By Deborah BaileyAFRO Contributing Editor dbailey@afro.com Seated humbly in a chair on the platform of the Washington National Cathedral, former United Nations Ambassador and Congressman Andrew Young preached extemporaneously Jan. 14. King confidante, friend, collaborator and fellow pastor, Young is among a dwindling number of activists who worked and served full time in the Civil Rights […]
Author Archives: Dr. Deborah Bailey AFRO Contributing Editor
Posted inHBCU
CNN’s Abby Phillip encourages Bowie State graduates to expect adversity
By Deborah BaileyAFRO Contributing Editor Cable network anchor and Bowie High School graduate Abby Phillip reminded Bowie State University winter graduates Dec. 23 of the power of failure in life. Phillip, anchor of “CNN NewsNight with Abby Phillip,” a Harvard graduate and a member of Bowie High School’s class of 2006, told the 405 graduates […]
Posted inNEWS
Councilwoman Jolene Ivey takes helm of Prince George’s County Council
By Deborah Bailey AFRO Contributing Editor dbailey@afro.com Veteran Prince George’s County Councilwoman Jolene Ivey (D-Prince George’s County- District 5) is now head of the County Council. Ivey took the gavel with the unanimous support of 11 council members, all of whom were in attendance at the gavel exchange ceremony inside of Largo’s County Council hearing […]
Posted inPrince George's County News
Prince George’s Police Officer acquitted after shooting death of William Green
By Deborah Bailey AFRO Contributing Editor dbailey@afro.com A Prince George’s County Police Officer has been acquitted in the Jan. 27, 2020 death of William Green, a resident of Southeast D.C. who was shot while in handcuffs. Michael Owen Jr. was found not guilty of four charges filed against him in a Prince George’s County Circuit […]
Posted inBUSINESS
Alignment embraced by D.C. C-Suite luncheon women
By Deborah BaileyAFRO Contributing Editor dbailey@afro.com The laughter and fellowship ebbing through a Washington, D.C. hotel ballroom on an afternoon in November conveyed the pleasure expressed by several hundred upscale Black women executives exchanging personal and professional stories, plans and dreams. These are Black women who have sacrificed to make it among the leadership ranks in […]
Posted inWashington D.C. News
D.C. Courts Annual Adoption Day ceremony helps residents create ‘forever families’
By Deborah Bailey, AFRO Contributing Editor, dbailey@afro.com D.C. Courts held their 37th Annual Adoption Day on Nov. 18, marking the official creation of “forever families” in the District. The day was especially sentimental for Benita “Queen” Meadow, 50, and her two children, Mon’Asia (6) and Mon’trell (5). For Meadow, the celebration of adoptive families held […]
Posted inPrince George's County News
Murphy Law Firm files $16 million lawsuit alleging civil rights violations by Prince George’s County Police Department
By Deborah Bailey, AFRO Contributing Editor, dailey@afro.com Four Landover Hills, Md. residents filed a lawsuit against Prince George’s County police on Nov. 27, seeking $16 million in damages after alleging police unlawfully entered the premises during a 2021 encounter with the residents. The incident included the shooting of a dog. Erica Umana, Erika Erazo Sanchez, […]
Posted inHealth
New anti-obesity drugs approved, but still out of reach for many Black Americans
By Deborah Bailey, AFRO Contributing Editor, dbailey@afro.com A new class of weight loss medications are bringing hope to the more than 70 percent of Americans who are classified as medically overweight (BMI = 25-29.9) or obese (BMI = 30 or greater). The obesity rate of Black Americans clocking in at the highest among U.S. ethnic […]
Posted inNational News
G.I. Restoration Act of 2023: Federal legislation aims to restore benefits denied Black veterans in original G.I. bill
By Deborah Bailey, AFRO Contributing Editor, dbailey@afro.com The G.I. Restoration Act of 2023, introduced in Congress this year by Assistant Democratic Leader Jim D. Clyburn (D-SC-6) and Congressman Seth Moulton (D-MA), aims to change life in America for Black descendants of World War II veterans who were denied the benefits of the original G.I. Bill […]
Posted inPrince George's County News
Jawando exits U.S. Senate race: Pledges support to Alsobrooks
By Deborah Bailey, AFRO Contributing Editor, dbailey@afro.com Montgomery County councilman Will Jawando has exited the race for U.S. Senate and thrown his support behind Democratic Candidate Angela Alsobrooks. At a rally in Baltimore on Oct. 23, Jawando issued a speech, along with Governor Wes Moore and many other leaders, fully supporting Alsobrooks. “It’s time now […]
Posted inWashington D.C. News
Federal student loans: Time to get back in the game
By Deborah Bailey, AFRO Contributing Editor, dbailey@afro.com Have you heard the news? Federal student loan repayments restarted this month. Federal student loans were paused for close to $44 million borrowers on March 13, 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic. The loans were reinstated in September 2023, after a Supreme Court ruling. While millions have restarted payments […]
Posted inPrince George's County News
Bowie State University rallies after shooting incident at 2023 homecoming event
By Deborah Bailey, AFRO Contributing Editor, dbailey@afro.com Homecoming weekend posed difficulties for Bowie State University faculty, staff and students due to an unexpected shooting. But on Oct. 9, University president Aminta H. Breaux rallied the campus together to reflect on the incident and provide a forum for the campus community to raise their questions, voice […]