The Lawrence Times runs opinion columns written by community members with varying perspectives on local issues. Occasionally, we’ll also pick up columns from other nearby news outlets. These pieces do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the Times staff.
The Lawrence Times does not publish staff editorials (unsigned opinion columns, usually about the topics we cover, that many news publications run).
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OPINION COLUMNS
Kirsten Kuhn: Prohibitionist Kansas GOP should advance adequate medical cannabis laws (Column)
“Once again, backwards Kansas legislators are standing in the way of progress and freedom. … The current proposed medical cannabis bill leaves much to be desired,” Kirsten Kuhn writes in this column.
Brandon Daley/Contributed Photo
Brandon Daley: Walking ‘in their shoes’ from Woodlawn to Liberty Memorial Central (Column)
On Wednesday, a group of community members walked from Liberty Memorial Central Middle School to Woodlawn Elementary School to better understand possible implications of proposed school closure scenarios.
Edith Guffey: I’m conflicted about Black History Month (Column)
“The rest of the year, it’s as if (Black) history has little relevance or connection to policies, politics, how we choose to spend our money or live our lives,” Edith Guffey writes in this column.
Roman Jasso: The causes and effects of housing discrimination (Racial Justice essay)
“Among the atrocities that have faced people of color for centuries, the practice of housing discrimination and redlining is unique in its generational impact on the community,” Roman Jasso writes in this racial justice essay.
January Jackson: The past, present, and future of America as police brutality persists (Racial Justice essay)
“We cannot let history keep repeating itself, so we must educate ourselves on (police brutality in America) and enforce ways to stop it,” January Jackson writes in this racial justice essay.
Zora Lotton-Barker: The racist history of the Hollywood film industry and its implications for today (Racial Justice essay)
“From its inception, Hollywood has been systematically dominated by white male filmmakers and producers, catering to a predominantly white audience,” Zora Lotton-Barker writes in this essay.
Rebecca Zarazan Dunn/Contributed Image
Rebecca Zarazan Dunn: People of Lawrence should commit to a shared effort to save our schools (Column)
“If our schools are shuttered, the institutional mourning will be profound, but as a Lawrencian I’m optimistic we will not witness that outcome. Where the district sees opportunity in this budget crisis, I see opportunity as well,” Rebecca Zarazan Dunn writes in this column.
Clay Wirestone: Like Quantrill’s violent raiders, GOP legislators in Kansas aim to stifle Lawrence progressives (Column)
“(Legislators are) perfectly willing to exploit (Lawrence) for their own purposes. They just don’t want to allow its residents to choose U.S. representatives,” Clay Wirestone writes in this column for Kansas Reflector.
Ryan Brown: Disposable (Racial Justice essay)
“I’m scared when my father goes out for a run, or when I see my cousins wearing hoodies. I’m constantly wondering: will one of my family members become a hashtag?” Ryan Brown writes in this essay.
Edith Guffey: The state of the Beloved Community (Column)
“Today, many will pause to remember the life and legacy of The Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. You will hear many references to his ‘I Have a Dream’ speech, but given the context of the country and of Lawrence, Dr. King’s vision of the Beloved Community is what I can’t get out of my head,” Edith Guffey writes in this column for the Times.
Andy White / Contributed Photo
Tom Harper: Rachel’s bench, and others like it, are meaningful gifts to all of Lawrence (Column)
Lanny Genosky is thankful to have a bench in memory of his wife, Rachel, where he can sit and enjoy the view of Lawrence that she loved in Constant Park.
Mark McCormick: Does CRT make white students feel bad? Try being a Black student (Column)
“So much of the ever-changing debate about critical race theory — a term for an academic body of work not taught in K-12 public schools — centers the feelings of white students. We rarely seem concerned about how Black students have felt in public schools,” Mark McCormick writes in this column for Kansas Reflector.
Kerry Altenbernd: We must face up to vile racist incidents and discrimination in Lawrence (Column)
“The ‘Free State Narrative’ is toxic to understand what really happened in Kansas and obscures how much the state did not live up to its purported openness and tolerance,” Kerry Altenbernd writes in this column.
August Rudisell/The Lawrence Times
Tom Harper: Updates to Bowersock Dam reveal remnants of the past, promise power for the future (Column)
In recent weeks, the Kaw River has been lowered at the Bowersock Dam. Ancient shoreline structures have been revealed and huge, deep expanses of shale, millions of years old, have been exposed.
Contributed Photo
Ellen Bertels: Name Change Project simplifies a complex, emotional process for transgender Kansans (Column)
“In the long term, I hope to create a network of attorneys who can provide competent, affirming, and affordable services for low-income trans Kansans seeking all sorts of legal support,” Ellen Bertels writes in this column for Kansas Reflector.
