasts: show notes, worksheets, and recommended reading lists allow for even deeper learning. Participating in live Q&A sessions or social media discussions about your favorite shows can also deepen your understanding and expose you to broader perspectives within your industry. Try synthesizing lessons from multiple podcasts to build your own framework for critical topics such as leadership, managed change, or creative problem-solving. For further accountability, join a virtual mastermind or book club focused on podcast content, where you can share insights and set growth-oriented goals with other motivated learners.

Podcasts as a Networking Catalyst

More than just a one-way broadcast, podcasts have become networking springboards. Many hosts encourage listener participation, whether through submitting questions, attending live recordings, or joining associated communities on platforms like LinkedIn, Slack, or Discord. Sharing takeaways or episode recommendations within your company, or even posting thoughtful commentary on social media, can spark valuable conversations with colleagues and peers. This not only builds your thought leadership but also increases your visibility within your wider professional network. Over time, these frequent engagements can lead to invitations to collaborate, participate in panel discussions, or appear as a podcast guest, boosting both your reputation and reach.

Conclusion

Incorporating podcasts into your professional life is a proven strategy for future-proofing your career. By selecting targeted content, establishing a learning habit, and actively participating in podcast-driven discussions, you will remain agile and prepared for whatever the evolving job market brings.

Staff Writer; Greg Brown

Yet, between managing patient loads, documentation, and administrative responsibilities, staying current with family medicine Continuing Medical Education (CME) requirements often falls to the bottom of the list. It is not optional but a licensing requirement, a professional standard, and a direct factor in patient outcomes.

The right family medicine CME program should fit your schedule, match your specialty, and deliver content you can apply immediately in practice. Let’s learn what these CME courses cover and how to choose a program that works for you.

What Family Medicine CME Actually Requires

Understanding your CME obligations is the first step toward meeting them without unnecessary stress or wasted time.

• American Medical Association (AMA) Category 1 Credits and Maintenance of Certification (MOC) Points

Family medicine physicians must earn AMA Category 1 Credits to maintain licensure and satisfy MOC requirements each cycle. Programs offering both AMA credits and MOC points provide the most efficient path to full compliance.

• American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP) Accreditation

AAFP accreditation ensures courses carry prescribed credits recognized by most state licensing boards. Verifying this accreditation should be your first step when evaluating any program, as non-accredited courses may not satisfy renewal requirements regardless of clinical quality.

• Board Certification and Recertification Requirements

Initial certification and ongoing recertification are separate but equally important obligations. Structured board prep aligned with current clinical guidelines reduces exam preparation time. Many physicians prefer programs that combine ongoing credits and board prep for efficiency.

Meeting your family medicine CME requirements efficiently starts with knowing exactly which credits count and which platforms are authorized to issue them.

Key Clinical Areas Family Medicine CME Course Should Cover

Family medicine is uniquely broad, and a strong CME program should reflect that breadth without sacrificing clinical depth.

• Primary Care and Ambulatory Medicine

Family medicine CME content covering best practices, clinical controversies, and emerging developments in ambulatory medicine keeps physicians current. This ensures they stay up to date on the conditions they manage most frequently each day.

Evidence-based updates in hypertension management, diabetes care, and preventive screenings are essential components of any well-rounded family medicine CME program worth your time. Physicians who stay current in these areas consistently demonstrate stronger diagnostic accuracy and better patient outcomes across their practice.

• Behavioral and Mental Health in Primary Care

Family medicine physicians routinely serve as the first clinicians patients reach when facing anxiety, depression, substance use disorders, or other behavioral health conditions. CME content in psychopharmacology and addiction medicine equips primary care physicians to screen, manage, and refer these patients with greater clinical confidence.

This is an area where knowledge gaps carry real consequences, given rising rates of mental health presentations in primary care settings nationwide.

• Dermatology for Primary Care Physicians

Skin conditions account for a significant volume of primary care visits, yet dermatology receives limited attention in most family medicine residency training programs. Practical, case-based dermatology CME helps physicians accurately diagnose and manage common conditions without making unnecessary specialist referrals.

Syndrome-based content using real patient cases and clinical images translates directly into stronger diagnostic confidence at the point of care.

• Neurology, Pain Medicine, and Perioperative Care

Neurological presentations, chronic pain management, and perioperative considerations are areas where family medicine physicians frequently need updated, evidence-based clinical guidance. Family medicine CME programs that cover these topics, particularly those developed in collaboration with academic medical centers, provide practical frameworks.

These frameworks improve patient outcomes in complex and often ambiguous clinical scenarios. Faculty from institutions such as Harvard Medical School and Johns Hopkins bring credibility and clinical authority that generalist content cannot replicate.

• Geriatrics, Palliative Medicine, and Care Transitions

An aging US population means family medicine physicians are managing increasingly complex geriatric and end-of-life care needs across their patient panels. Family medicine CME courses in geriatric medicine, palliative care, and patient care transitions prepare physicians to handle these cases with greater clinical and ethical clarity.

The often-overlooked shift from pediatric to adult care is another area where structured CME courses deliver immediate, practical clinical value.

The most effective family medicine CME programs build a connected clinical picture that reflects how patients actually present in real practice settings.

What to Look for in a Family Medicine CME Course Provider?

Not every family medicine CME course provider is equipped to serve the full clinical breadth that family medicine demands.

• Video CME for Deep Clinical Learning

You can engage with expert-led lectures and clinical demonstrations at your own pace. This format excels for board prep and complex material where visual learning strengthens comprehension.

• Audio CME for the On-the-go Physician

Content can be consumed during commutes or between patients without screen time. This removes the scheduling barrier that makes traditional conference learning impractical.

• All-access Subscription Platforms

These combine video, audio, and board prep in one place rather than requiring individual course purchases. Regularly updated content ensures your CME investment stays clinically relevant year-round.

• Specialty-Specific Content Depth

Programs should cover primary care, behavioral health, geriatrics, and pain medicine, not just a general catalog with a specialty filter. True depth separates useful CME from credit padding.

• Faculty Credentials and Institutional Partnerships

Content developed by clinicians at leading academic centers carries greater authority. Peer review and freedom from commercial sponsorship are key markers of trustworthy CME.

• Flexible Credit Options Across Multiple Accreditations

Look for providers offering American Board of Internal Medicine (ABIM), American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC), and American Academy of Physician Assistants (AAPA) credits in one platform. This consolidation simplifies documentation and reduces administrative workload at renewal time.

Providers with long-standing track records, verifiable accreditation, and credentialed faculty deliver greater value than newer, less specialized alternatives.

Find the Right Family Medicine CME Program for Your Practice

Family medicine physicians deserve continuing education that matches the breadth and complexity of what they manage every day. From board exam preparation to primary care updates, the right program covers every corner of family medicine. It should also address geriatrics, behavioral health, and dermatology with genuine clinical depth and accuracy.

Platforms like Oakstone offer accredited family medicine CME content developed by faculty from the country’s most respected medical institutions. Accredited CME programs worth your time are peer-reviewed, clinically grounded, and built for genuine professional growth.

Ready to meet your CME requirements while advancing your clinical knowledge? Explore accredited family medicine CME programs built for physicians who take patient care seriously.

Staff Writer; Jerry Moore

The era of the Greatest Generation, the Silent Generation, and the Baby Boom Generation, each distinguished by a significant record of sacrifice, has concluded. Currently, society must adapt to the eras of Generation X, the Millennials, and Generation Z. These generations are often perceived as possessing numerous suggestions and solutions to various problems, challenges, and situations. Yet, they have contributed comparatively less in terms of sacrifice for their community. Is it to attribute the limited sacrifices of Generation X, Millennials, and Generation Z regarding the Black community to their own shortcomings when contrasted with previous generations? The straightforward answer is no.  The true origin of the decline in sacrifices dates to the 1960s, a period when African Americans actively campaigned for their civil rights. During the Nashville student movement in 1960, university students organized boycotts and sit-ins, as in numerous instances, adults gradually withdrew from such efforts.

W. Clement Stone stated, “You are a product of your environment.” During and after the civil rights era, did the adults in Black America adequately teach and exemplify for Black youth how to advocate and sacrifice for the Black community without resorting to a mindset of flight due to perceived high costs, according to some adults’ opinions? Some would argue that the answer is no. In the 1960s, the Baby Boom generation took the lead. Meanwhile, some of their parents and other members of the Silent Generation retreated when the stakes became too high, which indirectly influenced and guided many within the Baby Boom generation to adopt this course of action and belief. This attitude was ultimately passed down to their children and grandchildren, comprising Generation X, the Millennials, and Generation Z.

I do not intend to demean or criticize our ancestors or our Elders of today, as I believe they endeavored to the best of their abilities in most matters. During our struggle for civil rights, many progressive Black Americans opted to leave, and in some instances, to entirely abandon the Black community, the Black church, the inner city, and most cultural aspects associated with Black people, in pursuit of access and acceptance into suburban America. Over the years, White flight has remained a predominant concern because it has significantly and adversely affected most urban centers across the United States, particularly in predominantly Black neighborhoods. Nevertheless, most Black Americans or Americans in general seldom take the time to examine the profound void created by Black flight, as they prioritize suburban living, suburban education for their children, and real estate investments with the potential to appreciate considerably within their lifetimes. While I strongly believe that Black Americans should have the freedom to reside wherever their financial means permit, such liberties should not be at the expense of the broader Black community. As Black Americans, we ought to consistently strive to maintain a connection with and be associated with our brothers and sisters. In the words of Donny Hathaway, always remember “he ain’t heavy, he is my brother.”

The opportunity to assume leadership or serve as the central figure in a movement appears infrequent for young Black men, both within and beyond the Black community. Many contend that Black men across all age groups tend to avoid leadership positions, are often perceived as lacking discipline, and are considered less capable of leading. Additionally, they are frequently regarded as less vocal and less prepared than their young Black female counterparts. Whether consciously acknowledged or not, the NAACP’s appeal for Black student-athletes to boycott predominantly white institutions (PWIs) predominantly serves as a call for young Black males to assume leadership roles, given that men’s football and basketball generate most of the revenue at most collegiate institutions, thereby subsidizing all other men’s and women’s sports. By stating the facts, I am not attempting to exacerbate the ongoing gender conflict that perpetually divides the Black community. I merely wish to emphasize that young Black men continue to possess a vital role in leading within our community. Are our young Black men currently adequately prepared and capable of assuming leadership positions? My response is in the affirmative.

I must acknowledge that, in my lifetime, I served as a proud member of the NAACP. However, regrettably, not all relationships are built to last. The NAACP’s appeal to young Black student-athletes can be likened to politicians’ visits to our community every two to four years without establishing a formal relationship. Often, they remain largely unfamiliar and absent from the daily lives of our younger generations, possibly due to the black flight phenomenon and the diminished importance of community membership. While I understand the NAACP’s invitation to channel our athletic talents elsewhere, their statement inadvertently diminishes us to mere athletes, overshadowing our intellectual capacities. The NAACP might have better served its purpose by advocating for a boycott of all PWIs in the states where voter redistricting is underway, involving students, student-athletes, professors, and Black professional athletes alike.

If we aspire for our young Black sons and daughters to embody selflessness and perfection in their sacrifice for the Black community, it is imperative that older Black adults assume leadership roles and demonstrate to youth what genuine sacrifice and commitment to the community entail, both in words and in action. Adults should never ask or direct youth away from their dreams without first exhausting all possibilities with them for how we can help them achieve them.

Affirmation:

I pursue my dreams with urgency and purpose, knowing my actions today shape my community tomorrow.

Quote to live by:
“Dream big—but don’t let your dreams linger too long, because your sacrifice will always outlive your vision.”

Affirmation:

I am not just talented, I am intellect, leadership, and legacy in motion.

Quote to live by:
“I am more than what I produce; I am a thinker, a leader, and a force capable of changing the direction of my community.”

Affirmation:

I honor my community by staying connected, giving back, and lifting others as I rise.

Quote to live by:
“Success means nothing if it costs connection, never forget, he ain’t heavy, he is my brother.”

Staff Writer; Jamie Seals

May also connect with this brother on Twitter; mychocolatemind.

Also drop an email at; JSeals@ThyBlackMan.com.