Featured
Colorado Voters to Consider Banning Slavery
NNPA NEWSWIRE — “…Slavery is still legal in the United States, so long as it is pursuant to a criminal conviction and if it is limited to compulsory uncompensated labor — and indeed that is precisely the system America maintains today…” — Randal John Meyer, legal associate in the Cato Institute’s Center for Constitutional Studies.
By Stacy M. Brown, NNPA Newswire Correspondent
@StacyBrownMedia
Freedom is on the ballot in Colorado this November.
Voters in the Centennial State must decide on changing the language in the state’s constitution so that it no longer allows slavery as a form of punishment.
Over 15 state constitutions in the United States permit slavery as a way of legal punishment for those who’ve committed a crime, despite the 13th Amendment being ratified in 1865.
The unclear wording in Colorado’s constitution means “slavery and involuntary servitude may not be fully unconstitutional” according to the state’s ACLU chapter executive director Nathan Woodliff-Stanley, via the Atlanta Black Star.
Article II, Section 26 of Colorado’s constitution reads that there “shall never be in this state either slavery or involuntary servitude, except as a punishment for crime, whereof the party shall have been duly convicted.”
However, voters will be given an opportunity to change the language of the state’s constitution so that slavery is no longer allowed as punishment.
A similar measure failed in Colorado two years ago.
Residents will be given two options, to keep Article II Section 26 of the state’s constitution, or choose Amendment A which will change the diction to, “There shall never be in this state either slavery or involuntary servitude.”
Jumoke Emery of Abolish Slavery Colorado told CNN that voters almost got the amendment to pass two years ago, but blamed the legislators’ terminology for the outcome of the vote.
“I hope that this puts forth the message that our past doesn’t have to be our future, that by and large we as Americans are interested in fixing our mistakes and that there’s hope for our future,” Emery told the news outlet.
Those who are against amending the constitution say it’s not necessary because Colorado already bans slavery. They also argue that certain prisoner programs could be affected.
When most Americans learn about the 13th Amendment in high school, the teacher will cursorily remark that “the 13th Amendment ended slavery in the United States,” and move on to the 14th Amendment, Randal John Meyer, a legal associate in the Cato Institute’s Center for Constitutional Studies, wrote in an editorial.
“This oversimplification is a fiction. Slavery is still legal in the United States, so long as it is pursuant to a criminal conviction and if it is limited to compulsory uncompensated labor — and indeed that is precisely the system America maintains today,” Meyer said.
The 13th Amendment, as enacted, reads “Neither slavery nor involuntary servitude, except as a punishment for crime whereof the party shall have been duly convicted, shall exist within the United States, or any place subject to their jurisdiction.”
Meyer argued that slavery is neither a cruel nor unusual punishment according to the Supreme Law of the Land, nor historically has it been considered that.
In the 1700s and early 1800s, Americans viewed compulsory labor as a way to fight vagrancy and to rehabilitate such idleness, he said.
However, the states began to understand the potential for revenue generation from prisons in the 1800s – compulsory labor and the sale of prison products became a means to offset state costs.
To be sure, the Virginia Supreme Court in Ruffin v. Commonwealth (1871) declared that prisoners were the “slaves of the State” within a compulsory labor system.
This “Punishments” clause allowed for the birth of the “convict-lease” system in the South after the war. Many Southern states passed anti-vagrancy “black codes,” criminalizing the status of being unemployed. Citing cost reasons, states would then lease out their prisoners to private persons to work under slave-like conditions.
As Frederick Douglass noted, “companies assume charge of the convicts, work them as cheap labor and pay the states a handsome revenue for their labor. Nine[-]tenths of these convicts are Negroes.”
Since the 1860s, courts have interpreted the 13th Amendment as it plainly reads. “Once individuals have been duly tried, convicted, sentenced, and imprisoned, courts will not find 13th Amendment violations where prison rules require inmates to work.”
The compensation of prison labor today reflects this history.
In Georgia and Texas, the maximum wage in dollars per day is $0.
In Nevada, prisoners make $0.13 an hour.
The average wage is between $0.93 a day and $4.93 a day – less than an hour of work at minimum wage. Conservative estimates put the value of output from prison labor at $2 billion annually.
Indeed, much like the Southern states claimed after the Civil War, “states facing growing budget deficits are increasingly turning to inmate labor to produce additional revenue, or at a minimum, offset the cost of imprisonment.”
At least 37 states have legalized the contracting of prison labor by private corporations that mount their operations inside state prisons.
“While amending the Constitution to fix a $2 billion a year compulsory labor industry is politically unlikely, Congress may take measures to ensure that rehabilitative compulsory labor is not uncompensated, like compelling the payment of a federal minimum wage,” Meyer argued.
“State legislatures also could apply minimum wage rules to prisoners,” he said.
Removing the wording from the Colorado constitution “closes the door on the possibility of future abuses, and it also sends a positive message in a time of great division in our nation,” Woodliff-Stanley of the ACLU said.
Featured
Big Conversations, Big Culture, Big DMV Energy
Catch “Let’s Talk on Win-TV” for big conversations on theater, books, and Black film culture in the DMV! Featuring “Spades the Play,” “DMV Does,” and the American Black Film Festival.
🎬 LET’S TALK ON WIN-TV — BIG CONVERSATIONS, BIG CULTURE, BIG DMV ENERGY!
Join us for a dynamic lineup of conversations celebrating theater, community, books, and Black film culture across the DMV!
🎭 SPADES THE PLAY
Jada Ingleton, Content Editor for The Washington Informer, sits down with Marcus Callender, creator of Spades the Play, for a conversation about the inspiration, storytelling, and creative energy behind this exciting production.
📚 DMV DOES — MORE THAN A BOOK CLUB!
Washington Informer Publisher and Let’s Talk host Denise Rolark Barnes talks with Whitney Parker and Jennifer Ward, founders of DMV DOES, about building community through books, meaningful conversations, connection, and shared experiences.
🎥 AMERICAN BLACK FILM FESTIVAL COMES TO THE DMV!
Washington Informer Lifestyle Reporter Brenda Siler talks with Nicole Friday about the upcoming American Black Film Festival at Union Market, bringing filmmakers, storytellers, creatives, and film lovers together for a celebration of Black cinema.
🔥 Three conversations. Three perspectives. One powerful DMV connection!
Watch Let’s Talk on WIN-TV and catch the conversations that bring Community. Culture. Conversation. Connection. straight to you!
📺 WATCH. SHARE. JOIN THE CONVERSATION!
Follow The Washington Informer and subscribe to WashingtonInformerTV for more original programming and conversations from across the DMV.
Featured
Obama Urges Democrats to make AI a Priority
Obama calls for Democrats to prioritize AI. Tune into Black Press USA’s Morning Show for the full breakdown.
This morning on Black Press USA’s Morning Show, Niele Anderson is joined by co-host guest Mr. Mo’Kelly as they break down the headlines shaping politics, culture, health, and the Black community.
Watch Black Press USA’s Morning Show for the headlines, the context, and the conversation behind the news.
#BlackPressUSA #MorningShow #BlackNews #KarmeloAnthony #VotingRights #USPS #Measles #ColinKaepernick #TargetBoycott #EmmittSmith #BlackMedia #BlackPress
Featured
Obama Urges Democrats to make AI a Priority 📱
Obama is calling on Democrats to prioritize AI. Tune into Black Press USA’s Morning Show for the full breakdown of this and other crucial headlines impacting the Black community.
This morning on Black Press USA’s Morning Show, Niele Anderson is joined by co-host guest Mr. Mo’Kelly as they break down the headlines shaping politics, culture, health, and the Black community.
Watch Black Press USA’s Morning Show for the headlines, the context, and the conversation behind the news.
#BlackPressUSA #MorningShow #BlackNews #KarmeloAnthony #VotingRights #USPS #Measles #ColinKaepernick #TargetBoycott #EmmittSmith #BlackMedia #BlackPress
Featured
Spades the Play – Marcus Callender
Tune in today at 4 PM for an inside look at Spades the Play! Discussing theater, culture, and community with creator Marcus Callender.
🔥 DON’T MISS IT! TODAY AT 4 P.M.! 🔥
Get ready for a lively conversation about theater, culture, friendship and community!
Jada Ingleton, Content Editor for The Washington Informer, sits down with Marcus Callendar, creator of Spades the Play, for an inside look at the inspiration, storytelling and creative vision behind this exciting stage production.
🃏 What inspired Spades the Play?
🎭 What stories are being brought to the stage?
🔥 And what can audiences expect?
Tune in TODAY at 4:00 P.M. on WIN-TV!
📲 Watch, share and enjoy the conversation!
The Washington Informer | WIN-TV
Community. Culture. Conversation. Connection.
Black Press
OP-ED: How Does Your State Rank for Pre-K?
BLACKPRESSUSA NEWSWIRE — “Other states should take note: Georgia proves that state-funded preschool with well-qualified teachers, pay parity with K-12, small classes, and strong continuous improvement systems can be scaled as a universal program,” said NIEER director Steve Barnett. “With new initiatives to support quality, Georgia can expect increased enrollment, but leaders should also actively promote increased enrollment.”
Georgia’s state-funded pre-k program for 4-year-olds was recently recognized as the largest state-funded preschool program in the nation to meet all 10 quality benchmarks, and the first universal program to do so. Georgia’s recognition is the top finding in the National Institute for Early Education Research’s new 2025 State of Preschool Yearbook. The yearbook provides an annual snapshot of state-funded preschool across the country. Forty-four states and the District of Columbia fund preschool programs.
Only five additional states meet all 10 of NIEER’s research-based benchmarks for quality —Alabama, Hawaii, Michigan, Mississippi, and Rhode Island—in this year’s report. None of those programs have the reach of Georgia Pre-K. NIEER’s benchmarks measure essential preschool quality indicators, including teacher qualifications, class sizes, early learning standards, and program assessments.
“Other states should take note: Georgia proves that state-funded preschool with well-qualified teachers, pay parity with K-12, small classes, and strong continuous improvement systems can be scaled as a universal program,” said NIEER director Steve Barnett. “With new initiatives to support quality, Georgia can expect increased enrollment, but leaders should also actively promote increased enrollment.”
Nationally, state support for preschool education hit record highs in enrollment and funding in 2024-2025. The pace of growth slowed, however, compared to the prior year, and many states continue to lag behind pre-pandemic enrollment levels. Preschool enrollment increased by 44,000 children nationally, reaching almost 1.8 million, including 37% of U.S. four-year-olds and 9% of three-year-olds. California, Colorado, Michigan, Minnesota, and Missouri contributed the most to increased enrollment, adding more than 52,000 new seats.
States spent nearly $14.4 billion on preschool in 2024-2025. Including federal and local dollars, total spending was almost $17.7 billion. Three states each spent more than $1 billion last year: California ($4.1 billion), New Jersey ($1.2 billion), and New York ($1 billion). Together, these three states account for 45% of all state preschool spending. Texas adds almost another $1 billion.
Spending increased by $434 million, or 3%, adjusted for inflation. Twenty-eight states increased preschool funding, including Michigan and New Jersey, which each added more than $100 million. “Not only does preschool access vary by which state a child happens to live in, but so does the quality of that preschool experience,” said Allison Friedman-Krauss, lead author of the report. “Only high-quality early care and education programs support children’s development enough to result in lasting academic and other gains that ultimately deliver savings for taxpayers.”
A record six states met all 10 of NIEER’s recommended quality standards, with Alabama doing so for the 20th consecutive year. Georgia joined this list this year after improving its teacher-to-child ratio from 1:11 to 1:10 and lowering maximum class sizes to 20. Several states met 9 of 10 benchmarks, including New Mexico, which is working toward universal access for both three- and four-year-olds. Once New Mexico requires all lead teachers to have a bachelor’s degree in early childhood education, it will be on par with Georgia in terms of both quality and quantity.
Not all states moved forward. Twenty states enrolled fewer preschoolers in 2024-2025 than the prior year, with enrollment dropping by more than 1,000 children in Arizona, Florida, New York, Ohio, Oklahoma, and Wisconsin. Seventeen states spent less on preschool than the prior year, adjusted for inflation, with Arizona, North Carolina, Oregon, and Texas seeing the largest percentage declines. Additional information about the State of Preschool Yearbook, including individual state profiles and maps, graphs, and state rankings, can be found at www.nieer.org.
Featured
Headlines and Hot Topics
Join Niele Anderson and Rodney Perry on Black Press USA’s Morning Show as they dissect trending headlines in politics, culture, and the Black community. Get the context and conversation behind the news.
This morning on Black Press USA’s Morning Show, Niele Anderson is joined by co-host guest Rodney Perry as they break down the headlines shaping politics, culture, health, and the Black community.
Watch Black Press USA’s Morning Show for the headlines, the context, and the conversation behind the news.
#BlackPressUSA #MorningShow #BlackNews #KarmeloAnthony #VotingRights #USPS #Measles #ColinKaepernick #TargetBoycott #EmmittSmith #BlackMedia #BlackPress
Big Conversations, Big Culture, Big DMV Energy
Mazda CX-90: Powerful Inline-6 & Towing Capabilities #shorts
Signatures Bind You! Nearly 19,000 Vehicle Complaints Filed! #shorts
Test Drive Alert: Avoid False Braking Alarms! #shorts
Obama Urges Democrats to make AI a Priority
Obama Urges Democrats to make AI a Priority 📱
Mazda CX-90: Visibility & Glare Test Drive Tips #shorts
Small SUV: Avoid These Annoyances Before You Buy! #shorts
Spades the Play – Marcus Callender
Foot-Activated Liftgate: Stay Balanced, Avoid Parking Lot Embarrassment! #shorts
You Had Me at Hello: the Love and Legacy of Grace Nail and James Weldon Johnson
COMMENTARY: What Two Fathers Talk About at Lunch
Arnold Perkins: At 85, a Life of Service, Faith and Giving Back
COMMENTARY: Stephen A. Smith refuses to look at himself in NABJ’s mirror
Young Black Men Suffering in Silence A curse that can be Broken
Young Black Men Suffering in Silence A curse that can be Broken
COMMENTARY: Property Is Power! the Last Generation to Start from Zero
Gov. Newsom Nominates 3 Black Women Judges to Serve on State Courts of Appeal
The utility deal with Newsom is heating up, and Black households are left footing the bill.
Women Learned Their Jail Strip Searches Were Recorded. Their Outrage Changed the Law
Big Conversations, Big Culture, Big DMV Energy
Mazda CX-90: Powerful Inline-6 & Towing Capabilities #shorts
Signatures Bind You! Nearly 19,000 Vehicle Complaints Filed! #shorts
Test Drive Alert: Avoid False Braking Alarms! #shorts
Obama Urges Democrats to make AI a Priority
Obama Urges Democrats to make AI a Priority 📱
Mazda CX-90: Visibility & Glare Test Drive Tips #shorts
Small SUV: Avoid These Annoyances Before You Buy! #shorts
Spades the Play – Marcus Callender
Foot-Activated Liftgate: Stay Balanced, Avoid Parking Lot Embarrassment! #shorts
-
Black History4 days agoLatest Massacre in Haiti Reveals Cruelty U.S. Deportations
-
Black Press1 week agoProstate Cancer is Twice as Likely to Kill Black Men. Talking to Your Doctor Could Help Save Your Life
-
Featured1 week agoHeadlines and Hot Topics 📱
-
Black History7 days agoBooked and Unbound: The Legacy of Black Women’s Literary Circles
-
Black Press1 week agoPRESS ROOM: National Organization of Concerned Black Men (CBM) Celebrates 50 Years of Mentoring, Leadership, Legacy
-
Featured1 week agoTCWAM 09-08-2026 📱
