The family of Dontae Melton Jr. is speaking out against his death in police custody, which was ruled a homicide, and is demanding full disclosure and improved police training on mental health calls.
Author Archives: AFRO Staff
Posted inMaryland News
Moore and Scott push back against 47th president’s criticism, tout historic crime decreases
Gov. Wes Moore and Mayor Brandon Scott pushed back against White House criticism by pointing to major crime reductions—Maryland homicides are down 20 percent since Moore’s inauguration, while Baltimore is seeing its lowest homicide rate in 50 years. Both leaders credit data-driven strategies, law enforcement and community partnerships for the historic progress.
Posted inObituaries
SFC (Ret.) Willie Cummings dies at age 98
SFC (Ret.) Willie R. Cummings, a 98-year-old veteran of the US Army, passed away on August 20th and will be interred at Sandhills State Veterans Cemetery, Fort Bragg, with donations to be made to First Baptist Church in Fayetteville, NC in lieu of flowers.
Posted inAfro Newspaper
From the classroom to the newsroom: Meet the AFRO Interns of Summer 2025
By AFRO Staff This week, the AFRO would like to take the opportunity to highlight the interns who worked hard in the AFRO Editorial Department this summer. These young people are the future of not only the Black Press, but the news media field at large. From health and education to crime and politics, the […]
Posted inObituaries
Funeral services announced for minority business advocate and attorney Anthony ‘Tony’ Robinson
Anthony “Tony” W. Robinson, a civil rights attorney and longtime advocate for minority businesses, has died at 76. Funeral services will be held Aug. 11–12 in Baltimore to honor his decades of service, including his leadership of the Minority Business Enterprise Legal Defense and Education Fund.
Posted in!Front Page Arts and Entertainment
Snapshots of sound: A look at the icons who shaped Black music
Black Music Month celebrates the achievements, activism, and work of Black creatives across various genres, including country, jazz, rhythm and blues, and gospel, while also recognizing Black music icons who shaped the music industry and American culture.
Posted inBaltimore Community
Former senator Jill Carter launches Walter P. Carter Institute for Leadership and Service
Former Maryland lawmaker Jill P. Carter has launched the Walter P. Carter Institute for Leadership and Service to honor her father’s civil rights legacy and empower Baltimore communities through collaboration, education and cultural preservation.
Posted inEditorial
AFRO Editorial: Our lives are on the line—again: What political violence means for Black America
A surge in political violence—fueled by dangerous rhetoric from figures like the 47th president—is putting lives at risk, and for Black Americans, the deadly consequences of such dehumanization are all too familiar.
Posted inAfro Briefs
Montgomery County police seeking missing 83-year-old man
An 83-year-old Bethesda man, Abraham Dabela, has been missing since June 7 and is believed to be driving a blue 2015 Volvo XC60, and the Montgomery County Department of Police is seeking the public’s help in locating him.
Posted inNational News
Obit: Naba’a Muhammad, Final Call editor, has died
Naba’a Muhammad, editor-in-chief of The Final Call and a prominent voice in the Black Press and Nation of Islam, died on June 6, 2025, according to the National Newspaper Publishers Association. A veteran journalist and activist, Muhammad led The Final Call since 2009 and spent nearly four decades advocating for racial justice, independent media, and community empowerment.
Posted inAfro Briefs
Anna Mae Robertson, ‘Six Triple Eight’ member, dies at 101
Anna Mae Robertson, one of the last surviving members of the 6888th Central Postal Directory Battalion, known as the “Six Triple Eight,” died at 101 after a life of military service and dedication to her family.
Posted inWashington D.C. News
Locals to face off in ‘Ask a D.C. Native, Live!’ trivia showdown
Ask a D.C. Native, Live!” will bring to life the popular “Ask a D.C. Native” column with a live trivia showdown celebrating D.C. Natives Day. The May 19 event at Eaton House will provide locals an opportunity to test their District knowledge and celebrate hometown pride.