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Articles by Larry Smith
Run that by me again…
Roughly eight months ago, the U.S. and Israel launched a war of choice against Iran, ostensibly to keep that nation from building or otherwise acquiring nuclear weapons. The Iranians responded in part by taking control of the Strait of Hormuz, which allows them to choke off much of the world’s petroleum supply at their whim. The war has cost Americans in a variety of direct and indirect ways.
A guilty juror - Indianapolis Recorder
By LARRY SMITH African Americans have long experienced hypocrisy regarding the negative ways in which Black victims of crime are often portrayed in the media as compared to the positive ways in which white suspects, or even convicted perpetrators, are portrayed. For example, the media tends to highlight any prior run-ins that Blacks may have had with the legal system. The subliminal message is that the victims deserved whatever happened to them.
Opportunity, not opposition: How IPEC will shape the future of education in Indianapolis
All parents send their children to school with the same hopes: first and foremost that they will be safe, but also that they will be taught, challenged, supported, and given every opportunity to thrive. Parents should not need to understand arcane governance models, authorizers, or funding formulas to trust their city’s public education system. They should be able to ask a few basic questions: Is my child learning? Can my child get to school safely and timely?
Try and catch me
As a child, I watched several movies that I was decidedly too young to see: “Jaws,” “The Exorcist,” “Caddyshack.” “The Godfather I & II.” I also may or may not have had periodic access to truly “adult” material. Pre-teen boys are often disproportionately drawn to prurience, violence, and horror.
Beyond an academic argument
Jason Arday, Ph.D., committed suicide a couple of weeks ago. He was just 41. Until shortly before he took his own life, Arday had been a professor at Britain’s world-renowned Cambridge University. While Arday’s death is tragic for his family, it is fair to ask why anyone who is not related to him, or who wasn’t a colleague or one of his students should take notice.
Democratic socialism
A spectre is haunting America — the spectre of… Nevermind. Karl Marx’s infamous prefatory to “The Communist Manifesto” (“A spectre is haunting Europe…”) is a cocktail of audacity, admonition and aspiration. Though Marx’s stateless, classless utopia will likely never come into being, it’s not for lack of trying. However, socialism — the state from which communism ostensibly evolves — is thriving globally. And, improbably, democratic socialism is holding its own in the U.S. at the moment.
Christians against Christianity
As much as we wring our hands regarding inter-religious conflict, most of the fighting in which people of faith engage is with those who share the same religion. Christianity is no exception. In fact, such divisions have existed literally since the beginning of Christianity. For example, the gospels of Mark and Luke record Jesus admonishing His disciples for criticizing a man who was performing miracles in Jesus’ name.
'Caucasian people' - Indianapolis Recorder
Last week, Indiana Governor Mike Braun and Attorney General Todd Rokita — Indiana’s top two law enforcement officers — teamed up to … stop enforcing the law. Specifically, they have decided to ignore the law as regards Indiana’s 43-year-old program that seeks to remedy discrimination against minority- and women-owned businesses in the awarding of government contracts. Braun and Rokita argue that they’re undoing “discrimination” by ignoring the law.
So … help me, God.
Recently, the State of Texas voted to begin incorporating the teaching of the Bible to its 5.5 million public school students. The new social studies curriculum, which takes effect in 2030, mandates that at least one Bible passage be taught each year, beginning in the first grade. This isn’t surprising given that Texas began requiring a Protestant version of the 10 Commandments be displayed in classrooms as of 2025.
A baby was killed
On June 14, police officers responded to a call about an alleged shoplifting incident at a Walmart in Senatobia, Mississippi. Shortly after arriving, Officer Hunter Foster shot into a suspect’s car, striking 1-year-old Kohen Wiley and injuring a woman who was also in the car. Vellesyia Wiley, baby Kohen’s mother, was not shot, but her infant son was pronounced dead a short time later. These are facts on which everyone involved agrees.
Frederick Douglass on immigration
By LARRY SMITH In a matter of days, we will learn the Supreme Court’s decision regarding whether to uphold the Fourteenth Amendment’s Citizenship Clause.
In the name of God
Indiana Lieutenant Governor Micah Beckwith is no stranger to controversy. Indeed, he seems to revel in courting it. Thus, it was no surprise that the second most powerful person in Indiana is currently under fire for stating the following: “We’re giving people permission to hate again, and I know that sounds a little harsh at first, but we’ve seen this movement to eradicate hate in our culture.
Will it work? - Indianapolis Recorder
The NAACP has called on Black high school athletes to forego enrolling in universities in several Southern states. This boycott, which would primarily affect schools in the SEC and ACC athletic conferences, also asks Black college athletes to enter the transfer portal in favor of rival conferences, such as the Big Ten. The NAACP issued a press release on May 19th.
The future of war?
“It’s difficult to make predictions, especially about the future.” Danish politician Karl Kristian Steincke is often credited with having conceived this humorous aphorism. It’s a mild warning against prognosticating, even when we consider what the past and the present have taught us. But, humans being human, many of us have an insatiable appetite for self-aggrandizement — despite the risk of embarrassing ourselves if we turn out to be wrong. I don’t “read” tea leaves.
The perpetual fight
The Supreme Court’s recent ruling in the Louisiana voting map case ensures that, as a practical matter, it will now be almost impossible to use race as a factor when drawing voting maps for the U.S. House. (At least when doing so is explicitly designed to remedy historical racial discrimination.) The key outcome of the ruling is the fact that people of color who sue states for racial discrimination in creating voting maps must now prove that said maps are intentionally racially discriminatory.
A supreme mess - Indianapolis Recorder
Remember playing tug-of-war in middle school? In my experience, when it came time to “choose up sides,” if left to their own devices the physically stronger and more athletic kids often banded together. Watching in horror, the weaker and less athletic kids would scramble to recruit some of their heavier classmates to try to even the odds. Victory was often unpredictable. Our three branches of government are playing a version of that game right now.
Dear John - Indianapolis Recorder
We have all been admonished to “never say never”, but I’m pretty certain that I’ll never understand John McWhorter, PhD., a professor at Columbia University and New York Times Opinion writer. As I wrote in a column about McWhorter two years ago, he often downplays the role that racism plays in limiting opportunities for African Americans, of which McWhorter is one.
The divinity in diversity
When people say to me, “I don’t see color”, I usually ask if they have “seen” an optometrist. Colorblindness is a medical condition. While I believe that most people who utter those words mean well, they’re woefully misguided. In effect, they’re advocating for all of us to pretend that everyone is the same. This was never God’s intent; in fact, God intends the opposite. Thus, colorblindness is not only a medical problem; it is also a spiritual one. Why? God Himself created color diversity.
About face - Indianapolis Recorder
It is hard to imagine that anyone who has access to a screen — of any size, at any place, at any time — has not seen comedian Druski’s ubiquitous parody of “Conservative Women in America” (his phrase). Even though Druski, née Drew Desbordes, never says anyone’s name in the video, Erika Kirk, widow of Turning Point founder Charlie Kirk, believes that he was specifically targeting her. In any case, Druski’s use of “whiteface” in the parody has sparked controversy in some conservative circles.
"America won" - Indianapolis Recorder
In August 2022, seven officers from the Adams County Sherriff’s Office in Ohio executed a search warrant on the home of the Grammy-nominated rapper known as Afroman. Afroman was not home at the time, though his wife and young children were. The home’s security cameras recorded the officers’ actions. The warrant was granted in order to find evidence of marijuana, drug paraphernalia, drug trafficking, and even kidnapping.
A new leader. Same as the old leader.
In selecting Mojtaba Khamenei as its new Supreme Leader, Iran sent a strong message to the United States. Khamenei is the second-eldest son of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who the U.S. and Israel killed at the start of their war against Iran. That message is, in the vernacular, a “one-finger salute” to Iran’s two primary enemies. Arguably, however, Iran’s leaders sent an even stronger message to their nation.
If I Were Kim Jong Un…
Before we get to the reclusive and mentally unstable head of North Korea, let’s begin with the fact that a key plank in Donald Trump’s election (and re-election) platform was being “anti-war.” Yet, last weekend, Mr. Trump decided to launch — with an assist from the Israel — a major military offensive against Iran. So much for that FIFA Peace Prize. Importantly, under our Constitution the power to declare war is given to Congress, not the president.
I just want to go home
Indianapolis has a long history of major tensions between law enforcement officers and African Americans, especially boys and young men. For example, anyone who is in their fifties or older will recall the case of Michael Taylor in 1987. Taylor, who at 16 years old was just a year younger than I was, died while handcuffed in the back of a police car. The official report says that he had hidden a gun in his shoe, which accidentally discharged and killed him.
A nation of laws
Like most Americans, I have had seemingly endless discussions in the wake of the murders of Renee Nicole Good and Alex Jeffrey Pretti at the hands of ICE agents in Minneapolis. Yes, I understand that “murder” is a legal distinction that must be determined in a court. However, what I have seen dozens of times, from multiple angles, leaves no doubt as to the moral question of the nature of Mrs. Good’s and Mr. Pretti’s deaths.
Insurrection Act
By all appearances, the President of the United States is setting the stage to invoke the Insurrection Act — which he has threatened more than once to do in Minneapolis — under the pretense of combatting domestic terrorism. Adopted in 1807, the Insurrection Act is a federal law that allows the president to deploy the U.S. military, or to federalize the National Guard, to put down an insurrection, armed rebellion, or other violent civilian action against the government.
Killing King. Again.
Shortly before Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated, a Harris Poll found that 75% of Americans disapproved of him. Yes, three out of four. White Americans’ disgust with King was driven by his unflinching commitment to racial equality and his staunch opposition to the Vietnam War. He spoke of “three evils” that are inextricably linked: racism, militarism, and poverty.
Artificial faith
I wrote a column a couple of years ago regarding a “sermon” in Germany that had been created and delivered by ChatGPT. As a devout Christian, the notion that an AI-generated homily could quite literally be taken as the Gospel is deeply troubling to me. I wrote in part: “You can’t simply upload words or thought experiments into an algorithm and receive something that is divinely inspired in return — even if those words originate from the most widely read book in history.
The real Santa Claus
He is known by name names: Santa Claus (or simply Santa), St. Nicholas (or simply St. Nick), Father Christmas, Kris Kringle, Sinterklaas. But what is Santa’s “backstory’? Where is he from? Is he a myth, a legend, or an actual historical figure? When the vast majority of Americans think about Santa Claus, the Middle East is likely the furthest thing from their minds.
Sharia by another name
As an Evangelical Christian, I am amazed, amused and appalled by the fact that so many of my fellow believers seem not to understand the ignorance, irony and hypocrisy of their stance regarding Sharia. I am specifically referring to those who identify as “Christian nationalists” and are very outspoken in their contempt of Sharia. (Note: One usually hears or sees the phrase “Sharia Law,” but that’s redundant.
The 11th Commandment
President Ronald Reagan is known for strictly adhering to his dictum, “Thou shalt not speak ill of any fellow Republican.” Notably, Reagan credited this so-called “11th Commandment”, which he began promoting during his first California gubernatorial run, to Gaylord Parkinson.
'Why, God?' - Indianapolis Recorder
Is it wrong to ask why God allows bad things to happen? It’s an age-old question that a lot of religious people find to be inappropriate. In fact, that’s just one of many questions that millions of us were taught to avoid when we were children. E. Dewey Smith, who pastors a megachurch near Atlanta, has preached about being reared in a home in which “questioning God” was considered to be sinful.
Do the right thing
This isn’t a “Spike Lee Joint”. It is a shout out to the Indiana General Assembly. As has been widely reported, President Trump and his surrogates are pressuring the IGA to re-draw Indiana’s congressional districts. This is part of Trump’s national effort to ensure that Republicans maintain control of the House of Representatives after next year’s mid-term elections. Historically, the party that occupies the White House during mid-term elections tends to fare worse than the opposition party.
Wanna Bet? - Indianapolis Recorder
According to media reports, NBA athletes and coaches have allegedly engaged in illegal gambling on their sport. That’s extremely hard for me to believe. The next thing you’re gonna tell me is that the mafia is involved with said illegal gambling! Apparently, wise guys don’t need to sell narcotics; rigging poker is less hazardous and more profitable. Games of chance these days have more intrigue than Game of Thrones! I’m not much of a gambler.
Why we should care about James Comey
I don’t know James Comey, but I don’t like him. When Comey was running the FBI, he often came off as smug, even arrogant, all while trying to exude what seemed to be a false sense of humility. Comey’s ‘Aw shucks, I’m just a public servant’ persona never quite rang true. However, his personality quirks are not the primary reason for my disdain. Much more importantly, James Comey influenced the outcome of the 2016 presidential election in an unprecedented — and possibly illegal — manner.
Why we should care about James Comey
By LARRY SMITH I don’t know James Comey, but I don’t like him. When Comey was running the FBI, he often came off as smug, even arrogant, all while trying to exude what seemed to be a false sense of humility. Comey’s ‘Aw shucks, I’m just a public servant’ persona never quite rang true. However, his personality quirks are not the primary reason for my disdain.
The power, promise and pain of HBCUs
As the U.S. government continues its retreat from supporting the nonprofit sector, we are fortunate to have Mackenzie Scott (among other philanthropists) step up to fill some portion of the dangerous void that remains. I say “some portion” because private philanthropy cannot replace the amount of tax dollars that support the roughly 1.9 million U.S. nonprofit organizations – to include postsecondary institutions.
Charlie Kirk: Nuance and context
In a 2008 interview with The New York Times, then candidate Barack Obama stated, “I am like a Rorschach test.” He meant that people often projected their greatest hopes or worst fears onto him. That quote came to mind in the wake of the murder of Charlie Kirk. The kind of person you believe Kirk to have been is primarily based on who you are. While Kirk was not a politician per se, he impacted politics more than nearly anyone else in America.
Donald Trump the ... socialist?
Most Americans grow up with the following maxim: “Socialism is bad.” This is despite the fact that relatively few of us actually know what the term means. Socialism is an expansive concept that encompasses a range of economic, political and social philosophies. This notwithstanding, Americans usually have a reflexively negative reaction when they hear the term.
Against their own interests?
For years I have been among a large segment of Americans who criticize people who “vote against their own interests.” The people to whom we refer exist at or near the bottom of the socioeconomic scale. They typically have low wages and little or no accumulated wealth. They include those who are the working poor, as well as members of the lower middle class. They often work two or more jobs to try to make ends meet.
Don’t give up. Give.
Founded by Dr. Jackie Copelan, August is Black Philanthropy Month. Yet, the history and traditions of Black philanthropy are not bound by time or geography. With antecedents in Africa, philanthropy as practiced among African Americans is based on faith, family, community, and justice. The myriad expressions of our giving have been influenced both by our love for each other and by the crucible of racism and socioeconomic isolation against which we have fought.
Woulda, coulda, shoulda…
Discussing and debating political history, whether domestic or international, is a cherished pastime which transcends cultural or geographic boundaries. In America, we love to verbally joust in barbershops, basements, and bars. We sit in the present, pontificating about what our certain course of action would be when uncertainty reigned in times past.
The problem with MEI
Indiana Gov. Mike Braun issued Executive Order (EO) 25-14 this past January.
Good night and good luck, PBS
Well, fortunately, it’s not just PBS. It’s CPB, NPR, PRX, and the rest of the alphabet menagerie of “public” radio and TV networks that exist solely due to government graft. By the way, all radio and TV networks are public, especially the major “legacy” ones (e.g., ABC, CBS, NBC). The only reason that PBS, et al, label themselves “public” is to distinguish them as nonprofit corporations, as compared to their private sector counterparts.
McCarthy redux - Indianapolis Recorder
I’m enjoying a documentary about the Cold War, which, not surprisingly, includes a segment regarding the late Sen. Joseph McCarthy. McCarthy is infamously known as the primary prosecutor of the “Red Scare” of the 1940s and 50s, in which millions of Americans were concerned that communists were plotting to take over our nation.
The wrong shoes - Indianapolis Recorder
“Iran cannot have a nuclear weapon.” That is the inviolable dictate of Western nations and of Israel. It is the justification for Israel (and, later, the U.S.) engaging in military strikes against Iran’s known nuclear facilities. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and U.S. President Donald Trump have declared that the attacks have been wildly successful. It is not clear whether that assertion is true. One cannot seriously evaluate this situation without considering recent history.
Indecision and inertia in the Democratic Party
Following Mitt Romney’s failed 2012 presidential bid (which came after several pundits and pollsters had predicted his victory), the Republican National Committee commissioned the “Growth and Opportunity Project.” Colloquially referred to as “the autopsy,” this report purported to analyze the reasons for the party’s second consecutive loss to President Obama.
It’s not omertà, but…
It is common to experience profound emotional tension when wrestling with powerful, conflicting realities about which one feels deeply. That has been the case for me since I learned that former President Joe Biden was diagnosed with an aggressive form of prostate cancer — shortly after I learned about a new book concerning the extent to which Biden’s inner circle allegedly covered up his pronounced cognitive and physical decline.
A false start - Indianapolis Recorder
NFL drafts are always suspense-filled. Family members, fans, and pundits wait with bated breath to learn where players land. Yet, as last weekend’s draft unfolded, a shocking story-within-a-story came into view. Shedeur Sanders, scion of pro football and baseball icon Deion Sanders, was widely projected to be selected in the first round of the draft. Thus, it was somewhat surprising that Sanders, who plays quarterback, was passed over in the opening round.
Death of a pope - Indianapolis Recorder
The world will miss Pope Francis. In fact, it already does. After having already battled pneumonia, the pontiff passed away on April 21st due to complications from a stroke. Francis was the first pope from Latin America – and the first from outside Europe in roughly thirteen hundred years. He is being fondly remembered and mourned well beyond the borders of the Catholic Church. Pope Francis was a case study in what might be termed self-effacing leadership.
To spite your face - Indianapolis Recorder
I have previously written about the dangerous consequences of America intentionally sabotaging its “soft power.” Doing so has occasioned an opportunity for Russia and China to assume more prominent roles in the mediation, adjudication, and manipulation of global affairs. These two nations are not merely our political and economic rivals; they actively undermine our national security. To our great detriment, we aid and abet them.
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