By Janet Singleton
White House Social Secretary Desirée Rogers stepped down from her position this month, and said farewell: She told the Chicago Sun Times that serving the country “had been an honor and a privilege.” She was leaving, she said because she wants to “explore opportunities in the corporate world.” She denied her decision stems from the scandal in which a couple and a separate individual were able to sneak into a state dinner given by the Obama administration to honor Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in November.

By Kevin Eason
Kevin Eason is a freelance editorial cartoonist and Illustrator from NJ. His brand of satire covers news events in politics, entertainment, sports and much more. Kevin’s work features include: TVOne, NABJ, WBLS_107.5FM, EURweb and various newspapers & magazines throughout the country.

By Janet Singleton
For me to have the opportunity to vote for the sort of person, as president of my nation, that I would aspire to be is even more miraculous than the racial breakthrough it represented. No Irshad, I voted for the President not because he is my color but because he is my kind, if only in my aspirations.

By C. Nicole Mason
A few weeks ago, I was visiting with a friend and she relayed a troubling story to me. She had visited family down south and threw a slumber party for her nieces and nephews. As a part of her duties for the evening, she fixed dinner and provided the treats. To the usual fare of ice cream and pizza, she added a vegetable tray of carrots and celery. While chowing down, her nephew turned to her and asked what it was he was eating that tasted so good.

It was a carrot.

By Mark Lassiter
The President’s luncheon meeting with the House Republican Conference in Baltimore last Friday offered proof that the art Ali demonstrated in the boxing ring at the pinnacle of his career can also shine brightly in a different kind of arena.

By C. Nicole Mason
Public confidence in Obama is wavering. The honeymoon is definitely over. Even progressives are starting to look at him a little sideways. In order to recapture support and the spirit of the campaign, Obama will have to do less politicking and more change-making. He needs less charisma and more grit.

By John Payton
A year ago, we could barely contain our excitement as we contemplated a historic achievement. Barack Obama had won a decisive victory. There was widespread enthusiasm for his Presidency. Right after the election, Gallup reported that 68 percent of the public was proud that Obama was President. His choices of Senator Hillary Clinton to be Secretary of State, of Eric Holder to be Attorney General and of Robert Gates to remain as Secretary of Defense were well received. His Inaugural speech was brilliant. We were looking forward to acknowledging and confronting fundamental problems that have plagued our society for decades.

By Karen Hunter
GOP chair Michael Steele made the rounds this weekend calling for, among other things, the resignation of Senate Majority Leader Democratic Harry Reid for comments that Reid made about Barack Obama while he was making his historic run for president.

By C. Nicole Mason
The 2000s were a mixed bag for African-American women. From Venus and Serena Williams to Condoleezza Rice to Michelle Obama to Don Imus’ infamous nappygate, the 2000s will go down as the decade of both opportunity and setbacks for black women. This decade retrospective looks at the top ten events that shaped how we view black women in society, our communities, and in pop culture.

By C. Nicole Mason
As the old adage goes, you’re damned if you do and damned if you don’t. Over the last several weeks, President Obama seems to have gotten himself caught between a rock and a hard place with black legislators and advocacy groups.