Annette John-Hall, in her Philadelphia Inquirer column, writes that Georgia’s execution of Troy Davis is ample evidence that if states do enact the death penalty, authorities should at least make sure their legal system is flawless. I’ve said it before: I’ve got a moral problem with the death penalty. Plain and simple, it’s barbaric. I…

Annette John-Hall, in her Philadelphia Inquirer column, writes that media coverage leading up to the 10th anniversary of 9/11 is beginning to take a toll on some family members of victims. Hard to believe it’s been a decade since terrorists hijacked jetliners on Sept. 11 and used them to kill thousands of innocent people, changing…

In her Philadelphia Inquirer column, Annette John-Hall welcomes public school teachers back to the classroom after some survived a round of summer layoffs. When we last checked on Philadelphia’s public school teachers a few months ago, the situation was, to put it mildly, a hot mess. More than 1,000 teachers had received pink slips, casualties…

Annette John-Hall, in her Philadelphia Inquirer column, writes that more than 40 students showed up on a drizzly morning to hand out carnations and apologize for their classmates who made headlines when they beat a man during a flash-mob attack. The act of contrition received little to no media coverage. I’m not at all surprised…

Philadelphia Inquirer columnist Annette John-Hall recounts Mayor Michael Nutter’s recent tirade against black youth mobs, in which he says, “You’ve damaged your own race.” Once again, Michael Nutter is not messin’ around. You know he’s not playing when he pulls out the black vernacular. And there was a whole lot of it during his 30-minute…

Philadelphia Inquirer columnist Annette John-Hall takes up the debate that occurred this week at the convention of the National Association of Black Journalists between African-American leaders over loyalty to President Obama. … When members of Congress call the first black president of the United States a liar, send racist images of him in e-mails and…

Annette John-Hall, in her Philadelphia Inquirer column, writes about business owners who became friendly after working side by side for four days during A Taste of Philadelphia. It was the quintessential Philadelphia neighborhood story. Even more delicious than the flavorful meatballs handmade by Gabe Marabella or the chicken and mango salsa served up by Lisa…

Annette John-Hall, in her column in the Philadelphia Inquirer, pledges to tell the stories of people who are working in the trenches to help steer youths away from violence. Turned on the radio the other day and heard Mayor Nutter fire off his latest salvo in an effort to generate change for the better in…