By Dr. France “Toni” Murphy DraperWord in Black I remember college as a place of possibility. We protested — yes — but we did so with sit-ins, with leaflets, with raised voices and locked arms. We marched and we sang “We Shall Overcome Someday.” We believed, perhaps naively, that collective courage and moral clarity could […]
Author Archives: Frances Toni Draper AFRO Publisher
Posted inEditorial
This Christmas, give our children something that will grow with them
By Dr. Frances “Toni” Murphy DraperAFRO CEO and Publisher Every holiday season, we search for the perfect gifts for the children in our lives. We want the joy and the surprise. But most of what we buy doesn’t last. Sneakers lose their shine, video games get replaced and toys are forgotten by spring. As families […]
Posted inEditorial
This Christmas, don’t let our elders be the last ones noticed
This Christmas, make sure to include and honor the elders in your family by listening to their stories, inviting them to contribute to conversations and decisions, and showing them appreciation with small gifts.
Posted inCommentary
Calling a woman ‘Piggy’: The real damage a president can do
AFRO CEO and publisher Dr. Frances Murphy (Toni) Draper condemns the president’s public insult of a female reporter, arguing that such demeaning language mirrors patterns of emotional abuse, fuels misogyny and racism, endangers women—especially women journalists—and normalizes harmful behavior across society. She urges leaders and communities to call out abusive conduct, teach respect, and model accountability.
Posted inWord In Black
Compassion has left the building
By Dr. Frances Murphy DraperAFRO CEO and Publisher As Americans worry whether they’ll get their next paycheck, keep the lights on, or afford dinner tonight, an internal email dated October 31, 2025, from the halls of the U.S. Department of War (formerly the Department of Defense) lands — addressed to “Policy Colleagues,” wishing them a […]
Posted in!Front Page Maryland New
AI, fear and a bag of chips: How a Maryland teen became the latest victim of a broken system
by Frances Toni Draper, CEO and Publisher of the AFRO I keep thinking about a teenager—Black, 16, a student-athlete—who did what kids do after practice: he ate snacks with friends and waited for a ride. Minutes later, eight police cars rolled up to Kenwood High School in Baltimore County. Officers drew their guns, ordered him […]
Posted inWord In Black
Editorial: The right to vote is on trial… again
AFRO CEO and Publisher Frances “Toni” Draper warns that the right to vote is once again under threat as the Supreme Court reviews a case that could weaken the Voting Rights Act. She calls on all Americans to stay vigilant, reminding readers that protecting democracy demands courage, participation, and collective responsibility.
Posted inOpinion
Rediscovering Elsbeth
By Dr. Frances “Toni” DraperAFRO Publisher and CEO When my sixth-grade teacher, Pauline Paysour, mailed me an envelope in July 1994, I nearly dismissed it as a kind gesture from the past. Inside were two treasures: her beautifully handwritten letter and a single story I’d written years earlier, titled “Elsbeth, An English Peasant Girl – […]
Posted inOpinion
Once a fan, always a fan
Despite a disappointing 44-10 loss to the Texans, Ravens fans remain devoted to their team and are determined to show up and support them through the tough times.
Posted inEditorial
Auntie Mo’Nique wasn’t wrong: Leave the bonnets and pajamas at home
AFRO CEO and Publisher Frances Murphy Draper argues that while comfort and convenience explain why many women—especially Black women—wear pajamas and bonnets in public, the practice undermines self-respect and opportunities. Citing Mo’Nique’s earlier critique, Draper stresses that presentation still matters, particularly in a world that already unfairly judges Black women, and urges sisters to show up polished, confident, and prepared.
Posted inOpinion
Another blood-stained sanctuary: America cannot look away
Violence in sacred spaces is an American epidemic that must be addressed with laws, leadership, and a return to civil speech, as well as preparation and vigilance in faith institutions, schools, and civic organizations.
Posted inEditorial
From Baltimore to D.C.: Building the next century of Black business
By Dr. Frances Murphy DraperAFRO Publisher and CEO Black-owned businesses have always been a cornerstone of our communities—anchoring neighborhoods, creating jobs and proving that vision can thrive even in the face of economic headwinds. Last week, we celebrated companies across the country that have endured for a century or more, surviving depressions, recessions, and sweeping […]
