Ralph E. Moore Jr. By Ralph E. Moore Jr. There are no U.S. African Americans officially recognized as saints by the Catholic Church, while there are 11 White American saints. What’s up with that? During the global pandemic we are enduring, it might seem odd to focus on anything else. But Baltimore City because of […]
Author Archives: Ralph E. Moore Jr.
Posted inNEWS
A Baking Lesson Fundraiser to fill weekend backpacks that feed hungry children in Baltimore
(Screengrab) By Ralph E. Moore Jr Special to the AFRO You can learn how to bake a special dish in time for your Thanksgiving table and help feed a hungry child at the same time; by supporting a Chef’s Event Re-imagined as a benefit for the Baltimore Weekend Backpack Program that feeds hungry children in […]
Posted inBaltimore Community
Biden ‘Preached to the Choir” in Baltimore and yet the evening had its surprises
(Photo by Ralph E. Moore Jr.) By Ralph E. Moore Jr. Special to the AFRO #AFRONewsAtNoon President Joe Biden’s visit to Baltimore, October 21, was a big friggin’ deal for Baltimore, to borrow the phrase he excitedly whispered in President Obama’s ear regarding passage of the Affordable Care Act. Biden told that story, more on […]
Posted inARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
The Ohio Players are on tour and still on fire
The Ohio Players started in Dayton, Ohio in 1959 and after enduring some changes, the group landed their first big hit “Funky Worm,” with many more to come, which landed them a place in history. (Courtesy photo) By Ralph E. Moore Jr. Special to the AFRO If you can remember the rockin’ music of the […]
Posted inNEWS
The Moore Report: Just wondering how come the police aren’t all getting vaccinated?
Ralph E. Moore Jr. By Ralph E. Moore Jr. Reportedly, just over half of Baltimore City police officers have been vaccinated for COVID-19 as of Oct. 18. Why is that? That is, why has this set of first responders not been 100% vaccinated? That translates to about 1500 of the 2500 sworn officers on the […]
Posted inObituaries
The Moore Report: Mind, body, spirit: paying homage to the lives of three great women
Ralph E. Moore Jr. By Ralph E. Moore, Jr. Speaking of the AFRO’s theme of body, mind and spirit… three great women passed away recently. Body Sister Marilyn Hopewell, my sixth grade teacher at St. Pius V School, was a most unusual nun. She passed away at 95 years old last week. She had a […]
Posted inOPINION
Commentary: Henrietta Lacks was robbed 70 years ago and the robbers made billions from the heist
Henrietta Lacks (Courtesy photo) By Ralph E. Moore Jr. Special to the AFRO This article continues the AFRO’s coverage of Henrietta Lacks’ story. Deborah Bailey’s interview of attorney Ben Crump, who’s representing the family, will be on Afro.com for Monday’s #AFRONewsAtNoon. If you’ve recovered from a serious illness within the last 70 years, you probably […]
Posted inNEWS
The Moore Report: And Still I Write…
Ralph E. Moore Jr. By Ralph E. Moore Jr. Let me warn you. I consider myself an activist and a bit of a radical, Black Catholic. I was taught how to read and write by African-American nuns in West Baltimore. That is, at St. Pius V Catholic School in Harlem Park, a kindergarten to eighth […]
Posted inAfro Briefs
The diverse group of citizens of Talbot County and “The night they drove Old Dixie down”
By Ralph E. Moore, Jr. A vote was taken at the September 14 Talbot County Council meeting, in Easton, Md., to decide whether the statue of the Talbot Boys, the last Confederate monument on public land, should be taken down. There were five council members who voted that night: Frank Divilo Peter Lesher, VP Chuck […]
Posted inBooks
Book review: Carmelo Anthony’s ‘Memoir of Survival and Hope’
(Courtesy Photo) By Ralph E. Moore Jr. Special to the AFRO Carmelo Anthony’s memoir, “Where Tomorrows Aren’t Promised” (co-authored with D. Watkins) reads like a friendly conversation on the front steps of a rowhouse on a calm summer night. It is an easy read in tone and accessible storytelling style. The book starts with his […]
Posted inARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
Honoring the life of Tupac Shakur: A poet, a prophet and a beloved son of Baltimore
Tupac Shakur By Ralph E. Moore Jr. The Poet-Prophets Before Tupac Shakur In the beginning was the spoken word. It came forth from a group known as the Last Poets and they blended and recorded 60s music and poetry from the movement and it was good. Very good. Then along came a poet-jazz musician (magician) […]
Posted inARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
Bennie Pete: Another giant has left us
Bennie Pete, the sousaphone player and co-founder of the Hot 8 Brass Band. (Courtesy Photo) By Ralph E. Moore, Jr. As if the disastrous effects of Hurricane Ida weren’t enough for Louisiana, another tragedy came to the state: Bennie Pete, the sousaphone player and co-founder of the Hot 8 Brass Band died on September 6, […]
