Cover Story :
David Patterson, Swearing In

Sharon Smith:
Paterson Public School Principal Extraordinary
By Rev. Theresa Nance

It's a bird! It's a plane! It's... Well, no it's not quite another being from another planet. But it is Sharon Smith, the animated, progressive principal of the Rosa L. Parks School of Fine & Performing Arts, who's knockin' em dead, so to speak, with her razor sharp wit and relentless pursuit of excellence for her students.

Listen to the Children. . .They too have their story
By Glenda Cadogan

These are disturbing figures. Figures that make some people fainthearted. Figures that to some, provoke more fear that terrorism. In many segments of our society, they represent despair. And unfortunately, in this climate of learned hopelessness, some people develop a that’s-the-way-things-are-and-there-is-nothing-I-can-do about-it attitude. But to an organization such as the Children’s Defense Fund, these figures represent three reasons why they existt...

Ask Dr. Palmer

Any suggestions on how I can change from a junk food eating couch potato into a person with healthy eating habits who exercises regularly. I know what I am supposed to do to support a healthy lifestyle, I just can’t figure out how to make myself do it. I will eat in a healthy way and exercise for a couple of weeks and then I fall back into my old unhealthy ways.

Transforming Minds:
The Emerging Role of Higher Education in Urban America

In his Letter to the Romans, the Apostle Paul writes, “ Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your minds, so that you may discern what is the will of God–what is good and acceptable and perfect.” (Rom 12:2, NRSV)

Gospel Train
By Patricia Baldwin

Though some may things slightly different, the structure of the service is basically the same in most African American churches. Let’s go down the list… we start off with prayer, right? It’s either the deacons praying, or one of the elders taking us in. Next we have the congregational selections either sung by a praise and worship team, a one person psalmist...

The Way Ahead
By Mwandikaji K. Mwanafunzi

Since the late 1960’s some black organizations have advocated desegregation through community control – i.e. blacks managing the schools of our community. Black controlled schools have achieved superior results in public school experiments during the late 1960’s and selected private school efforts from that time through the present.

Ties that Bind: What a difference a tie makes
By g.r. mattox

By the time the Tied to Greatness tour reaches its final stop in Newark at Shabazz High School on May 2, it will have passed through some of the largest urban centers in the country. The day-long program brings together adolescent males to take a look at image and ways to make decisions regarding their personal appearance from the inside out.

My View
By Rev. Theresa Nance

It's spring and a young man's fancy turns to, well, whatever it turns to—love supposedly. But as we march into spring I'm mighty perplexed about the controversy swirling around Barak Obama and his former pastor, the Rev. Dr. Jeremiah Wright.

Shepard's Corner
By Rev. Reginald T. Jackson

Over the last several weeks, there has been in the national media and across the country outrage and anger aimed at The Rev. Dr. Jeremiah Wright, Trinity United Church of Christ and criticism of Sen. Barack Obama, because of his relationship with Dr. Wright and his failure to leave Trinity Church.

From the Heart
By Rosemary Sinclair

For several years, our nation has been involved in a war centered around weapons of mass destruction that were never found. It was terrifying to consider a cache of deadly weapons ready to destroy any of our major cities without a moment’s notice. We slept with one eye open and ears cocked for the warning to take shelter that never came. Yet, for centuries, the Bible has warned believers of a destructive weapon to which we all have access.

AN AFRICAN “VILLAGE” SCHOOL THAT IS SOLID AS A ROCK
By Glenda Cadogan

Standing at the foot of the slave castles in Senegal, a 14-year-old boy from Brooklyn broke down in uninhibited tears. Not abnormal. Such has been the experience of grown men and women who have visited the popular West African tourist site. What made this incident momentous is that the young man was what some would describe as a “troublemaker”...