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Page A6 Friday, March 13, 2026 INDIANAPOLIS RECORDER(317) 924-5143P.O. Box 18499, Indianapolis, IN 46218-0499newsroom@indyrecorder.comIndianapolis Recorder Newspaper encourages short, concise letters to the editor and opinion articles from the public. Letters and opinion articles will be used at the editor%u2019s discretion and are subject to editing. We will not guarantee publication of material received. We cannot guarantee dates of publication. Let,ters containing libelous or untrue statements will not be published. All letters and opinion articles must include a verifi able full name, address and telephone number. This information will not be published at the request of the writer. Letters and articles should be typed but will be accepted if handwriting is legible.George P. StewartFounderEditor-Publisher1895-1924Marcus C. Stewart Sr.EditorPublisher1925-1988Eunice TrotterEditor-in-ChiefPublisher1988-1990William G. MaysOwner/ Publisher1990-presentEDITORIALEditor-in-Chief...............................Camike Jones Technology Editor.....................Rupal Thanawala Arts & Culture Reporter................Chloe McGowanMulti-Media & Sports Reporter........Noral ParhamHealth & Environmental Reporter...........................................................................Hanna RauworthStaff Writer.....................................Malik SimonBUSINESSBusiness Offl ce/Legals......................CrystalffiDalton ADVERTISING/MARKETINGExecutive Sales Consultant....Robert Walker-SmithSenior Strategic Media Consultant.......Rita J. Wise Sales Representative.......................Michael FalkerPRODUCTIONProduction Manager.................Jeana M. L. OuattaraPresident/Chief Executive Offl cer............................................................................Robert ShegogEDITORIAL By MAXINE BRYANTWho defines genius? Who gets to decide who is worthy of that title?I recently conducted a simple internet search of the word genius. Immediately, names like Albert Einstein, Leonardo da Vinci, Aristotle and Isaac Newton appeared. Not one of them looked like me.If Black and Brown people are absent from the list of recognized geniuses, what does that say? What does it mean? Are we not geniuses? How can our young people know they carry genius in their DNA if evidence of it is buried, distorted or simply erased? Far too often, the message delivered to Black and Brown youth is rooted in stereotypical negativity rather than historical truth.During slavery, the message was that Black people were %u201cnaturally inferior,%u201d intellectually incapable and %u201cbetter off %u201d enslaved. During Reconstruction and the era of Jim Crow, the narrative shifted but the venom remained: lazy, dangerous, hypersexual, incapable of self-governance. Then came mass incarceration, where Black males were labeled criminals and %u201csuper-predators,%u201d while Black females were demeaned as %u201cwelfare queens.%u201d Black people were cast as the problem while systemic racism was ignored as the cause.With messages like these saturating generations, how can our young people be expected to see %u2014 let alone live into %u2014 the geniuses they are?I had to search long, hard and deep %u2014 with an ingrained understanding of what I was looking for %u2014 to find documented evidence of Black genius. Take Imhotep, for example: the first physician and architect %u2014 period. He lived in Kemet (ancient Egypt) over 4,600 years ago, at a time when years were not recorded as they are today. He authored the Edwin Smith Papyrus, detailing 48 clinical cases of trauma, including injuries to the head, neck and spine. He sutured wounds, recorded heartbeats and blood circulation, and identified and treated over 200 diseases %u2014 from tuberculosis and appendicitis to gout and gallstones. That is medical genius that existed in Africa long before European infiltration.Black genius was present among the Dogon people of present-day Mali. They charted the movement of celestial bodies. They knew of Saturn%u2019s rings, Jupiter%u2019s moons, and the spiral structure of the Milky Way. They mapped the Sirius star system, specifically describing Sirius B and noting its 50-year orbit around Sirius A. Sirius B is invisible to the naked eye and was not identified by modern scientists until 1852. Yet the Dogon tracked its orbit accurately through 1990. That is scientific genius that flourished in Africa long before European interference.European travelers to the Kingdom of Benin between the 15th and 19th centuries described a society that was orderly, highly organized and architecturally magnificent. Massive, intricate columns aligned the king%u2019s palace. The wealth of the kingdom and the masterful quality of the so-called Benin Bronzes left visitors in awe. What they were witnessing was Black architectural and artistic genius.Rather than respect African genius, Europeans sought to exploit and dismantle it %u2014 removing human capital and attempting to crush the human spirit. Africans traveled the world and left their mark across continents, yet they did not colonize lands or enslave the people they encountered. They knew their greatness and had no need to steal what was not theirs. That is not the story of Europe. They captured the best and brightest, then later colonized what remained. The attempt was clear: disrupt, distort, and destroy Black genius.And yet, Black genius survived.It survived the Middle Passage. It surfaced in the %u201cNew World.%u201d It lived in the tongues of captured By LARRY SMITHIn 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 %u201conefinger salute%u201d to Iran%u2019s two primary enemies.Arguably, however, Iran%u2019s leaders sent an even stronger message to their nation. That message is, %u201cDon%u2019t expect change.%u201d This is quite a statement at a time when Iran%u2019s old guard (in this case, the Revolutionary Guard) is literally fighting an existential battle. As Black folks might say, Iran%u2019s leadership is %u201cstanding ten toes down.%u201d Iran%u2019s ruling council is an 88-member group of clerics known as the Assembly of Experts. This group is comprised primarily of elderly men. In fact, there is a joke that the average age of the Experts is %u201cdead.%u201d While we don%u2019t know how many members supported Khamenei, the Experts selected him as just the third Supreme Leader in Iran%u2019s history. At age 56, Khamenei is 10 years older than the Islamic Republic itself. In short, he is a relatively young man who is leading an even younger Republic that exists in a very old nation. (Iran, or Persia, as a unified nation has a history that goes back roughly 2,600 years.)Given that his father was selected as Iran%u2019s second Supreme Leader when the younger Khamenei was around age 20, the new leader is accustomed to power and privilege. Crucially, Khamenei spent years cultivating a strong relationship with the Revolutionary Guard. That work paid off, assuming that he survives the war. Officially known as the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corp (IRGC), this paramilitary group is perhaps more powerful than the Assembly of Experts. Or, more accurately, the Assembly of Experts sustains its power with the approval of the IRGC. How is Khamenei likely to rule? Politically, he is generally viewed as being more hardline than even his father was. For example, the younger Khamenei is said to be more favorably disposed to Iran developing a nuclear weapons program than was his father, who issued a religious edict, known as a fatwa, against such weapons. Further, one wonders how personal tragedy might affect Khamenei%u2019s decisions. In addition to his father, he is also believed to have lost his mother, his wife and at least one of his three children in attacks during this war. Khamenei may have lost more relatives, but it is difficult to verify whether that is the case. Will a sense of personal revenge cause Khamenei to make strategic errors, or even irrational decisions? For their part, the U.S. and Israel are diligently seeking the highly enriched uranium that Iran is said to have %u2014 material that Iran could use to make nuclear bombs. Obviously, that would be disastrous for all involved.To be sure, it is widely assumed that Khamenei will not wield quite as much power as his father did for 37 years. Still, as long as he has the confidence of the IRGC, he will be far more than nominally in charge, assuming (again) that the regime is somehow able to survive the war.Predictably, President Donald Trump reacted to the news of Khamenei%u2019s ascension as one would expect. He was dismissive, calling Khamenei a %u201clightweight%u201d and insisting that he (i.e., Trump) should have a hand in selecting Iran%u2019s leader. Trump also suggested that Khamenei%u2019s reign would depend on him. Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu have even intimated that killing Khamenei is under consideration, though not a foregone conclusion.Internationally speaking, Khamenei%u2019s rise is receiving mixed reactions. Though Khamenei has never officially held political office, several of Iran%u2019s neighbors are supportive of him, at least publicly. That includes Oman and Iran%u2019s longtime foe, Iraq. Naturally, western governments are less enthusiastic. Not surprisingly, Russia %u2014 which is a longtime Iranian ally %u2014 welcomed the news. President Vladimir Putin offered a strong personal endorsement. China, which is also an Iranian ally, was much less effusive, but offered its support of the process. Guo Jiakun, who is a Foreign Ministry spokesperson, referenced the importance of Iran%u2019s sovereignty. Guo also stated, %u201cChina opposes interference in other countries%u2019 internal affairs...%u201dIranians are said to be deeply divided over Khamenei%u2019s selection. His father was a very polarizing figure who brutally repressed his own people. His son could conceivably be even worse. Unless a great deal is going on behind the scenes, the U.S. and Israel just might win the war %u2014 only to lose the peace.At home, most Americans would be surprised to learn that Iranians are, relatively speaking, proAmerican in their outlook %u2014 at least as compared to most Muslim countries in the region. Still, nationalism has a way of resurging when outsiders pose a threat to a country. A Middle Eastern proverb perhaps applies here: %u201cI against my brother; I and my brother against my cousin; I and my brother and my cousin against the world.%u201dThe next few weeks should reveal a great deal about where all this is headed.Contact community leader Larry Smith at larry@leaf-llc.com.By KENNETH ALLENPublic service often moves at a relentless pace. Court schedules, community meetings, constituent calls, and the daily responsibilities of serving the people rarely slow down. But there are moments in life when a leader must pause, step away from routine obligations, and bear witness to history.That is why I traveled to Chicago to attend the Celebration of Life services for the Rev. Dr. Jesse L. Jackson Sr.For me, the journey was not simply about honoring a civil rights icon. It was about paying tribute to a man whose life, leadership, and labor shaped my understanding of servant leadership. As both the elected Center Township Constable and a Black Baptist preacher, I felt a responsibility to be present, to sit among those whose lives were touched by a movement that Rev. Jackson helped lead.Many people remember Rev. Jackson as a national figure, a presidential candidate, founder of the Rainbow PUSH Coalition, and a global voice for justice. But for many of us who grew up watching his work unfold, his legacy was much more personal. His life demonstrated what it means to combine faith, courage and public service in pursuit of justice.Four aspects of Rev. Jackson%u2019s life were especially transformative for me as a servant leader.First, he taught us the power of prophetic faith in public life.Rev. Jackson stood in the long tradition of Black Baptist preachers who believed the pulpit must speak to the conditions of the people. Following in the footsteps of his mentor, Martin Luther King Jr., Jackson demonstrated that faith is not meant to be confined to the sanctuary. Faith must march, organize, and advocate. As a preacher myself, his example reminded me that ministry and public service are not separate callings %u2014 they are deeply connected.Second, he expanded the possibilities of political participation for marginalized communities.When Rev. Jackson ran for president in 1984 and again in 1988, many believed such a campaign was impossible. Yet his campaigns registered millions of voters and inspired countless people who had never before imagined themselves participating in the political process. Those campaigns helped pave the way for future leaders, including President Barack Obama. For those of us who hold elected office today, we stand on shoulders built by that courageous political vision.Third, he modeled coalition building across communities.Rev. Jackson%u2019s %u201cRainbow Coalition%u201d was not merely a slogan. It was a strategy rooted in the belief that justice requires partnership across racial, economic, and social lines. He understood that lasting change happens when diverse communities unite around shared values of fairness and opportunity. In my work as Center Township Constable, I see daily how essential collaboration is between courts, law enforcement, community leaders, and residents to ensure justice is carried out with dignity and fairness.Fourth, he embodied the principle that leadership requires persistence.Rev. Jackson faced criticism, controversy, and countless obstacles. Yet he never stopped advocating for those on the margins, workers seeking economic opportunity, students pursuing education, and communities demanding civil rights protections. His life reminds every public servant that progress rarely comes easily. It requires resilience, courage and an unwavering commitment to justice.Sitting in Chicago during those services, I was reminded that leadership is not measured solely by titles or positions. It is measured by impact, by how many doors you open for others and how many lives are improved because you chose to serve.Rev. Jackson opened many doors.As a constable, I believe deeply in the importance of justice administered with fairness and respect. As a preacher, I believe that faith must guide our service to others. Rev. Jesse Jackson%u2019s life demonstrated that these two commitments %u2014 justice and faith %u2014 belong together.That is why it mattered for me to be there.Because sometimes honoring the past is also a way of renewing our commitment to the future.And if Rev. Jackson taught us anything, it is that the work of justice must continue, one servant leader at a time.For more information on Constable Dr. Kenneth %u201cBiznessman%u201d Allen, visit centergov.org/constable/. A call to reframe geniusA new leader. Same as the old leader.Why I went to Chicago: What Rev. Jesse Jackson%u2019s life still teaches public servantsSee GENIUS, A7