COMMENTARY - OrlandoSentinel.com

A rare respite for region that has lost many to wars

Darryl E. Owens — Sat, 26 May 2012 02:27:00 GMT

If all goes as planned, Army veteran Frank Schmidgall will amble across the manicured grounds at Woodlawn Memorial Park & Funeral Home in Orlando on Monday morning, toward Section F.

How can we achieve racial harmony? One friendship at a time

Darryl E. Owens — Fri, 18 May 2012 23:42:00 GMT

After Barack Obama rode a wave of hope into the White House, many saw a real hope for a "post-racial America."

Racial hatred is alive and well, symbolized by the American Front

Darryl E. Owens — Sat, 12 May 2012 03:14:00 GMT

It's tough for a columnist to bring home the bacon for very long without the requisite thick skin. Walk your opinions out into the public square and dissenters invariably rise up and claw at your hide.

When too thin is unhealthy: Vogue takes a stand

Darryl E. Owens — Fri, 04 May 2012 23:58:00 GMT

Hardly a week goes by that America's obsession with thinness doesn't play out on supermarket magazine racks.

Attacking whites in Trayvon's name a dangerous, stupid game

Darryl E. Owens — Fri, 27 Apr 2012 23:20:00 GMT

Black leaders need to decry recent beatings of whites as loudly as they've sought justice for Trayvon Martin

In the two months since Trayvon Martin died, plenty of salt's been dumped into the nation's never-healed racial wounds.

Encyclopaedia Britannica's off the shelf

Darryl E. Owens — Sat, 21 Apr 2012 03:12:00 GMT

For some, it's just another avatar of the times. For me, the end of Encyclopaedia Britannica in print feels like the loss of an old flame.

It didn't grab front-page headlines last month, this sad, sad news. It should have.

FAMU hazing victim as deserving of justice as Trayvon Martin

Darryl E. Owens — Sat, 14 Apr 2012 01:00:00 GMT

It's time for the black community to strike the right note on hazing.

In the weeks after a 17-year-old black boy was found dead in a gated Sanford neighborhood, outraged blacks took to the streets, insisting police arrest the Hispanic shooter, George Zimmerman.

Trayvon Martin case: Blacks still outraged by black-on-black crime

Darryl E. Owens — Sat, 07 Apr 2012 03:22:00 GMT

Let's get together or we'll be falling apart

'Ragtime' performance at UCF offers a glimpse into Trayvon Martin case

Darryl E. Owens — Sat, 31 Mar 2012 01:34:00 GMT

Ever since my daughter announced she'd been cast in her first Theatre UCF production, we'd counted down the days until Kelli was on stage.

Trayvon Martin: Revisiting 'The Talk' that black parents give to keep their children safe

Darryl E. Owens — Fri, 23 Mar 2012 19:34:00 GMT

Advice to my 11-year-old son, in the wake of Trayvon Martin's death.

Here's why people are so angry over Trayvon Martin's death

Darryl E. Owens — Sat, 17 Mar 2012 12:36:00 GMT

On Sept. 23, 1955, Roy Bryant and J. W. Milam fired up stogies and smooched their wives. About an hour earlier, a Mississippi jury had mulled their fates.

Orlando boy band Limitless Five has something more important than just talent

Darryl E. Owens — Sat, 10 Mar 2012 05:51:00 GMT

Orlando quintet's "Let's Do It Again, Obama" shows civic involvement that's too rare in today's youth

Once upon a time, Diana Ross presented to the world a certain singing quintet from Gary, Ind., that went on to have some modest success.

Fix schools? Get parents more involved

Darryl E. Owens — Sat, 03 Mar 2012 02:28:00 GMT

To the surprise of few, the state House Thursday passed the Parent Empowerment Act. By an 80-34 spread, lawmakers voted up the so-called "parent trigger' bill. The scornful proposal would arm parents with more firepower to put underperforming public schools out of their misery.

Homes for heroes: A way to recognize our veterans' sacrifices

Darryl E. Owens — Sat, 25 Feb 2012 01:57:00 GMT

Pick up a newspaper these days and you'll find something missing.

Darryl E. Owens: As bar is raised, more students need boost

Darryl E. Owens — Sat, 18 Feb 2012 01:06:00 GMT

Four nights a week, after posing as a mild-mannered journalist during daylight hours, I duck into a phone booth (exceedingly difficult to find these days) and emerge as … SuperTutor.

Darryl E. Owens: Filling minds first requires filling stomachs

Darryl E. Owens — Sat, 11 Feb 2012 03:15:00 GMT

School Principal Letecia Foster long knew many of her students at Killarney Elementary were hurting.

Darryl E. Owens: 'Red Tails': Daniel Keel of Lake County lived the story of Tuskegee Airmen

Darryl E. Owens — Sat, 04 Feb 2012 00:18:00 GMT

Despite so-so reviews, my family and I rushed out to see "Red Tails," the George "Star Wars" Lucas homage to the Tuskegee Airmen.

Darryl E. Owens: Melanoma rolls life in the rough for golfer's family

Darryl E. Owens — Sat, 28 Jan 2012 03:32:12 GMT

Finally, life for David Henry had lined up like a perfect putt.

In Tim Tebow, sports world gets needed role model — and he's hated

Darryl E. Owens — Sat, 21 Jan 2012 14:37:00 GMT

Man, do I hate Tim Tebow.

So many families need help to make ends meet

Darryl E. Owens — Sat, 07 Jan 2012 03:47:00 GMT

Inside her van, Nelda Evans gathered her four children. She scanned their faces and the remnants of their belongings sardined beside them.

One family's loss provides precious gift to 3 others

Darryl E. Owens — Sat, 24 Dec 2011 02:53:00 GMT

After 9-11, Adam Byler longed to do his part. But the 12-year-old had to wait five years for the chance.

There's something big missing from this family's Christmas

Darryl E. Owens — Sat, 17 Dec 2011 04:04:00 GMT

As in Yuletides past, we've adorned our homestead with the requisite trimmings to kick-start Christmas Eve dreams of dancing sugarplums.

In frustration, he reached for a paintbrush

Darryl E. Owens — Sat, 10 Dec 2011 20:06:30 GMT

Man paints portraits and donates proceeds to local nonprofits.

After putting in long days as a ketchup pitchman for Heinz, Ryan Wollard used to enjoy unwinding at his Maitland home yukking it up over Comedy Central's mock-news programs.

Sex-abuse cases also do harm to mentoring

Darryl E. Owens — Sat, 19 Nov 2011 03:24:00 GMT

Sordid allegations of child sexual abuse at Penn State University in recent days rocked America like a blindside blitz.

Take our quiz and test your knowledge of Florida veterans

Darryl E. Owens — Fri, 11 Nov 2011 04:53:00 GMT

November 11, 2011.