Ernest Owens

Writer at Large, Politics

Ernest Owens is an award-winning journalist and CEO of Ernest Media Empire, LLC. As an openly gay black journalist, he has made headlines for speaking frankly about intersectional issues in society regarding race, LGBTQ, and pop culture.

@MrErnestOwens
MrErnestOwens
www.ernestowens.com
City Life

Don’t Judge Me for How I’m Dealing With This Quarantine

Keep your toxic positivity out of my face. We’re all getting through this the best we can, and for me, that means Netflix and taking my foot off the gas.

City Life

Of Course Black People Will Be Hit Hard by Coronavirus

We always bear a disproportionate amount of pain in a crisis. And based on the data we have so far, this will be no different.

City Life

No More Mr. Nice Mayor: Jim Kenney, Shut This City Down

Many Philadelphians are ignoring polite calls for social distancing, even as COVID-19 cases now surpass 1,000 in the city. Drastic times call for drastic measures.

City Life

Millennials and Gen Z Make Up Philly’s Largest COVID-19-Positive Group. We Need to Take This Seriously

If you’re between the ages of 20 and 39 and not already deep into Netflix and chill, now is the time.

City Life

Coronavirus Outbreak Reveals Philly at Its Absolute Best — and Utter Worst

Scenes from Quarantine Philadelphia and the intersection of “Brotherly and Sisterly Love” and “No One Likes Us, We Don’t Care.”

rochelle bilal sheriff's office sheriff
City Life

The Rochelle Bilal Fiasco Is Everything That’s Wrong With Philly Politics

From the candidate who promised the end of “scandal after scandal after scandal” in the Sheriff’s Office, we get … a scandal in the Sheriff’s Office.

philadelphia networking events
City Life

Confessions of a Philadelphia Serial Networker

I go to 20 Philly networking events a month, and I’ve seen how strong our scene is. But is it losing what once made it so great?

philadelphia networking organizations
City Life

10 Philadelphia Networking Organizations That Have This Town Wired

From a series devoted to LGBTQ professionals to one that’s geared toward new-wave entrepreneurs.

City Life

Kenney Was a Coward in Letting Philly’s Safe Injection Site Fail

When push came to shove for his administration’s Big Idea in addressing the opioid crisis, the Mayor’s failure to use his position of power turned out to be a political and moral disaster.

City Life

Special Elections Are Undemocratic, Wasteful and Downright Stupid

Why yesterday showed us Philly politics at its worst.

drop plan deferred retirement option philadelphia michael nutter
City Life

By Defending Bloomberg on Stop-and-Frisk, Nutter Tarnishes His Legacy and Betrays Philly

The former Philly mayor is on the campaign trail, backing one of the most blatant forms of state-sanctioned racism.

City Life

Don’t Expect Danielle Outlaw to Magically Fix the City for Us

Philly’s new top cop started her job this week as the homicide rate continues to spike. But solving our crime epidemic is more on us than on her.

kenyatta johnson
City Life

Want to Reduce Philly Corruption? End Councilmanic Prerogative.

The real takeaway of the Kenyatta Johnson indictment.

City Life

It’s Totally Human to Mourn Complicated Figures Like Kobe Bryant

He was an all-time NBA great. He was also a man who abused his power long before the #MeToo era. You don’t have to choose between these realities to grieve his untimely death.

City Life

Black People Have Spent Centuries in “Service.” They Should Take Off on MLK Day.

The only federal holiday that even obliquely recognizes what this country has done and continues to do to its Black citizens should be a time for us to observe, reflect, and celebrate — not to perform more free labor.