U.S. Marines have created a new wave of international furor, sending officials scrambling to explain another incident of unbecoming behavior and ignorance. A September 2010 photo showing 10 U.S. Marines purposely posing with a Nazi SS flag began to circulate on news and social media sites in recent months. The picture features the men in […]
Author Archives: Alexis Taylor
AFRO Staff Writer
10 States Released from the No Child Left Behind Act
President Obama announced Feb. 9 that 10 states will be no longer be bound in the classroom by the No Child Left Behind Act. The bill has caused controversy on both sides of the aisle since it was passed with bipartisan efforts in 2001 under the Bush Administration. The legislation aimed to increase reading and […]
Four Men Charged in Towson Town Center Murder
Officials are still baffled as to why four men would want 19-year-old Rodney Pridget Jr. dead just days before Christmas 2011. The crime sent shockwaves through Baltimore at the most festive time of year. Last week, Frank Theodore Williams, 31; Jermell Monte Brandon, 35; Tyrone Chester Brown Jr., 19 and William Ward III, 44, were […]
Director Hired to Oversee City’s Financial Health
Harry Black’s appointment as the new director of finance for Baltimore City brings to a close the nationwide search launched to fill the position vacated by Director Edward Gallagher, who retired last year after taking the position in 2005. “We are excited to welcome Mr. Harry Black to City Hall as we work on the […]
‘Equality’ Lawsuit Continues HBCU Fight
Maryland’s four historical black institutions continued to forge ahead Monday with their $2.1 billion case against the state, claiming injustice in the way of funding and segregated practices. Among the scheduled witnesses for the day was Dr. Sue Blanshan, who currently serves as Director of Planning and Academic Affairs for the Maryland Higher Education Committee […]
Soccer Game Riot Sets Off Violent Chain Reaction
On Feb. 3, the death toll stood at 79, according to CNN, in the aftermath of the Feb. 1 rioting that erupted in Port Said, Egypt immediately following a soccer game between Al-Ahly, a visiting team from Cairo, and the home team, Al-Masry. Those in attendance described the mayhem and carnage as Al-Masry supporters stormed […]
Komen Foundation Reverses Decision to Cut Off Planned Parenthood Funding
The Susan G. Komen for the Cure Foundation Feb. 3 reversed its decision to sever funding for Planned Parenthood and issued a public apology for appearing to be driven by politics. Reversal of the decision came amid mounting pressure from pro-choice advocates and reflected reluctance by the breast-cancer awareness organization to bow to anti-abortion pressure. […]
Facebook Open to Making More Friends
Following in the footsteps of technology titans such as Google and Microsoft, Facebook has decided to go public and make stock in the social networking company available to those who can afford the hefty price tag. Announcing hopes to raise $5 billion in its initial public offering (IPO), Facebook officially disclosed its financial records late […]
United Airlines Names First African American Region Chief Pilot
Captain James Simons, Jr. was named United Airlines’ first African-American region chief pilot for United Airlines Jan. 20, and will lead the Northeastern Region of the world’s largest airline company. Simons, a United pilot for 22 years, will oversee 1,450 pilots flying for the airline. Beginning in 2007, he served as assistant chief pilot for […]
Grayling Williams Selected to Lead New Initiatives by BCPD Commissioner
Intent on rebuilding confidence and instilling new faith in the Baltimore City Police Department, Commissioner Frederick H. Bealefeld III officially announced changes within the ranks of the department last week. Introducing Grayling Williams as chief of the Internal Investigation Division, Police Commissioner Bealefeld said the new civilian commander will bring fresh eyes to a department […]
Anthony Lewis Becomes VP of Verizon’s Mid-Atlantic Region
“My job is to make sure that you have an easy life,” said Anthony Lewis from the eighth floor Verizon board room of his Maryland office. Newly named vice president of the Mid-Atlantic Region, Lewis, a native of Norfolk, Va. has big plans for the company he’s been a part of since 1986, known then […]
HBCU ‘Equality’ Lawsuit: Black Notables, Former HBCU Presidents and Students Pack Courtroom
Dr. Samuel Myers said it “hurt his heart” as he listened to testimony at the ongoing HBCU Equality trial, Jan. 31. The president emeritus of Bowie State College, one of Maryland’s four HBCUs, said he’s spent his life working in higher education. “And I’ve seen the disparities that exist between funding for Blacks in higher […]

