Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Guest AuthorOctober 10, 2018

There is a direct link from the work of my namesake and relative Susan B. Anthony, who fought for a woman’s right to vote in the mid-1800s, and the modern-day suffragists urging us to pass Amendment 4 on the ballot this November in Florida. Growing up, I was told the stories of Anthony and Lucy […]

Guest AuthorMay 22, 2017

Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer‘s announcement this week that the city’s Confederate statue will be moved from Lake Eola Park to Greenwood Cemetery represents a positive step in recognizing the changing nature of Southern culture and the diverse set of voices that deserve a say in the ongoing process of commemorating a complex and troublesome past. […]

Michael MolineApril 27, 2017

The Senate voted unanimously Tuesday to apologize to survivors of the Groveland Four — African-American men who were brutalized in 1949 following a false accusation of rape. The senators first voted, 36-0, to sign on as cosponsors, then approved the resolution on a voice vote. “This is a great miscarriage of justice,” sponsor Gary Farmer said. “This […]

Scott PowersMay 13, 2016

Democratic U.S. Rep. Alan Grayson of Orlando ripped North Carolina lawmakers and Republicans on the floor of Congress Friday declaring that state’s transgender restroom law “stupid,” and rhetorically asking, “Are you nuts?” Grayson, in a 13-minute speech given during the House of Representative’s open floor time, offered support of transgendered people being able to use the restrooms of […]

Melissa RossApril 13, 2016

A celebration at Jacksonville’s J.P. Small Memorial Stadium, which used to host the Negro League, is set for Wednesday afternoon to honor baseball great Jackie Robinson. Jacksonville’s oldest publication targeted at the African-American community, the Florida Star, is also celebrating its 65th anniversary in conjunction with the Robinson celebration. Robinson, of course, was the first African-American […]

Guest AuthorDecember 17, 2015

At one point, a black university (generally known as historically black colleges and universities: HBCU) was comparable to a high school in academic worth, even aspiration. Schools had to attempt a Herculean struggle to give black students something that amounted to an education because of Jim Crow intransigence. But once black schools got free of […]

Guest AuthorOctober 4, 2015

So again, Jeb Bush belittles black people. After a decade of uniform disdain for black life, Bush’s view amounts to the pejorative “free-stuff” argument — food stamps, Head Start, unemployment (not necessarily free), which black people tend to take advantage of “disproportionately,” as a Washington Post article put it. That, Bush says, is the cause […]

Guest AuthorSeptember 2, 2015

It’s a chicken-egg problem: Which comes first, the wise society or the wise citizenry? A wise society looks after the well-being of its citizenry. In order for there to be a wise society, though, many or most of its citizenry also must be wise since they create the society. But the society must educate its […]

Martin DyckmanAugust 18, 2015

To appreciate one reason why Donald Trump is thumping Jeb! in the polls, substitute a question mark for the exclamation point. Jeb? isn’t doing so well at persuading people that what they think they heard isn’t what he meant to say. It doesn’t take a degree in psychology to know that someone’s first, unguarded remark […]

Diane RobertsJune 26, 2015

I am the descendant of at least 10 Confederate soldiers. A few owned slaves; most did not. One great-great-grandfather fought at the Battle of Natural Bridge. Another survived the Siege of Petersburg. So don’t throw the Y-word at me. Don’t tell me I don’t understand. I understand all too well. The Confederate battle flag is […]

Tag: Jim Crow

Susan Frederick-Gray: Our opportunity to support Florida’s modern-day suffragists

Christopher Huff: Changing times demand a retreat from enduring fallacies of war between the states

Senate sends Groveland Four resolution to Governor and Cabinet

Alan Grayson addresses ‘The Great American Bathroom Controversy,’ rips Republicans, North Carolina

Jackie Robinson Day celebration, baseball game set for Jacksonville

Chris Timmons: Perhaps “lesser schools” do alright

Chris Timmons: It's time the GOP realizes the human complexity of black experience

Barry Jason Mauer: How do you make a society wise?

Martin Dyckman: Find the real Jeb Bush in his unguarded gaffes

Diane Roberts: Take it down already!