Op-Eds

September 3, 2026— I agree with the Hudson County elected officials who are urging New Jersey Attorney General Davenport to reconsider the State’s participation in litigation seeking to prevent the proposed combination of Paramount Skydance Corporation and Warner Bros. Discovery.

New Jersey has worked too hard—and invested too much public policy and taxpayer resources—to establish itself as a national center for film, television and the broader

creative economy to allow litigation to jeopardize an opportunity of this magnitude.

But there is another question that deserves equal attention:

If New Jersey is going to invest public resources to attract companies such as Paramount, how will those investments produce economic opportunity for the full spectrum of New Jersey businesses and residents?

That is the conversation we should be having now.

Septmeber 2, 2026 — I want to begin by thanking Reverend Dr. Al Sharpton, president of the National Action Network, for his vision, perseverance and courage in once again convening the March on Washington. The 2026 march’s focus on voting rights, healthcare and diversity, equity and inclusion remind us that America’s promise of opportunity remains unfinished.

For business and political leaders, however, there is an important question we must ask: What does economic inclusion mean in practical terms, and what will it take to make it measurable?

August 24, 2026- As Black Business Month draws to a close, I write not simply to commemorate Black entrepreneurship, but to challenge New Jersey to confront what remains unfinished. 

As President and CEO of the African American Chamber of Commerce of New Jersey (AACCNJ), I have the privilege of representing a community that has contributed immeasurably to the economic, civic and social fabric of this state. AACCNJ serves as a vanguard for approximately 1.2 million Black residents and more than 124,000 Black-owned businesses.

August 19, 2026- We are forever grateful and honored to have forged relations with so many that remain committed to advancing the mission of the African American Chamber of Commerce of New Jersey, Inc. As we look

forward to our upcoming 20th Anniversary on June 15, 2027, we ask others to consider joining us in our efforts to strengthen the competitiveness of the state of New Jersey through intentional equitable strategies on behalf of the 124,000 black owned businesses and the 1.2 million black New Jerseyans.

August 17, 2026— As we celebrate Black Business Month, we should remember a fundamental truth: when Black businesses grow, America grows. The history of Black entrepreneurship in America is also a history of overcoming barriers—limited access to capital,

discriminatory lending, exclusion from public contracting and closed networks of economic opportunity.

Three Black mayors—Maynard Jackson of Atlanta, Marion Barry of Washington, D.C., and former New York City Mayor Eric Adams—understood that the government has a powerful economic lever in its purchasing power. They demonstrated that opening public contracting to Black-owned businesses was not charity. It was economic development.

August 4, 2026 —August is Black Business Month, a time set aside to recognize, celebrate, and support Black-owned businesses throughout the United States. I commend my friends Fredrick Jordan and John Templeton for

establishing this important observance, which has become a national opportunity to highlight the contributions of Black entrepreneurs and the enduring spirit of enterprise in our community. But in New Jersey, this month must represent more than recognition. It must serve as a call to action.