This Valentine’s Day, take a break from the pressure of online dating and focus on self-love, rest, and intentional connection, rather than performance.
Author Archives: Ericka Alston Buck
Posted inARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
Black culture didn’t just show up in 2025—it shaped the year
The past 12 months have been a beautiful display on Black excellence when it comes to music, fashion, the big screen and more. Take a look at some of the top moments in this year’s arts and culture timeline.
Posted inARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
Lena Waithe brings ‘The Peculiar Patriot’ to Baltimore Center Stage, spotlighting love, loss and mass incarceration
By Ericka Alston BuckSpecial to the AFRO Baltimore Center Stage is taking audiences from the comfort of their seats straight into a prison visiting room. “The Peculiar Patriot,” presented by Emmy-winning storyteller Lena Waithe and written and produced by Liza Jessie Peterson, isn’t just a play; it’s a powerful and unfiltered look at the realities […]
Posted inBaltimore News
Former Baltimore mayors honored with portrait unveiling
By Ericka Alston BuckSpecial to the AFRO On Nov. 1, the Rotunda of Baltimore City Hall was filled with pride, reflection and gratitude as four of the city’s former mayors– Sheila Dixon, Stephanie Rawlings Blake, Catherine Pugh and Bernard “Jack” Young– joined Baltimore City Mayor Brandon M. Scott for the unveiling of their official portraits. […]
Posted inBaltimore News
Coppin State University celebrates 125 Years of legacy, leadership and service
Coppin State University celebrated its 125th anniversary with a black-tie gala, honoring its legacy of resilience and brilliance, and raising over $500,000 to support scholarships and student success.
Posted inARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
Baltimore’s Gabby Samone: From ‘American Idol’ breakout to rising R&B powerhouse
From a Disney performance in 2021 to “The Jennifer Hudson Show,” and now “American Idol” and beyond, Gabby Samone is proving that her story is only beginning. For Baltimore and for fans nationwide, the rise of Gabby Samone is one to watch — a young artist grinding, glowing, and stepping fully into her moment.
Posted inCOMMUNITY
Single in the City: Recognizing abuse when it doesn’t leave bruises
Abuse doesn’t always leave bruises; it can whisper through control, criticism and isolation. October’s purple ribbons shine a light on the truth that love should never hurt—but too often, it does.
Posted in!Front Page Arts and Entertainment
Neo-soul icon D’Angelo dies at 51 — fans, radio and the music world mourn
D’Angelo, the influential neo-soul artist, passed away at the age of 51 after a private battle with pancreatic cancer, leaving a void in modern music and a legacy of soulful intensity, stylistic daring, and deep musical integrity.
Posted inBaltimore News
Common headlines United Way of Central Maryland’s 100-year celebration at the Meyerhoff
United Way of Central Maryland celebrated its 100th anniversary with a star-studded concert at Baltimore’s Meyerhoff Symphony Hall, headlined by Common and featuring performances from CeCe Peniston and the Baltimore City College Choir. The evening honored a century of community service while inspiring hope for the organization’s next hundred years of impact across Central Maryland.
Posted inBaltimore Events
Jazzy Summer Nights bids Baltimore farewell with a legendary Dru Hill finale
After 25 years of music, community and culture, Baltimore’s beloved Jazzy Summer Nights ended its run Oct. 2 with a blockbuster finale headlined by hometown legends Dru Hill. Thousands filled City Hall Plaza to celebrate the legacy of founder LaRian Finney’s iconic series, which united generations and left a lasting mark on the city.
Posted inBaltimore News
Second chances take center stage: Baltimore adults graduate from Goodwill Excel Center
The Baltimore Excel Center and Goodwill Industries of the Chesapeake’s Workforce Development Programs held their second-ever graduation ceremony, celebrating the success of 53 adults who earned their high school diplomas and industry-recognized certifications, and providing them with a viable career path.
Posted inARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
Baltimore MET Gala 2025: A timeless celebration of style, culture and community
On Sept. 13 the fourth annual Baltimore MET Gala (BMG) transformed The HALL at Live! Casino and Hotel into a dazzling celebration of art, fashion, culture and cuisine. With this year’s theme, “TIMELESS — The Evolution of Style: Past. Present. Future,” the evening proved to be nothing short of phenomenal from the moment guests stepped onto the blue carpet to the final applause.