AFRAM’s 50th anniversary celebration opened on Juneteenth in Baltimore’s Druid Hill Park with music, food, cultural pride and thousands of attendees honoring five decades of Black history and community. Performances by artists, including Lil’ Mo, Mario and Ultra Naté, along with reflections from Maryland Gov. Wes Moore and local leaders, highlighted the festival’s role as a family reunion, a celebration of liberation and a reminder that the fight for true freedom continues.
Author Archives: DaQuan Lawrence
Posted inWashington D.C. News
District of Columbia votes turn out for midterm primaries
Janeese Lewis George leads the mayoral race in the District of Columbia primary election, with Robert White Jr. ahead for U.S. Delegate.
Posted inBlack History
Many mourn death of Assata Shakur, exiled Black liberation activist and global symbol of resistance
Assata Shakur, the former Black Panther and Black Liberation Army member who escaped a U.S. prison and lived in exile in Cuba for more than four decades, has died at 78. To some she was a fugitive and convicted killer, but to many worldwide she remained a symbol of resistance, liberation, and defiance against oppression.
Posted inWashington D.C. News
‘3 by 30’ aims to create 3 million Black homeowners—but barriers persist
By DaQuan LawrenceAFRO International WriterDLawrence@afro.com Black homebuyers are 1.7 times more likely to be denied a mortgage than all other racial groups in the nation, according to a recent study by LendingTree. Considering the historical trend of housing disenfranchisement and disproportionate racial homeownership, the AFRO spoke with policy experts about the implications of the phenomenon, […]
Posted inBlack History
Black August, an opportunity for healing via education on Black resistance
Black August, rooted in the legacy of George Jackson and Black liberation struggles, is now a month-long observance honoring Black resistance, political prisoners, and truth-telling in U.S. history. As calls grow to reexamine national holidays, scholars and community leaders urge deeper engagement with Black-led narratives through education, activism, and cultural remembrance.
Posted inWashington D.C. News
Supporting D.C. youth after incarceration: A second chance at success
By DaQuan LawrenceAFRO International WriterDLawrence@afro.com Although there was a 75 percent decline in national youth incarceration between 2000-2022, at the end of 2022 there were approximately 27,587 youth offenders held at 1,277 juvenile facilities across the United States, including detention centers, residential treatment centers, group homes and youth prisons, according to the Office of Juvenile […]
Posted inWashington D.C. News
Mayor Bowser expands youth curfew with an eye to public safety
Mayor Muriel Bowser has signed emergency legislation expanding D.C.’s youth curfew to address rising juvenile crime, allowing earlier curfews in designated zones and extending coverage to 17-year-olds. The measure equips police with more flexibility and aims to prevent disturbances in high-traffic areas while supporting youth safety and engagement.
