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COMMENTARY: Standing Up for Those Struggling to Survive

THE AFRO — The Maryland Department of Human Resources estimates that more than 650,000 Marylanders receive nutrition help each month through the federal-state partnership known as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP).

Published

6 years ago

September 12, 2019

Oakland Post

Rep. Elijah Cummings (MD.-7). (Courtesy Photo)

By Congressman Elijah Cummings

I was hungry; You gave me something to eat

Here in Maryland, one of America’s wealthiest States, one in every eight households faces a constant struggle against hunger; more than one in every five households with children struggle to obtain enough food to provide regular, healthy meals for their family; and nearly one in ten Marylanders lives below the federal poverty line.

I recall these harsh and unacceptable statistics from the advocacy coalition, Maryland Hunger Solutions [http://www/mdhungersolutions.org], for a compelling reason. When so many of our neighbors are struggling just to survive, eliminating the pain of hunger in America should constantly remain in the forefront of our minds.

Contained within the anonymity of these statistics, these Maryland neighbors are human beings just like you and me. As a people striving to be more just, more human, and more humane, we must not turn away. We must not cast these neighbors aside.

We must think, hard and long, about how best to eliminate this widespread and unacceptable hardship, and then we must act.

An attempt to override the Congress

Our nation has responded to the imperative of feeding our most desperately hungry people with a series of “Farm Bills” that support agriculture while also providing food for the poorest of our poor citizens. Without these bipartisan compromises, many farms would fail, harming us all, and millions of Americans would be closer to starving.

The Maryland Department of Human Resources estimates that more than 650,000 Marylanders receive nutrition help each month through the federal-state partnership known as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP).

Some of these Maryland SNAP recipients have become eligible based upon their receipt of other federal benefits (like Temporary Assistance for Needy Families), although the amount of financial help that they receive is still calculated based upon their income.

This “broad based categorical eligibility,” was retained in the bipartisan compromise Farm Bill that the Congress passed last year – a compromise that the Trump Administration is now attempting to override.

The Administration’s Department of Agriculture has proposed a regulation that would severely restrict the right of states like Maryland to utilize “broad based categorical eligibility” and, thereby, to expand eligibility for SNAP from 135 percent to 200 percent of the federal poverty line.

I was hungry. You gave me nothing to eat.

For millions of Americans, including tens of thousands here in Maryland, if the Trump Administration’s proposal to limit eligibility for SNAP succeeds, the consequences will be catastrophic.

An estimated 3 million Americans (perhaps 50,000 here in Maryland) would lose the nutrition assistance that they need in their struggles to survive; and hundreds of thousands of American children would become ineligible for free school meals.

The Trump Administration’s Department of Agriculture has admitted that its proposed restriction of SNAP eligibility will make food insecurity worse and make it harder for millions of Americans to get by.

Republicans often make speeches about helping hungry Americans escape the cycle of poverty, but this SNAP proposal disproportionately harms the very Americans who are working, struggling to make ends meet, and might, with some extra help, actually be able to succeed.

Republicans talk about states’ rights when it suits them, but not when it comes to the flexibility of states to meet the needs of their food-insecure populations. To those who will suffer, this must seem a bitter irony indeed.

Stand Up

As our rapidly transforming economy continues to leave working families and our most vulnerable behind, federal programs like SNAP are desperately needed.

We also must remind the Trump Administration that, under our Constitution, the Congress, and not the President, determines how federal dollars are to be spent.

As House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Richard Neal of Massachusetts has declared,

“Congress rejected this very proposal in the 2018 Farm Bill, and it is unlawful for the administration to attempt to override the law without congressional authorization.”

This Administration has made its disregard for the welfare of our people – and our law – quite clear. Now, we must fight for what is right.

Congressman Elijah Cummings represents Maryland’s 7th Congressional District in the United States House of Representatives.

Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this article do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of The Afro-American Newspapers.

This article originally appeared in The Afro.

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Black Feminist Movement Mobilizes in Response to National Threats

BLACKPRESSUSA NEWSWIRE — More than 500 Black feminists will convene in New Orleans from June 5 through 7 for what organizers are calling the largest Black feminist gathering in the United States.

Published

1 week ago

May 30, 2025

Stacy M. Brown

By Stacy M. Brown
Black Press USA Senior National Correspondent

More than 500 Black feminists will convene in New Orleans from June 5 through 7 for what organizers are calling the largest Black feminist gathering in the United States. The event, led by the organization Black Feminist Future, is headlined by activist and scholar Angela Y. Davis. Paris Hatcher, executive director of Black Feminist Future, joined Black Press USA’s Let It Be Known to outline the mission and urgency behind the gathering, titled “Get Free.” “This is not just a conference to dress up and have a good time,” Hatcher said. “We’re building power to address the conditions that are putting our lives at risk—whether that’s policing, reproductive injustice, or economic inequality.” Hatcher pointed to issues such as rising evictions among Black families, the rollback of bodily autonomy laws, and the high cost of living as key drivers of the event’s agenda. “Our communities are facing premature death,” she said.

Workshops and plenaries will focus on direct action, policy advocacy, and practical organizing skills. Attendees will participate in training sessions that include how to resist evictions, organize around immigration enforcement, and disrupt systemic policies contributing to poverty and incarceration. “This is about fighting back,” Hatcher said. “We’re not conceding anything.” Hatcher addressed the persistent misconceptions about Black feminism, including the idea that it is a movement against men or families. “Black feminism is not a rejection of men,” she said. “It’s a rejection of patriarchy. Black men must be part of this struggle because patriarchy harms them too.” She also responded to claims that organizing around Black women’s issues weakens broader coalitions. “We don’t live single-issue lives,” Hatcher said. “Our blueprint is one that lifts all Black people.”

The conference will not be streamed virtually, but recaps and updates will be posted daily on Black Feminist Future’s YouTube channel and Instagram account. The event includes performances by Tank and the Bangas and honors longtime activists including Billy Avery, Erica Huggins, and Alexis Pauline Gumbs. When asked how Black feminism helps families, Hatcher said the real threat to family stability is systemic oppression. “If we want to talk about strong Black families, we have to talk about mass incarceration, the income gap, and the systems that tear our families apart,” Hatcher said. “Black feminism gives us the tools to build and sustain healthy families—not just survive but thrive.”

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Hoover’s Commutation Divides Chicago as State Sentence Remains

BLACKPRESSUSA NEWSWIRE — Hoover was convicted of murder and running a criminal enterprise. Although some supporters describe him as a political prisoner, the legal and public safety concerns associated with his name remain substantial.

Published

1 week ago

May 29, 2025

Stacy M. Brown

By Stacy M. Brown
Black Press USA Senior National Correspondent

The federal sentence for Gangster Disciples founder Larry Hoover has been commuted, but he remains incarcerated under a 200-year state sentence in Illinois. The decision by Donald Trump to reduce Hoover’s federal time has reignited longstanding debates over his legacy and whether rehabilitation or continued punishment is warranted. The commutation drew immediate public attention after music executive Jay Prince and artist Chance the Rapper publicly praised Trump’s decision. “I’m glad that Larry Hoover is home,” said Chance the Rapper. “He was a political prisoner set up by the federal government. He created Chicago Votes, mobilized our people, and was targeted for that.”

But Hoover, the founder of the Gangster Disciples, is not home—not yet. Now in federal custody at the Florence Supermax in Colorado, Hoover was convicted of murder and running a criminal enterprise. Although some supporters describe him as a political prisoner, the legal and public safety concerns associated with his name remain substantial. “There is a divide in the Black community here,” said Chicago journalist Jason Palmer during an appearance on the Let It Be Known morning program. “Some view Hoover as someone who brought structure and leadership. Others remember the violence that came with his organization.” Palmer explained that while Hoover’s gang originally formed for protection, it grew into a criminal network responsible for extensive harm in Chicago. He also noted that Hoover continued to run his organization from state prison using coded messages passed through visitors, prompting his transfer to federal custody.

Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker, who is widely considered a potential 2028 presidential contender, has not issued a statement. Palmer suggested that silence is strategic. “Releasing Hoover would create enormous political consequences,” Palmer said. “The governor’s in a difficult spot—he either resists pressure from supporters or risks national backlash if he acts.” According to Palmer, Hoover’s federal commutation does not make him a free man. “The federal sentence may be commuted, but he still has a 200-year state sentence,” he said. “And Illinois officials have already made it clear they don’t want to house him in state facilities again. They prefer he remains in federal custody, just somewhere outside of Colorado.”

Palmer also raised concerns about what Hoover’s case could signal for others. “When R. Kelly was convicted federally, state prosecutors in Illinois and Minnesota dropped their charges. If a president can commute federal sentences based on public pressure or celebrity support, others like R. Kelly or Sean Combs could be next,” Palmer said. “Meanwhile, there are thousands of incarcerated people without fame or access to public platforms who will never get that consideration.” “There are people who are not here today because of the violence connected to these organizations,” Palmer said. “That has to be part of this conversation.”

Stacy M. Brown

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WATCH: Five Years After George Floyd: Full Panel Discussion | Tracey’s Keepin’ It Real | Live Podcast Event

Join us as we return to the city where it happened and speak with a voice from the heart of the community – Tracey Williams-Dillard, CEO/Publisher of the Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder.

Published

1 week ago

May 28, 2025

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https://youtube.com/watch?v=OsNLWTz6jU0&feature=oembed

May 25, 2020. The world stopped and watched as a life was taken.

But what has happened since?

Join us as we return to the city where it happened and speak with a voice from the heart of the community – Tracey Williams-Dillard, CEO/Publisher of the Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder.

She shares reflections, insights, and the story of a community forever changed. What has a year truly meant, and where do we go from here?

This is more than just a date; it’s a moment in history. See what one leader in the Black press has to say about it.

Recorded live at UROC in Minneapolis, this powerful discussion features:

Panelists: