Effie James is a columnist for Richland Source. The value of a college education has been under attack recently. Many feel that rising tuition cost and unforgiving student loan debt have caused more harm than good for those that want to get a degree and make themselves more hirable in today’s job market. Even with […]
Effie James Jr., Richland Source columnist
Posted inSolutions
Fighting Together: A community strategy to end gun violence
MANSFIELD — Gun violence is not just a problem in Mansfield, it’s one of America’s most prevalent issues. According to the website www.teamenough.org, 316 people are shot daily across the country in instances of murder, assault, suicides, attempted suicides, and unintentional shootings. Of those shootings, 106 end in death. Like Mansfield, a number communities are […]
Posted inNews
Mansfield pastor sees community’s gun violence grief up close
MANSFIELD — Many have referred to Pastor Mark Cobb as the “Face of Grief” among Black youth and families in the Mansfield community. He’s been the primary eulogist in what he assumes are the majority of funerals for Black youth between the ages of 15 and 35 in the city. So it’s understandable why such […]
Posted inOpinion
Part II: Can community policing combat gun violence in Mansfield?
Editor’s NoteThis is Part II of a 2-part series that began on May 24 at Richland Source. The idea of community policing is not foreign to Mansfield Police Chief Keith Porch. In fact, it’s a bedrock principle he was trained under and what he desperately wants to be able to get back to within the […]
Posted inOpinion
Part I: “No Snitching” culture empowers murder in Mansfield
Editor’s NoteThis is Part I of a two-part series. Part II will be published on May 30 at Richland Source. Mansfield Police Chief Keith Porch recognizes that probably since the beginning of time there has been strained relationships between law enforcement agencies and the communities they serve. It’s common knowledge that most everyone wants criminals […]
Posted inOpinion
Social & political division is the new normal in American society
In November of 2008 my wife and I were on our honeymoon, relaxing in a quaint little Bed & Breakfast just outside of Louisville, Kentucky. We had just gotten married two days before the election which saw this country appoint its first African American President. With pride we both watched the television broadcast of former […]
Posted inOpinion
Under Attack: Mansfield’s Black youth falling victim to violence & suicide
While the world is coming out of a global pandemic, there is yet another troubling trend taking hold in the city of Mansfield. It seems to me that over the last five years or so the number of shooting deaths involving local black teens as victims and perpetrators has increased to an alarming rate. In […]
Posted inOpinion
Hey Mansfield, diversity takes place on purpose
MANSFIELD — Being a Black man raised in a predominately white city has given me unique insight on the concept of diversity. As with many trends, the focus on racial diversity and its importance in our community seems to be a part of an ebb and flow that reaches a plateau in February (Black History […]
Posted inOpinion
K-12 public education is a raw reflection of our community
Being a proud graduate of a local public high school and now making a career as a proponent of education, a few things have become clear. First, the concept of what teaching and learning looks like has certainly changed, primarily due to the integration of technology and software in the classroom. Schools have been forward […]
Posted inOpinion
Meet Effie James, Richland Source’s new columnist
Hello Mansfield and online readers around the world! My name is Effie James Jr. I am pleased to announce I will be writing a regular column here on Richlandsource.com. I am extremely excited about the opportunity to share my thoughts and perspectives on a wide range of topics. I intend to bring, what I hope […]