Authors & Essays

We are living in a perilous moment for the American democratic experiment; an experiment that, from its inception, has failed to deliver on its promises of equality, inclusion, and justice for all.

A more abiding commitment to freedom.

A more constant pursuit of justice. 

A deeper respect for human dignity.

These were the promises of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, as expressed by President Lyndon Johnson when he signed the bill into law. 

The day before the 60^th anniversary of the March on Washington, I hosted a group of civil rights leaders at the White House, including members of the King family and my dear friend Marc Morial of the National Urban League.

In 2024, it is more critical than ever that companies stay actively and vocally committed to fostering equitable and inclusive environments. Challenges to diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs, legal and otherwise, have mounted in recent years, and the U.S.

I hold a distinction that is, at once, humbling and disturbing: I’m the fourth popularly elected Black senator in U.S. history and one of just 12 African Americans to have served in the Senate.