Sophia A. Nelson | theGrio | African American News and Opinion

Aretha Franklin proves love and marriage are possible at any age

3:00 PM on 01/07/2012

TheGrio LIFE&STYLE -- Aretha Franklin has found love at 69 years of age and I think in doing so, the Queen of Soul teaches all of us "never married" sisters and those starting over again at any age that love is always possible...

Black ex-Republican: My former party is clueless on race

By Sophia A. Nelson

6:00 AM on 01/06/2012

OPINION - President Lincoln would grimace at what the GOP has become and so would many of the great leaders that build it into a formidable party pre-1972; before Nixon's southern strategy...

Melody Barnes trades White House for family life

By Sophia A. Nelson

2:30 PM on 12/23/2011

OPINION - Melody C. Barnes, President Obama's Domestic Policy Council Director; gave a private, farewell interview to five members of the national media at the White House on Wednesday as she prepares for a new and exciting chapter in her life...

Kobe and Vanessa Bryant's divorce: Basketball wives' 'glamorous life' backfires

By Sophia A. Nelson

8:09 AM on 12/19/2011

OPINION - The old adage hell hath no fury like a woman scorned, is about to take on new meaning in the life of basketball superstar Kobe Bryant...

From Herman Cain to Eddie Long: High-profile Atlanta black marriages fail publicly

By Sophia A. Nelson

10:14 AM on 12/05/2011

OPINION - This past weekend was very eventful on the high-profile 'Atlanta black marriage' front...

Serita Jakes has her 'own wings' and is ready to soar

By Sophia A. Nelson

6:01 AM on 11/24/2011

theGRIO Q&A - We know her as the wife of Bishop TD Jakes, the gifted pastor, orator, best-selling author, successful movie producer, and the founder and spiritual leader of the Potter's House ministries in Dallas, Texas...

Are minorities and women being settled into silence?

By Sophia A. Nelson

4:32 PM on 11/03/2011

OPINION - Your biggest fear as a potential complainant is that you will be professionally black-balled and isolated, or worse branded 'crazy' and a non-'team player'...

Sexual harassment claims may sink Cain campaign

By Sophia A. Nelson

10:42 AM on 10/31/2011

OPINION - Conservatives and Tea Party activists who like Cain will not take kindly to allegations that he sexually harassed in anyway young women in his employ...

Is Obama unbeatable despite economic unrest?

By Sophia A. Nelson

8:01 AM on 10/27/2011

OPINION - The 2012 GOP primary field is simply not ready or able (at this juncture anyway) to truly take on President 'Terminator' Barack Obama...

Affirmative action 'bake sale' at Berkeley smells of racism

By Sophia A. Nelson

8:22 AM on 09/28/2011

OPINION - The controversy that has erupted on UC Berkley's campus, and spread to a few others is a symptom of a problem that runs much deeper than college admissions...

Marian Wright Edelman: HBCUs 'more important now than ever'

By Sophia A. Nelson

8:58 AM on 09/23/2011

theGRIO Q&A - theGrio caught up with Edelman for a one on one interview about the state of education and black America during a recent Public Policy Town Hall aimed at improving the quality of life of all citizens...

Melody Barnes: 'Smart infrastructure' will save black jobs

By Sophia A. Nelson

6:01 AM on 09/13/2011

theGRIO Q&A - In advance of the larger roundtable that the White House convened today, theGrio was able to speak with White House Domestic Policy Adviser to the president, Melody Barnes...

After 9/11, one man's journey from loss to love

By Sophia A. Nelson

6:00 AM on 09/11/2011

OPINION - When we think of 9/11, we rightly remember the tragedy and abject horror of the day. Yet, I believe that the single greatest lesson and take-away from September 11, 2001 for us all, is the redeeming and nurturing power of love...

Why black women can relate to Condi Rice's cries

By Sophia A. Nelson

8:45 AM on 08/30/2011

OPINION - I can tell you first hand it is painful and degrading and I am not surprised at any human being (male or female) who might cry in the face of such unprofessional treatment...

Why black women were crucial to civil rights movement

By Sophia A. Nelson

6:04 AM on 08/25/2011

OPINION - A long list of 'unsung' black heroines marched, sat, rode, bled and died in the struggle for equality during the civil rights movement...

The 'two Micheles': Obama, Bachmann held to different standards

By Sophia A. Nelson

6:00 AM on 08/20/2011

OPINION - The facts tell us that despite all of our newfound status, education and accomplishments, black women in America, including Mrs. Obama, still have to deal with racial stereotypes...

How race has put Strauss-Kahn's accuser on trial

By Sophia A. Nelson

1:56 PM on 08/09/2011

OPINION - The 800 lb elephant in the room, however, is the issue of her race and status and how that may impact the prosecution's decision to go forward or not...