By Kara Thompson, MDDC Intern On July 8, Mayor Brandon Scott announced that Baltimore’s next Deputy Mayor for Public Safety would be Anthony Barksdale. Born and raised in Baltimore, Barksdale brings a thorough knowledge of Baltimore to his new position, as well as years of experience in law enforcement and a history of proactive public […]
Author Archives: Kara Thompson Special to the AFRO
Posted inBaltimore News
Ground has been broken on the new Thurgood Marshall Amenity Center
By Kara Thompson, MDDC Intern A groundbreaking ceremony was held on July 2 at the site that will house the new Thurgood Marshall Amenity Center in West Baltimore. The new building will honor the legacy of Justice Marshall and other civil rights leaders from the Upton area, as well as provide resources, education, and community […]
Posted inBaltimore News
Formerly segregated plaza now redeveloped with help of HBCU
By Kara Thompson, MDDC Intern Northwood Plaza used to be a segregated shopping area located next to Morgan State University, a historically Black college. Starting in the early 1950s, hundreds of Morgan State students participated in sit-ins and other peaceful protests in the name of equal rights, culminating with the arrest of more than 415 […]
Posted inNational News
Reenactments and national parks help reimagine what life was like for Black Civil War soldiers
By Kara Thompson, MDDC Intern Calvin Osborne has always been fascinated by the Civil War. But growing up in the American Midwest, the Civil War battlegrounds were far and few between. The bloody story of how America turned upon itself has intrigued many. And when Osborne moved to the East Coast, he took advantage of […]
Posted inBaltimore News
The life and legacy of Elizabeth Murphy Moss
By Kara Thompson, AFRO MDDC Intern Elizabeth “Bettye” Murphy Moss, a granddaughter of John Henry Murphy, began her journalism career when she first started working at the AFRO at age 13—around 1929. She would later go on to be the first African-American female war correspondent during WWII. Moss was born March 11, 1917, to Carl […]
Posted inBaltimore News
Forty cosmetology students receive ‘Destiny’s Dream’ scholarship in honor of slain entrepreneur
By Kara Thompson, MDDC Intern On June 14, 40 students from four different schools in Baltimore City received scholarships in memory of Destiny Harrison, the 21-year-old hairdresser and salon owner who was murdered in one of her salons in December of 2019. The scholarships will help cosmetology students live out their own dreams by handling […]
Posted inAfro Briefs
Over $350k raised on GoFundMe for Burger King worker gifted candy, a movie ticket and a coffee cup for service
By Kara Thompson, MDDC Intern Kevin Ford has never missed a day of work as a Burger King chef in Las Vegas, Nevada. For 27 years he has dealt with the hustle and bustle and everything else that comes with working in America’s fast food industry. And while most people celebrate their work anniversary with […]
Posted inNational News
Denzel Washington and Simone Biles among 17 Medal of Freedom honorees
By Kara Thompson, MDDC Intern On Thursday, July 7, President Biden presented the Presidential Medal of Freedom to 17 Americans in a formal ceremony at the White House. “We strive for we the people doing what we can to ensure the idea of America,” said Biden. “The call of freedom shines like the sun to […]
Posted inBaltimore News
Dr. Sonja Santelises recognized for time as CEO of Baltimore City Public Schools
By Kara Thompson, MDDC Intern Dr. Sonja Santelises was recognized on July 5 by Mayor Brandon M. Scott for her six years of service as chief executive officer of the Baltimore City Public Schools System (BCPSS). Santelises began her seventh year in the role this summer and is now the longest serving leader of BCPSS […]
Posted inNEWS
Hampton Minister’s Conference names Reverend Harold Carter, Jr. as vice president
By Kara Thompson, MDDC Intern Rev. Harold Carter, Jr. was made vice president of the Hampton Ministers’ Conference at their annual conference that took place in June. There, he had previously served as the assistant secretary. Carter said he accepts the position “very humbly,” and is looking forward to being able to “pour back into […]
Posted inNational News
AFRO wins big at NNPA awards ceremony during annual convention
By Kara Thompson, MDDC Intern The AFRO American Newspapers won big at the National Newspapers Publishers Association’s (NNPA) Messenger Awards this year. The publication, which began in 1892, was one of many newspapers recognized for their outstanding work in the Black Press. Among the eight awards won by the AFRO, the most notable was the […]
Posted inU.S. Government
The case against Trump and what we know from the Jan. 6 hearings
By Kara Thompson, AFRO MDDC Intern Since July 27, 2021, a select House of Representatives Committee has been investigating the Jan. 6, 2021 attack on the U.S. Capitol building. The committee is led by seven Democrats and two Republicans from the House. Just a few weeks ago, on June 9, the committee began to share […]