By Mark F. Gray AFRO Staff Writer mgray@afro.com The towering figure that stood large among the great leaders from Georgetown University has passed away. John Thompson, Jr., the first Black coach to win a national collegiate sports championship, died Aug. 30. He was 78. Thompson became Georgetown’s head coach in 1972 and built the program […]
Author Archives: Mark F. Gray
Posted inNEWS
Teacher Helps Peers Deal With Burnout
By Mark F. Gray AFRO Staff Writer mgray@afro.com Teresa Lasley has a passion for teaching and loves the bond that’s associated with watching kids evolve, however, approaching the start of the 2019-2020 school year, the veteran D.C. public charter and high school teacher knew things were off. The passion that drove her was wavering for […]
Posted inNEWS
Washington Football Team’s First Black President
By Mark F. Gray AFRO Staff Writer mgray@afro.com Through the chaos that hopes to restore credibility of this era of transition, the Washington Football Team continues its reform. First, they added a woman to the front by naming former NBC Sports Washington anchor Julie Donaldson as their new vice president of media relations, making her […]
Posted inBooks
VIDEO: The Scoop from ESPN’s Jackson
The sports commentator’s new book tackles the power of protest in American sports. By Mark Gray, Zenger News ESPN national columnist and essay writer Robert “Scoop” Jackson began noticing how pro athletes—especially young NBA stars—started lifting their voices to address civil rights concern by using their platform in professional sports about four years ago, which was roughly the […]
Posted inHBCU
VIDEO: Howard University President’s COVID Cure
Doc’s prescription for America is stay home, get tested and keep your social distance. By Mark Gray Howard University President Dr. Wayne A.I. Frederick, who is also a physician, has a preliminary diagnosis for America’s condition while fighting the coronavirus. “I would say the patient is critically ill, but it is a treatable disease if you follow the […]
Posted inPrince George's County News
Three Officers Wounded in Hyattsville Shooting
By Mark F. Gray AFRO Staff Writer mgray@afro.com Three Prince George’s County Police officers were “ambushed” and wounded during an incident in suburban Maryland in the early evening hours on August 23. The officers were responding to a home invasion call in Hyattsville when they were reportedly attacked by gunfire around 6:30 p.m. Sunday. Each […]
Posted inHBCU
MSU Loses Promising Student Athlete in Motorcycle Accident
By Mark F. Gray AFRO Staff Writer mgray@afro.com Jordan Cofield was rising from the shadows as a Morgan State student who was making a name for himself as an athlete last spring. Now as the university prepares for fall classes Cofield’s memory only remains following a tragic motorcycle accident that claimed his life on Aug. […]
Posted inNEWS
UMD’s Locksley Starts Minority Coalition of Football Coaches
By Mark F. Gray AFRO Staff Writer mgray@afro.com After his conference postponed its fall sports schedule – including football until next spring – University of Maryland (UMD) head coach Mike Locksley quickly filled the free time on his hands. The first African American full-time head football coach in UMD history launched the National Coalition of […]
Posted inPrince George's County News
AFRO Exclusive: Parents Change Law Through Personal Tragedy
By Mark F. Gray AFRO Staff Writer mgray@afro.com From a very public tragedy that changed their lives forever, Tonya Wilson and Martin McNair have shown the world incredible resilience and the ability to forgive. The parents of former University of Maryland football player Jordan McNair channeled their heartache and turned it into meaningful policy changes […]
Posted inNational News
#BlackVotesMatter: Midterm Elections
By Mark F. Gray AFRO Staff Writer mgray@afro.com “All politics are local,” is an axiom that signifies what makes voting rights such a hot button topic that Democrats and Republicans disagree on. More often than not, it is a rallying point for local politicians to step onto center stage during midterm elections, where the electorate […]
Posted inNEWS
PGCPS To Start Classes Virtually
By Mark F. Gray AFRO Staff Writer mgray@afro.com Prince George’s County Public Schools (PGCPS) will open the 2020-2021 school year in a virtual learning environment where students will be in class from home through, at least, December, with hopes to reopen for in-school instruction next spring. A 150-page report was released on June 30 outlining […]
Posted inNEWS
NFL Opens Season With Black National Anthem
By Mark F. Gray AFRO Staff Writer mgray@afro.com Two years ago, Dr. Eugene Williams Sr. had a dream that was born from the technology that now speaks through Alexa. The popular device that controls electronics and appliances in homes offered him a chance to find a song that brings peace to the retired educator’s Prince […]