Articles by: Cynthia Gordy

Remember a couple of months ago, after the Democrats' midterm election "shellacking," when folks declared it "the end of Obama?" Turns out the President is making a comeback. According to an ABC News/Washington Post poll, President Obama's approval ratings have spiked recently, with 54 percent of Americans commending his job performance...

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. once said, "Life's most persistent and urgent question is: What are you doing for others?" It's fitting that on Martin Luther King Day each year, people across the country answer that question by performing acts of service. ESSENCE.com sat down with Patrick Corvington, CEO of the Corporation for National and Community Service to talk about the history of the King holiday, President Obama's call to service, and why even the little things count when you think about giving back...

While conventional wisdom says that Republicans have the midterm elections in the bag -- with more enthusiasm for the Party, plus undecided folks who are unhappy with incumbents -- two new studies show that Democrats have a secret weapon: Black voters. According to a survey conducted by The Washington Post, the Kaiser Foundation and Harvard University, 80 percent of Black Democrats are just as interested in the midterms as they were in the 2008 presidential election, when their historic participation helped elect Barack Obama. A report by the Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies found that African-Americans are concentrated in districts with competitive races, meaning they could make the difference in who controls the House and Senate...

President Barack Obama regularly praises the importance of community colleges, and even held a White House summit on the subject earlier this month. Now federal officials are casting a spotlight on for-profit colleges -- but not in a positive way...

The Congressional Black Caucus Foundation's Annual Legislative Conference has been dubbed one of the most powerful weeks in Washington. On its opening day this week, ESSENCE.com tagged along (or tried to!) with CBC President, Congresswoman Barbara Lee, one of the city's most powerful women. From the panels to the parties, here's a look at some of the happenings about town, through the bustling schedule of the Washington insider...

It happened two weeks ago, but President Barack Obama made it official in an Oval Office address on Tuesday night: after seven and a half years, combat operations in Iraq have ended. Although 50,000 non-combat troops and contractors will remain on the ground until the end of next year to train and advise Iraqi security forces, all U.S. combat brigades -- more than 100,00 troops -- have been sent home...

Debate is bubbling these days over plans for an Islamic community center a few blocks away from Ground Zero. But this week another clash is taking place over what's considered by many to be a different kind of hallowed ground. On August 28... 47 years to the day since Martin Luther King Jr. delivered his "I Have a Dream" speech at the Lincoln Memorial, FOX News personality Glenn Beck is holding a rally at the same spot. Beck insists that his "Restoring Honor" rally, for which Sarah Palin will be a featured speaker, is not political, but will focus on the country's "values" and pay tribute to military families...  

A key pillar of First Lady Michelle Obama's "Let's Move" childhood obesity campaign--serving healthier foods in schools--gained major traction on Thursday...

On Wednesday, President Obama honored 13 Americans with the Citizens Medal. The nation's second-highest civilian award, it recognizes both public figures and everyday heroes who have shown extraordinary service to their fellow citizens. This year, the President chose to award everyday Americans, including three Black women nominated by the public after he issued a call for submissions in January...