One of my observations in the aftermath of the September 11 attack was the response of black folks. Of course, we felt the senseless loss of life as it has become an unwelcome part of our lives since being brought to these shores. Black people have always served as this country’s moral compass. But because we’ve been so dehumanized and treated like second class citizens, we struggled for ways to demonstrate our humanity and empathize with the nearly 3000 lives lost on that day. What I found so fascinating was the scores of black people who followed the lead of white Americans in buying American flags. We put them on our cars, stuck them in our yards, wore them on our chests as if to remind the country, “We, too, sing America.” I still find this fascinating.

How Republicans lost the map battle
You may know that the 2022 Missouri map will be used for the Nov. 3 election. What you should also know is how the state’s top Republican lawmakers conspired against the voters’ wishes and their constitutional rights. Since the last federal election, nine states have redrawn their congressional maps. Trump and his MAGA cronies had hoped Missouri would be the tenth in a perverted effort to reshape congressional districts to rig the midterm election.

