Brilliance, courage defined journalist, and amigo, Karanja Ajanaku
One day in late May 1977, a young Black man took a seat at a desk for his first day as a reporter at The Commercial Appeal.
Otis Sanford
Columnist
Otis Sanford is professor emeritus of Journalism and Strategic Media at the University of Memphis and political commentator for WATN-TV ABC24 News. Contact him at o.sanford@memphis.edu.
There are 259 articles by Otis Sanford :
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July 2025
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Spirit of Memphis
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June 2025
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Otis SanfordSanford: Addressing Memphis’ challenges requires more than talk
First it was Kash Patel — then Stephen A. Smith and Roland Martin.
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May 2025
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Otis SanfordSanford: City’s violent crime problem needs solutions — not sound bites
“Our crime problem remains the No. 1 issue on the minds of area residents. And last week FBI Director Kash Patel added to the angst by summarily declaring Memphis ‘the homicide capital of America per capita.’”
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Otis SanfordSanford: Taylor, White put MSCS takeover bill in spin cycle
After the Memphis-Shelby County Schools takeover bills failed to make it to the finish line, state Sen. Brent Taylor, R-Eads, and state Rep. Mark White, R-Memphis, changed their messaging.
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March 2025
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Otis SanfordSanford: Proposal puts state’s human rights enforcement in jeopardy
State lawmakers are looking to eliminate the Tennessee Human Rights Commission, which looks into about 180 complaints about discrimination every month.
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February 2025
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Otis SanfordSanford: A Delta newspaper and an assault on freedom of the press
The Clarksdale Press Register garnered national attention recently after a judge ordered the paper to take down an editorial critical of Clarksdale’s elected officials.
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January 2025
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Otis SanfordSanford: Firing Feagins was unwise, but she shares the blame
“Now what we have is chaos on steroids. The board is seen as a laughingstock, except no one is laughing.”
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December 2024
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OpinionSanford: Five stories that defined 2024 and two to watch for in 2025
From the DOJ’s report on the MPD to Elon Musk and the xAI supercomputer, here are Otis Sanford’s top five local stories for 2024.
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Otis SanfordSanford: Abusive behavior of Crisis Intervention Team belies intent
The Crisis Intervention Team has strayed far from its initial goals of treating those with mental-health issues more humanely.
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Otis Sanford Sanford: We can welcome Musk to Memphis without embracing his views
The billionaire owner of SpaceX and the largest shareholder of Tesla Inc. has been heavily criticized for being tolerant of antisemitic and white nationalist content on the X platform since he bought it in 2022.
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November 2024
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Otis SanfordSanford: It’s time to end protracted effort to oust Wanda Halbert
I say it’s time to end the costly courtroom haggling. It’s clear that Halbert is not leaving on her own, and conditions in the Clerk’s Office don’t appear to have further deteriorated. And soon she’ll be a lame duck.
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Otis SanfordSanford: From one legend to another, it’s time to give Jesse Turner his due
In an opinion piece, Otis Sanford says Jesse Turner has a section of Regional One Health named in his honor, as well as a South Memphis park and a small bridge on Elvis Presley Boulevard. But is it enough?
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October 2024
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Otis SanfordSanford: Heated presidential race still a spectator sport for Tennessee
Opinion: Our votes will decide nothing. Only the swing states of Pennsylvania, Michigan, Wisconsin, Georgia, Arizona and possibly Nevada and North Carolina will determine the next president.
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Otis SanfordSanford: Deception and poor taste are hallmarks of 2024 political campaigns
In today’s political climate, honesty and good taste are in short supply.
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September 2024
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Otis SanfordSanford: It’s time for squabbling Democrats to put aside their differences
Bickering is nothing new for Tennessee Democrats. But party chair Lexie Carter’s removal, at the hand of the state party chair, also could not come at a worse time.
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Otis SanfordSanford: Liberated state rep. exits politics with harsh words for GOP
“Dwayne Thompson’s caucus has repeatedly tried to steer the Legislature, particularly the House, toward more compromise, less rancor and far less dictatorship. It hasn’t worked. And Thompson has had enough.”
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Otis SanfordSanford: Tennessee is red, but state is getting some love at DNC
The convention is showcasing three current Democratic House members from Tennessee, whose race and gender would have barred them from holding political office before 1920.
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August 2024
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Otis SanfordSanford: In a fair and just America, Trump is the obsolete man
“‘The Obsolete Man,’ which aired July 26, is a classic. ... it was as if Rod Serling, the show’s creator, was trying to warn us 63 years ago that our politics would one day devolve into chaos.”
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July 2024
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Otis SanfordSanford: ‘Discriminatory, exclusionary ignorance’ is Republican DEI
An East Tennessee congressman’s rant is now becoming the blueprint for Republican attacks on Kamala Harris’ freshly minted, but so far galvanizing, presidential campaign.
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Otis SanfordSanford: GOP court clerk candidate faces a challenge, and she can thank her own party
Early voting starts Friday, July 12, at 26 polling sites throughout Shelby County. And the stakes could not be higher for local Republicans.
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June 2024
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Otis SanfordSanford: GOP effort to oust Mulroy is ‘Taylor-made’ political fight
Everywhere Republican state Sen. Brent Taylor has served — with the possible exception of the Shelby County Election Commission — public disputes and rancor have followed.
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May 2024
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Otis SanfordSanford: Halbert’s noble start in public life is now an exhausting disaster
Whether Wanda Halbert is removed from office or not, this community has grown tired of her. Except for a handful of apologists, everyone is weary of the incompetence, excuses and double talk.
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Otis SanfordSanford: Partisan politics could cost Ritz appeals court seat
Kevin Ritz’s confirmation before the full Senate is far from a slam dunk. His April 17 confirmation hearing before the Senate Judiciary Committee was, to put it mildly, brutal, and Rep. Steve Cohen, D-Memphis, a Ritz supporter, said his chances are 50-50.
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April 2024
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Otis SanfordSanford: Orange Mound shooting spree struck a nerve. But we cannot concede defeat.
We’ve had plenty of rallies, vigils and marches. We’ve created one anti-violence group after another. We’ve floated balloons as well as ideas. And still, the deaths keep coming.
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Otis SanfordSanford: Let’s give voters a break and stagger local judicial races
I’m no fan of our legislature. But in the case of former Shelby County Criminal Court Judge Melissa Boyd, lawmakers acted with prudence and in the best interest of all Memphis and Shelby County voters.
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