By Deborah Bailey, Contributing Editor, Afro American Newspapers Washington D.C.’s black journalism and communications royalty gathered for a glorious reunion December 10. After a two-and-a-half-year hiatus, the Washington Association of Black Journalists (WABJ) gathered in downtown D.C. for a Special Honors Awards Gala, celebrating Black Excellence in Media. Multiple rounds of Covid-19 confined W.A.B.J’s membership […]
Author Archives: Dr. Deborah Bailey AFRO Contributing Editor
Posted inWashington D.C. News
Congressman Hakeem Jeffries wants to succeed Nancy Pelosi as top House Democrat
By Deborah Bailey, Contributing Editor Congressman Hakeem Sekou Jeffries (D-NY) Jeffries said Nov. 18 he wants to succeed Rep. Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) as the leader of House democrats. He would be the first Black member of Congress to hold a top leadership position in either chamber. His announcement came a day after Pelosi, House speaker […]
Posted inWashington D.C. News
D.C. public school teachers walk out in frustration, no new contract since 2019
By Deborah Bailey, Contributing Editor D.C. Public Schools Teachers walked out of their classrooms in frustration on Nov. 17. as arbitrators and representatives from the Washington Teachers Union still had not come to an agreement over a new teacher’s contract for D.C. Public Schools teachers. Thursday’s Day of Action, organized by Washington Teachers Union, urged […]
Posted inAfro Briefs
Marijuana ballot initiative passes in Maryland
By Deborah Bailey, Contributing Editor Maryland voters responded positively to a ballot measure on Nov. 8 that legalized recreational use of marijuana for residents 21 and over. The law reform will go into effect across the state starting July 1, 2023. The fourth Maryland ballot question was approved by slightly more than 65 percent of […]
Posted inPrince George's County News
Biden celebrates with Maryland’s newly elected state leadership team in rally at Bowie State University
By Deborah Bailey, Contributing Editor The victory party for Maryland Democrats commenced the day before 2022 mid-term elections at the Leonidas S. James Physical Education Complex on the campus of Bowie State University. At a rally held the Monday before Election Day, President Joe Biden, and First Lady Jill Biden, Ed. D, celebrated a strong, […]
Posted inWashington D.C. News
Wakanda Forever: actors reflect on agency and representation for Black and Brown communities at D.C. film premiere
By Deborah Bailey, Contributing Editor For many, the much-anticipated Marvel Studios’ Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, opening in movie theaters nation-wide on Nov. 11, is much more than the fictional next chapter in the journey of Wakanda’s fight for survival after the death of the King T’Challah. T’Challah was portrayed by the late actor, Chadwick Boseman, […]
Posted inWashington D.C. News
D.C. Health opens special vaccination clinics through mid-November for students ahead of deadline
By Deborah Bailey, Contributing Editor, dbaileyafro.com In anticipation of a Covid-19 surge this coming winter, a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Advisory Committee recommended Oct. 11 adding most COVID-19 vaccines to the recommended vaccination schedule for children and adults in the United States. The action by the CDC’s independent vaccine advisers came a […]
Posted inWashington D.C. News
Alzheimer’s Foundation of America to hold virtual education conference for D.C. residents
By Deborah Bailey, Contributing Editor Are you one of the millions of Black Americans impacted by Alzheimer’s disease? Maybe you are a caregiver, a sibling or a child with questions and concerns– and you’re not alone. More than 20 percent of Black Americans will develop Alzheimer’s disease in their lifetime–more than twice the rate of […]
Posted inWashington D.C. News
NAACP, Brookings Institute create database detailing statistical snapshot of Black America
By Deborah Bailey, Contributing Editor You would expect higher income and education levels to relate to longer life spans for Black people in America. You might have even assumed correctly that communities with higher levels of Black home ownership and Black business ownership resulted in places where Black people enjoy lives well into their senior […]
Posted inWashington D.C. News
ALZHEIMER’S EDUCATING AMERICA TOUR AND CAREGIVER’S CONFERENCE – DISPROPORTIONATELY IMPACTING BLACK AMERICANS
By Deborah Bailey, Contributing Editor Are you one of the millions of Black Americans serving as a caregiver for someone impacted by Alzheimer’s disease? The Alzheimer’s Foundation is sponsoring an Educating America Tour-Alzheimer’s & Caregiving Conference Tuesday and Wednesday, 10 am to 1:00 pm (registration opens at 9 am) at Whittemore House (1526 New Hampshire […]
Posted inWashington D.C. News
Black women and reproductive freedom meet a crossroad in the fight for abortion rights
By Deborah Bailey, Contributing Editor Planned Parenthood is doing the extra work to make it known that Black women are at the heart of the fight for reproductive freedom. Planned Parenthood Federation, whose network of clinics serves 400,000 Black women each year, has organized a “Stand for Black Women” campaign, designed to send a message […]
Posted inWashington D.C. News
Divine Nine launches fight against abortion restrictions with “Tell Somebody” campaign
By Deborah Bailey, Contributing Editor Members of the National Pan-Hellenic Council (NPHC), known across the nation as “The Divine Nine,” are joining forces and ramping up the fight to protect Black women’s lives. The Black Greek Letter Organizations (BGLO) recently announced the “Tell Somebody” public service campaign, emphasizing the disproportionate impact of the Supreme Court’s […]
