By Aria Brent, AFRO Staff Writer, abrent@afro.com Maryland Public Defender Natasha M. Dartigue is making major moves to ensure that minority mothers and children are receiving equal access to justice across the state of Maryland. On Sept. 26, CEO and publisher of the AFRO, Dr. Frances “Toni” Draper, invited women leaders to meet and speak […]
Author Archives: Aria Brent
Posted in!Front Page Baltimore News
Artscape returns to Baltimore after three-year hiatus
By Aria Brent, AFRO Staff Writer, abrent@afro.com For the first time since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, Artscape, one of the largest free outdoor arts festivals, returned to Baltimore. Artscape took place Sept. 22 through Sept. 24 at the 1300 to 1800 blocks of Charles Street and Mount Royal Avenue. Despite Tropical Storm Ophelia […]
Posted inBaltimore News
Newlyweds share their secrets to preserving Black love
By Aria Brent, AFRO Staff Writer, abrent@afro.com Timothy and Cornitra Carter have been friends for nearly 15 years, dating for the last 10 years and husband and wife for a month. The high school sweethearts officially became man and wife on Aug. 25 and report that they are excited to spend the rest of their […]
Posted inBaltimore News
Year of return: Black Americans speak on moving back to Africa
By Aria Brent, AFRO Staff Writer, abrent@afro.com Ghana declared 2019 the Year of Return and invited people of African descent throughout the world to celebrate the collective resistance of those who suffered through the transatlantic slave trade. The Ghana Tourism Authority (GTA) created the Year of Return to build more traction around Ghana as a […]
Posted inHealth
How to acknowledge and include the deaf community during Deaf Awareness Month
By Aria Brent, AFRO Staff Writer, abrent@afro.com The National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (NIDCD) estimates that nearly 30 million people experience hearing loss or deafness. Some use hearing aids and cochlear implants while many cannot hear at all. September is Deaf Awareness Month and community experts are sharing how to include and […]
Posted inHBCU
Listen to the Yard: How marching bands shape HBCU culture
By Aria BrentAFRO Staff Writerabrent@afro.com A prime component of Black culture is music. It defines eras, tells stories and creates soundtracks for our lives. It is only right, then, that historically Black colleges and universities have a playlist of their own, driven by the sounds of the campus marching band. Maryland Public Television highlighted the […]
Posted inBaltimore News
Jonathon Heyward set to debut as first Black music director of Baltimore Symphony Orchestra on Sept. 23
By Aria Brent, AFRO Staff Writer, abrent@afro.com Jonathon Heyward will make history as the first Black and youngest person to ever lead the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra next month. Heyward will step into the role of BSO music director on Sep. 23 at the 2023 Baltimore Symphony Orchestra Gala. To celebrate Heyward’s five-year tenure and the […]
Posted inHealth
What to know about prostate cancer in the Black community: as told by two survivors
By Aria Brent, AFRO Staff Writer, abrent@afro.com September is Prostate Cancer Awareness Month, making right now the perfect time to learn how to recognize symptoms of the disease and what treatment options are available. Rev. Dr. Kevin Slayton of Northwood- Appold United Methodist Church (Northwood- Appold UMC) in Northeast Baltimore recently hosted a panel discussion […]
Posted inNews
An AFRO salute: Black centenarians share their experiences after a century of life
By Aria Brent, AFRO Staff Writer, abrent@afro.com According to a 2022 report shared by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention’s National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS) “life expectancy at birth in the United States declined nearly a year from 2020 to 2021.” Though the percentages vary from each demographic, Black people were reported to […]
Posted inENTERTAINMENT
Money makers: how hip-hop is financing a new generation of content creators
By Aria Brent, AFRO Staff Writer, abrent@afro.com The hip-hop genre and artists alike are celebrating 50 years of influence and impact in 2023. Rappers have undoubtedly shaped culture and helped to shape the perspective on the power of the Black dollar. In 2022 hip-hop generated $15.9 billion off of music streams and purchases alone, according […]
Posted inBaltimore News
Baltimore Artscape festival announces change in headliner
By Aria Brent, AFRO Staff Writer, abrent@afro.com The Baltimore Office of Promotion & The Arts announced that Grammy Award-winning artist Anderson.Paak will be headlining the main stage on Sept. 22 at this year’s Artscape Festival. When the list of headliners for the three-day weekend event was first announced in August, singer and songwriter Kelly Rowland […]
Posted inHBCU
Maryland Public Television to host fourth annual HBCU week
By Aria Brent, AFRO Staff Wr1iter, abrent@afro.com Maryland Public Television (MPT) is hosting their fourth annual HBCU week from Sept. 4 to Sept. 10. The week-long series of special broadcasts is dedicated to recognizing the importance and impact of Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU). MPT’s HBCU centered programming for the upcoming week is a […]