By Deborah Bailey, Contributing Editor Marion Turner Stubbs Thomas sought a place where her own children could bond with other Black children in Philadelphia’s rapidly expanding, early twentieth century, Black middle class community. So in 1938, Thomas did what any Black mother would do – she invited 20 women to her home for a strategy […]
Author Archives: Dr. Deborah Bailey AFRO Contributing Editor
Posted inU.S. Government
Biden highlights police reform agenda in State of the Union Address
By Deborah Bailey, Contributing Editor In the first fully in-person State of the Union address since the COVID-19 epidemic began, President Joe Biden didn’t mince words or shy away from hard topics. Biden placed the issue of police reform and alternatives to police intervention squarely on the American agenda during his Feb. 7 address. Biden’s […]
Posted inBaltimore News
Brooklyn O’Malley Boys and Girls Club: providing a calm refuge in the midst of Baltimore’s surge of youth violence
By Deborah Bailey, Contributing Editor Kids who find refuge at Brooklyn O’Malley Boys and Girls Club of Metropolitan Baltimore after school now have a new place to regroup and refocus with the launch of the organization’s Calming Center. The recent rash of January shootings involving Baltimore City Public school children has left many students and […]
Posted inWashington D.C. News
Biden warns MLK Breakfast attendees about Republican-led House of Representatives’ new legislation, cripples middle and low-wealth Americans
By Deborah Bailey, Contributing Editor President Joe Biden warned the audience who gathered for the National Action Network’s (NAN) annual MLK Day breakfast on Jan. 17, about the Republican-led House of Representatives. Their session began days ago with drastic plans that would negatively affect middle and low-income families in America. “I have your back, but we’ve […]
Posted inReligion
President Biden addresses Ebenezer Baptist Church for MLK Sunday morning service
By Deborah Bailey, Special to the AFRO As Rev. Raphael Warnock welcomed President Joe Biden to his pulpit on Jan. 15 – the pulpit of Ebenezer Baptist Church in Atlanta – the historic moment was not lost on him. After all, it was Jan. 15, the actual birth date of the Rev. Dr. Martin L. […]
Posted inWashington D.C. News
Bowser sworn in to historic third term; top officials united on statehood for D.C.
By Deborah Bailey, Contributing Editor D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser took the oath of office for a third term Jan. 2, unveiling a goal to add thousands of residents to the city’s population by 2028. Bowser also pledged to listen closely to residents’“big ideas” and push relentlessly to make D.C. the 51st state. “We will explore every […]
Posted inWashington D.C. News
D.C.’s journalism and communications luminaries honored at Washington Association of Black Journalists’ tribute
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 […]
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, […]