When the 2011 conference of the National Association of Black Journalists concludes on Aug. 7, it will do so with a newly-elected president at the organization’s helm. But questions may remain about the influence of the New York Times on the election’s outcome, given the media heavyweight’s unprecedented endorsement of a presidential contender. Every two […]
Author Archives: Ashley Crawford
Special to the AFRO
Posted inAfro Briefs
Minority Lawmakers Stress Need to Raise Federal Debt Limit
Members from the Congressional Black Caucus, Congressional Hispanic Caucus and the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus held a press conference on July 20 to discuss the impact that the debt ceiling talks could have on minority communities. Members from the three caucuses stressed the importance of protecting government programs that are vital for the growth […]
Posted inAfro Briefs
Maryland Senators and University Presidents Call for Protection of Pell Grants
Senators Barbara Mikulski (D-Md.) and Ben Cardin (D-Md.) joined university presidents from across the country earlier this week in an event to highlight the importance of the Federal Pell Grant Program. The nine university presidents in attendance represented institutions with high minority populations, including the University of Maryland Eastern Shore, Morgan State University and the […]
Posted inMovie Reviews
Movie Review: ‘The Help’
At the dawn of the Civil Rights Movement, three very different and remarkable Mississippi women develop an unlikely friendship as they embark on a secret project that breaks societal rules and puts them all at risk. Based on Kathryn Stockett’s No. 1 New York Times best-selling novel, The Help stars Emma Stone as Skeeter, Octavia […]
Posted inARTS & ENTERTAINMENT, Religion
Preacher Calls Oprah Precursor to the Antichrist
Talk show queen Oprah Winfrey may play a role in the coming of the Antichrist—at least, according to Mike Bickle, founder and executive director of the radical and controversial International House of Prayer. A video of Bickle comparing Oprah to the Antichrist was uncovered earlier this week by the People for the American Way Right […]
Posted inWashington D.C. News
D.C. Schools’ Test Scores Show Steady Increases
Secondary and elementary school test scores are improving in Washington, D.C., according to the results of the DC Comprehensive Assessment System (DC CAS) tests released July 8 by officials. The DC CAS is an annual series of standardized tests given to third- to eighth-grade and 10th-grade students in D.C. public and charter schools that measure […]
Posted inAfro Briefs
NAACP Concerned Over CNN Prime Time News Lineup
The NAACP is “deeply concerned” about the absence of African Americans among the hosts or anchors in the Cable News Network’s (CNN) just-released prime time schedule. “As CNN announced their new schedule, a glaring omission was present–-no African Americans were hosts or anchors in their prime time lineup,” NAACP President and CEO Benjamin Todd Jealous […]
Posted inAfro Briefs
South Sudan Gains Independence
South Sudan will celebrate its independence from Sudan on July 9, the end result of the 2005 Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) that ended the long-running civil war in the African country. The Republic of South Sudan’s independence celebration, termed the “Birth of a Nation,” has brought thousands from across the globe to the world’s newest […]
Posted inARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
Essence Musical Festival 2011 Delivers the Hits
Essence celebrated its annual music festival last weekend in New Orleans with a star-studded line up and events for all to enjoy. In traditional Essence fashion, the nightly concerts, hosted by emcee Nephew Tommy of “The Steve Harvey Morning Show,” consisted of a mixture of “old school” and “new school.” Kicking off the first night […]
Posted inNational News
Guarding Against Emerging Technology Crimes
In today’s technology-driven world, it’s rare to see someone not attached to a Blackberry, iPad or MacBook. Individuals have become so dependent on these snazzy devices that often they don’t realize that the very thing they crave and “just can’t live without” can also be the most dangerous thing they’ve ever encountered. Many people are […]
Posted inAfro Briefs
U.N. Urges Countries to Cease Deportations of Haitians
The United Nations advised all governments on June 21 to extend permits for Haitians and cease deportations back to the Caribbean nation still suffering effects of the January 2010 earthquake. The U.N. Human Rights Council (UNHRC), together with the U.N. Office of the High Commissioner for Refugees (OHCHR), sent a joint request to governments after […]
Posted inAfro Briefs
NAACP Seeks Criminal Charges Against Officers in Beating of 18-year-old Pittsburgh Youth
National and local NAACP representatives met with Allegheny County District Attorney Stephen Zappala in Pittsburgh, Pa. on June 21 to discuss the January 2010 beating of Jordan Miles. The NAACP appeals to the district attorney come just one month after the Justice Department announced that their office would not be filing any federal criminal charges […]