Cherelle Parker
It was Cherelle Parker’s first day as mayor — had you heard she was Philadelphia's first female mayor? — and she was leading with her left foot, feeding into two unfortunate stereotypes. Based on reporting on her first day in office, which is a traditional assignment, the Philadelphia Inquirer
Mummers
I wake up this morning to two predictable items — the Mummers Parade, and the Inquirer throwing shade. Does the “paper of record” celebrate the nation's oldest folk parade, and the #1 winter festival, according to USA Today this year? It does not mention either. Demonstrating its menstrual cramps,
Culture
By Johnathan Zimmerman Earlier this month, I read the single sharpest criticism of the American university I’ve encountered in many years. And it wasn’t even about the American university. It’s an essay that appeared in the Economist by former The New York Times opinion editor James Bennet,
Culture
Stereotypes are usually wrong, including this one, but what the hell is going on with American young people? Does this seem like I am standing on the lawn and yelling at the clouds? I’ll ask you again later, but if so, I’ve earned it, as opposed to the
Humor
Continuing a conversation that has been going on for more than two decades between Your Favorite Columnist and the Almighty. YFC: Yo, God! Where you at? The Heavenly Hall seems to be empty. God: Stop shouting, Sonny. I hear you. I’m in the crapper. This irritable bowel syndrome is
Politics
It’s a jolly time of the year and the holiday spirit infuses the Philadelphia Inquirer’s series evaluating Jim Kenney, Philadelphia’s 99th mayor. Cherelle Parker thinks she’s Philadelphia’s first female mayor. Some think Kenney, that oft-blubbering mass of emotion, beat her to it. The Friday Inquirer
Mark Squilla
Benjamin Franklin is credited with saying nothing is certain except death and taxes. (He was talking about the viability of the new Constitution.) He overlooked the government's ability to give loyal citizens a not-so-royal hemorrhoid. It was not so long ago our august City Council — along with other
Racism
I’m not sure why Michael Days recommended I read the Pulitzer Prize-winning, “Slavery by Another Name,” by Southern journalist Douglas A. Blackmon. It followed a brief discussion about race, which we sometimes had. Especially when Days was the editor of the Philadelphia Daily News, and I was the self-designated
Education
Journalism is the first draft of history, they say. Written fast, with deadlines bearing down on the reporter, those drafts are incomplete at best, deeply flawed at worst. Having been on vacation when the presidents of three elite universities were grilled by congress, I did not write about the first
Justice
Update: Ramon Lawrence waived his preliminary hearing; the judge put him into an Accelerated Rehabilitation Disposition program. Lawrence will take a drug education course, pay fines, and have the charges expunged in a year if he stays out of trouble. The way Ramon Lawrence tells it, on Sept. 30 he
Anti-Semitism
With their anti-Semitic attack on Goldie’s on Sansom Street, the Philly Palestine Coalition has revealed (again) its true colors, which are these: Despite a remarkably soft Inquirer story on the attack, the words and actions of the group convict them in the court of public opinion, condemned as anti-Semitism
Politics
It is very easy, too easy, as you can see in this Washington Post column, to frame presidential contests involving Donald J. Trump as white supremacy versus racial tolerance. Columnist Perry Bacon, Jr., who is Black, actually wrote, “And because white people are likely to be the majority of voters