OP-ED

By Lixon Nelson During Mental Health Awareness Month, discussions highlight therapy and access to healthcare. These are essential. Yet for many Miami residents, mental health is shaped by dignity, stability, opportunity, and hope, core needs that demand attention beyond conversation. As a Haitian-American leader, disability advocate, and someone who has faced a learning disability and […]

What does it mean when a candidate for governor in Florida openly calls for the lynching of a Black man? It is an unfortunate sign of the continuing devolution of politics in Florida and the nation, one with increasingly dangerous consequences. The incident I reference happened on April 2, when a Black man confronted gubernatorial

by Jamarah Amani, LM The theme for 2026 Black Maternal Health Week, an annual awareness week founded by Black Mamas Matter Alliance, is “Rooted in Justice and Joy.” Meanwhile, Miami Dade County’s most recent maternal death stats show Black birthers face a rate of 61.6 per 100,000, compared to 12.6 for white birthers. Rates are

By Earl Davis Florida Memorial University is too important to Miami Gardens, to South Florida and to generations of Black students who view the institution as a gateway to opportunity. That is precisely why the ongoing turbulence surrounding the university — financial strain, leadership turnover, unsafe conditions and board infighting — should concern everyone who cares

By Jerry Davis The right to free speech and peaceful protest is a fundamental principle of American democracy. It is protected by the Constitution and has long served as a tool for citizens to challenge policies, demand accountability and push for reform. As Immigration and Customs Enforcement, known as ICE, increases its visibility and enforcement

This past Saturday marked the highly anticipated grand opening of Kitchen + Kocktails, a premier dining destination founded by acclaimed restaurateur Kevin Kelley. In more than two decades of living in South Florida, few Black-owned business openings have generated this level of excitement, anticipation, and community pride. By any standard, the debut of Kitchen +

By Leonard Pitts Jr. Special to the Miami Herald This is what we wanted. This is what we chose. It’s the bitter truth that haunts your heart as you watch ICE Cold, a short film by four-time Pulitzer Prize winning photojournalist Carol Guzy. In six minutes of still images and somber music, you bear witness as migrants

By Felecia Hatcher Where is the next wave of philanthropic courage? The next billionaire or board of trustees brave enough to say, “We don’t need another five-year strategy to fix inequity; we just need to fund the people solving it right now.” While MacKenzie Scott has moved billions, the silence from corporate America and traditional

By Lemar Ingram November celebrates National Entrepreneurship Month—a time to honor innovation, ambition and the relentless pursuit of excellence. As we wrap up another year and look ahead to 2026, it’s time to challenge a flawed idea of success that has been sold to us for too long…conformity.  True power—true influence—doesn’t come from blending in;

By Corey G. Patterson November is National Entrepreneurship Month, a time to celebrate the visionaries, risk-takers and problem-solvers who drive innovation and create opportunities in communities across America. Entrepreneurs are, without question, the backbone of our economy. They not only create jobs but also foster progress, empowerment and resilience within the very neighborhoods they serve.