By New York Amsterdam News The uniforms were the start. Black skorts and orange, purple, red and white polos with a glow-in-the-dark logo. The young women on the Edward Waters University golf team really, really liked that one-of-a-kind logo. The six asked their coach, Kelly Allen, if they could leave practice early. They wanted to […]
Author Archives: Special to the AFRO from the Amsterdam News
Posted inWord In Black
Advocates urge educators to address student grief in school
By Shirley L. Smith, New York Amsterdam News The COVID-19 pandemic and America’s continuing struggle with gun violence have shined a long overdue spotlight on the impact of grief on children. Child advocates are hoping this heightened awareness will spark a culture shift in American schools so that grief training and counseling will become as […]
Posted inNational News
The spiritual dimension of Kwanzaa
by Jitahadi Imara One of the many attractive aspects of Kwanzaa, the African American holiday celebrated December 26th through January 1st, is its spiritual feature. Although Kwanzaa is not a religious holiday, it nevertheless has a spiritual dimension. Spirituality, is defined here broadly speaking as the highest values which humans aspire to attain, is expressed […]
Posted inAfro Briefs
Justice for Shanquella Robinson
by ARIAMA C. LONG Report for America Corps Member / Amsterdam News Staff The murky circumstances surrounding the death of 25-year-old Shanquella Robinson, a Black woman from North Carolina who died on a trip to Mexico with her six “friends” back in October, has not only spurred an international investigation but a fierce debate in […]
Posted inNational News
Jeffries takes Dem leadership
by ARIAMA C. LONG Report for America Corps Member / Amsterdam News Staff House Democratic Caucus Chair and Brooklyn U.S. Rep. Hakeem S. Jeffries is the next Dem leader after U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi stepped down two weeks ago. He’s the first Black person to hold the position in history. Pelosi, 82, was already […]
Posted inReligion
Community mourns loss of Rev. Dr. Calvin Butts III
by AmNews Staff Reports When news broke of the passing of the Rev. Doctor Calvin O. Butts III, on Oct. 28, 2022, there was an immediate outpouring from New Yorkers and those beyond. New York Attorney General Letitia James said, “Rev. Dr. Calvin Butts was an icon, spiritual leader, and powerful voice for progress. An […]
Posted inNational News
Voter suppression tactics surface nationwide
by Karen Juanita Carrillo, Amsterdam News Across the country, Republican Party candidates have been pushing for poll watchers—self-deputized ‘election integrity’ enforcers—to be in attendance while people are voting during this year’s midterm elections. After former President Trump lost the 2020 presidential election, various GOP associates have helped promote the passage of state level anti-voter bills […]
Posted inHealth
Battling Black and Brown youth suicide rates
By Ariama C. Long, New York Amsterdam News New York City Councilmember Rita Joseph has introduced a bill to address the rise of suicide rates among Black girls and boys, and other racial ethnic groups, an “alarming” situation that’s persisted for the past two decades nationwide. September is National Suicide Prevention Month and Americans are […]
Posted inNational Sports
Black MLB draftees become part of a historic 2022 class
by JAIME C. HARRIS AmNews Sports Editor Within one hour of Sunday’s Major League Baseball Draft held in Los Angeles in conjunction with the All-Star festivities, it became a seminal event for the sport when with the fifth pick, the Washington Nationals selected Elijah Green of IMG Academy in Bradenton, Florida. The 18-year-old outfielder is the […]
Posted inWord In Black
#WordinBlack: Freed Slaves Started First Memorial Day in the U.S.
By New York Amsterdam News This post was originally published on New York Amsterdam News EDITOR’S NOTE: The article was originally published on May 29, 2017 Memorial day is a day that is set aside to honor those who fought in for the United States Military. As many headed out to the beach or maybe a family barbeque […]
Posted inARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
10 notable Black albums of 2021 By
By Jordannah Elizabeth Amsterdam News 2021 has been a trying year as the pandemic continues to affect the lives of human beings across the planet. It could be said that the saving grace of this year has been the incredible releases of Black new music across every genre and many generations. With historical albums from […]
Posted inNEWS
WOMEN SHALL LEAD NYC: Mayor-elect Adams picks five experienced and talented women to be his deputy mayors
By NAYABA ARINDE, Amsterdam News Editor Walking to the podium at Jay Street Borough Hall, current Brooklyn Borough President/Mayor-elect Eric Adams told the over-a-dozen assembled media outlets that he had to do a little housekeeping. What gives? pondered the room full of print, radio, digital and online journalists, and new appointee family members and friends. […]