Op-Ed: Why Black Fathers Like Me Must Speak Up About Autism – Post News Group

Being “Dad” to my daughter Amari, who was diagnosed with autism, changed everything. In the Black community, silence around disability comes at a cost. I’ve learned that fatherhood is leadership—and it’s time we speak up. Our kids need early support, inclusive policies, and visible, vocal fathers. Autism isn’t the tragedy—silence is.
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BLACKPRESSUSA NEWSWIRE – As a Black father, I’ve worn many titles—provider, protector, community leader, mentor. But none has shaped me more than being “Dad” to my daughter Amari, who was diagnosed with autism.

When I first heard the word autism associated with my child, I’ll admit—I was overwhelmed. Like many parents, I didn’t fully understand what it meant. I was afraid of what the future might hold. But in the Black community, fear is often met with silence. And silence—especially around disability and mental health—has become a quiet barrier too many families struggle behind.
That’s why I’m speaking out—not just as a father, but as an advocate for our children, for public service education, and for civic engagement rooted in love and leadership.
Black children are too often diagnosed, later, misdiagnosed, or outright denied access to the early interventions they need. The reasons are layered—racial disparities in healthcare, cultural stigma, under-resourced schools, and unconscious bias in medical and educational systems. The results are heartbreaking. Our children fall through cracks that should never exist.
Even fewer people talk about the role of fathers—especially Black fathers—in this journey. Too often, we’re pushed to the margins of the conversation or expected to stay silent. That ends here.

I’ve sat in countless IEP meetings. I’ve researched therapies, pushed for inclusive classrooms, and sought out the support systems that weren’t readily available. I’ve wiped away tears and celebrated every breakthrough. And in each step, I’ve realized that parenthood is more than presence—it’s informed, engaged leadership. It’s showing up as our child’s strongest advocate.
Through my advocacy, I’ve worked with other families here in Prince George’s County to build community, share knowledge, and empower fathers. But we need more. We need a cultural shift—one that recognizes neurodiversity, reduces stigma, and promotes civic participation among parents and caregivers. We need to normalize vulnerability in Black men and redefine strength as being fully present for our children.
And we need policy.

• Paid family leave.
• Inclusive classrooms.
• Early intervention access.
• Increased funding for special education—especially in underserved communities where disparities are most pronouncedl.

These aren’t just family issues. They are issues of public leadership. They are the foundations of building future leaders through involvement, advocacy, and education.
Our children deserve more than awareness—they deserve action. And our fathers deserve to be seen, heard, and supported—not shamed or silenced.
Autism is not a tragedy. Silence is.
Let’s talk. Let’s act. Let’s lead.

LIVE NNPA 2025 National Legacy Awards Gala | Savannah
The Sacramento Observer and Savannah Tribune Win Big at 2025 NNPA Messenger Awards

LIVE NNPA 2025 National Legacy Awards Gala | Savannah
The Sacramento Observer and Savannah Tribune Win Big at 2025 NNPA Messenger Awards
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BLACKPRESSUSA NEWSWIRE — The Sacramento Observer earned the night’s most prestigious recognition, the John B. Russwurm Award, presented to the newspaper with the highest cumulative score across all award categories. The Observer achieved an impressive 154 points and took home first-place honors in Education Reporting, Business Reporting, Original Photography, Youth and Children Coverage, and Facebook Campaigns.
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By Stacy M. Brown
Black Press USA Senior National Correspondent

SAVANNAH, Ga.—The Sacramento Observer and The Savannah Tribune stood out as the top honorees at the 2025 National Newspaper Publishers Association (NNPA) Fund’s Messenger Awards, held during the Black Press of America’s annual convention at the JW Marriott Savannah Plant Riverside District Hotel.
The convention, themed “The Black Press: Engaging Black America—Empowerment, Justice and Prosperity,” marked the 198th year of the Black Press of America, which today comprises more than 200 African American-owned newspapers and media companies committed to covering the stories and issues that shape Black communities nationwide.
The Sacramento Observer earned the night’s most prestigious recognition, the John B. Russwurm Award, presented to the newspaper with the highest cumulative score across all award categories. The Observer achieved an impressive 154 points and took home first-place honors in Education Reporting, Business Reporting, Original Photography, Youth and Children Coverage, and Facebook Campaigns. The publication also placed among the top three in several additional categories, including Environment, Social Criminal Justice, and Fashion, Beauty, and Lifestyle, underscoring its consistent strength in both editorial content and audience engagement.
While the Observer dominated the content awards, The Savannah Tribune was honored for its leadership and community impact. Publisher Shirley Ann Barber James received the Publisher of the Year Award, recognizing her decades of dedication to preserving and strengthening the Tribune’s voice. Accepting the award, James thanked her family, staff, and Savannah’s civic organizations for supporting the paper’s mission and expanding its reach.

Other publications also earned multiple honors. The Houston Defender captured first-place awards in Health Reporting, Environment Reporting, and Fashion, Beauty, and Lifestyle. The St. Louis American earned first place in the categories of Special Editions, Original Advertising Campaigns, Broadsheet Layout and Design, and Video Campaigns. The Afro-American Newspaper of Baltimore and the Chicago Defender also collected several top finishes.
All winners by category included:
Health Reporting – Emory O. Jackson Award
1st Place: Houston Defender
2nd Place: Birmingham Times
3rd Place: Afro-American Newspaper, Baltimore
Education Reporting – Frank L. Stanley Award
1st Place: The Sacramento Observer
2nd Place: Washington Informer
3rd Place: Savannah Tribune
Social Criminal Justice – Ida B. Wells Award
1st Place: Chicago Defender
2nd Place: Dallas Weekly
3rd Place: The Sacramento Observer
Environment – Wilbert L. Holloway Award
1st Place: Houston Defender
2nd Place: The Sacramento Observer
3rd Place: New York Amsterdam News
Faith & Religion
1st Place: L.A. Sentinel
2nd Place: Baltimore Times
3rd Place: Final Call
Business Reporting
1st Place: The Sacramento Observer
2nd Place: Chicago Defender
3rd Place: Houston Defender
Editorial Opinion – Robert S. Abbott Award
1st Place: Forward Times
2nd Place: Washington Informer
3rd Place: Texas Metro News
Original Photography
1st Place: The Sacramento Observer
2nd Place: Houston Defender
3rd Place: New York Amsterdam News
Entertainment Coverage – Armstrong Ellington Award
1st Place: Afro-American Newspaper, Baltimore
2nd Place: Washington Informer
3rd Place: Atlanta Voice
Sports – Don King Award
1st Place: Afro-American Newspaper, Baltimore
2nd Place: St. Louis American
3rd Place: Atlanta Voice
Youth and Children Coverage
1st Place: The Sacramento Observer
2nd Place: Philadelphia Tribune
3rd Place: Savannah Tribune
Fashion, Beauty & Lifestyle – Ada S. Franklin Award
1st Place: Houston Defender
2nd Place: The Sacramento Observer
3rd Place: Atlanta Voice
Special Editions – Leon H. Washington Award
1st Place: St. Louis American
2nd Place: Philadelphia Tribune
3rd Place: Washington Informer
Original Advertising Campaign – E. Washington Rhodes Award
1st Place: St. Louis American
2nd Place: New Pittsburgh Courier
3rd Place: Seattle Medium
Layout & Design (Tabloid) – Robert L. Vann Award
1st Place: Washington Informer
2nd Place: Texas Metro News
3rd Place: New York Amsterdam News
Layout & Design (Broadsheet) – Robert L. Vann Award
1st Place: St. Louis American
2nd Place: Philadelphia Tribune
3rd Place: Michigan Chronicle
Website Excellence – A. Philip Randolph Award
1st Place: New Pittsburgh Courier
2nd Place: Michigan Chronicle
3rd Place: St. Louis American
Facebook Campaign
1st Place: The Sacramento Observer
2nd Place: Forward Times
3rd Place: Michigan Chronicle
Instagram Campaign
1st Place: Texas Metro News
2nd Place: Chicago Defender
3rd Place: Michigan Chronicle
Video Campaign
1st Place: St. Louis American
2nd Place: Houston Defender
3rd Place: L.A. Sentinel
Community Service – Karl Murphy Award
1st Place: Baltimore Times
2nd Place: L.A. Sentinel
3rd Place: Texas Metro News
Community Engagement – W.A. Scott II Award
1st Place: Dallas Weekly
2nd Place: Houston Defender
3rd Place: Philadelphia Tribune
Newspaper Excellence – John H. Sengstacke Award
1st Place: Philadelphia Tribune
2nd Place: Afro-American Newspaper, Baltimore
3rd Place: Atlanta Voice
Newsletter Excellence
1st Place: New Pittsburgh Courier
2nd Place: Savannah Tribune
3rd Place: Michigan Chronicle
“This is an opportunity to showcase the amazing publications, publishers, and journalists, and their staff who keep the Black press alive,” NNPA Fund Chair and Houston Forward Times Publisher Karen Carter Richards stated.

BLACKPRESSUSA NEWSWIRE — Dubbed the “One Big Beautiful Bill,” the legislation makes permanent and expands the 2017 Trump tax cuts. It raises the cap on the state and local tax (SALT) deduction from $10,000 to $40,000, temporarily ends taxes on tips and overtime pay, and increases the child tax credit by $500 through 2028. To offset the cost—estimated at $2.8 trillion over 10 years—the bill also slashes Medicaid and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) by more than $1.2 trillion combined.
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By Stacy M. Brown
Black Press USA Senior National Correspondent

The House-passed tax overhaul backed by President Donald Trump promises broad-based relief, but detailed Penn Wharton analysis shows the legislation disproportionately benefits high-income households while delivering modest gains—or losses—for working-class Americans in cities like Baltimore, New York, Los Angeles, Detroit, Chicago, Houston, and Washington, D.C.
Dubbed the “One Big Beautiful Bill,” the legislation makes permanent and expands the 2017 Trump tax cuts. It raises the cap on the state and local tax (SALT) deduction from $10,000 to $40,000, temporarily ends taxes on tips and overtime pay, and increases the child tax credit by $500 through 2028. To offset the cost—estimated at $2.8 trillion over 10 years—the bill also slashes Medicaid and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) by more than $1.2 trillion combined.
In every city studied, higher-income households walk away with five-figure gains while low-income families—many of them Black or Latino—lose more in benefit cuts than they gain in tax relief.
For instance, a single mother earning $20,000 with two children in Baltimore’s 21216 ZIP code is projected to lose $870 annually under the plan. Meanwhile, a married couple with two children earning $450,000 would gain nearly $20,000, benefiting from SALT deductions and expanded business income provisions.

Meanwhile, New York’s wealthiest residents benefit greatly. A high-earning household in Manhattan sees more than $19,000 in net savings. In contrast, families in the Bronx or East New York earning $50,000 or less see less than $1,100 in gains—many facing potential losses if they rely on federal assistance.
Low-income workers in South Los Angeles, earning $20,000 and relying on SNAP or Medicaid, face a net loss of $870 per year. The limited deductions for tips and overtime income offer some help but are capped and set to expire after 2028.
In Detroit’s ZIP code 48227, where public benefit reliance remains high, working-class families face limited gains. A married household earning $100,000 with children gains about $3,000, but any participation in Medicaid or SNAP would reduce or reverse that benefit. High earners again collect nearly $20,000 in relief.
In neighborhoods like Englewood or Austin, working-class residents see marginal benefits. A married couple with three children earning $100,000 would gain $3,090. Meanwhile, a single high-income earner downtown receives over $11,000 in tax breaks.
Without a state income tax, Texas families don’t benefit from the SALT expansion. Still, households earning $200,000 or more benefit from deductions aimed at higher incomes, including pass-through business income and estate tax changes. A single mother at $20,000 sees the same $870 loss.
In the nation’s capital, where high state taxes and federal benefit reliance intersect, the gaps are wide—a married household with three children earning $200,000 gains $9,925 under the bill. But in majority-Black neighborhoods like 20019 or 20020, lower-income residents lose more than they gain.
The Penn Wharton Budget Model concludes that the bill delivers more than two-thirds of its value to the highest earners. “The top 10 percent of the income distribution receives about 70 percent of the total value of the legislation,” the analysis found.
It also projects long-term losses for those least able to afford them. “All future generations are worse off,” the Penn Wharton researchers wrote, citing the rise in federal debt and the weakening of core social support programs.

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