By Bill Curtis If, today, say, I was born, say, after the period of 1989 to 1995, then I would find it difficult to even think, believe or imagine that Black people lived such conviction like an Angela Davis in the quote where she says, “Revolution is a serious thing, the most serious thing about […]
Author Archives: Special to the AFRO
Posted inOpinion
The unfinished business of Sonia Hayes and Mildred Frisby
Maryland Sen. Antonio Hayes reflects on the enduring influence of his mother, Sonia Hayes, and grandmother, Mildred Frisby, in a heartfelt Mother’s Day commentary about resilience, sacrifice and public service. Drawing from his upbringing in West Baltimore’s Penn North community, Hayes connects his legislative work to the struggles and hopes of the women who shaped his life and inspired his commitment to improving Baltimore neighborhoods.
Posted inNational News
Inside Sierra Club’s pattern of Black leadership departures
By Dr. Angelo A. WilliamsThe Observer EDITOR’S NOTE: Between 2023 and 2025, a cluster of departures across the Sierra Club and the Sierra Club Foundation — including routine board turnover, resignations, a discrimination lawsuit and the firing of former Executive Director Ben Jealous — fueled a debate over who holds power inside one of the […]
Posted inCommentary
The blood that bought the ballot
Before the Voting Rights Act existed, before the Civil Rights Movement had a name, Black Americans were fighting — and dying — for the right to vote. The AFRO was there keeping the record. Here’s what it cost to get to 1965.
Posted inCommentary
They cancelled the election
Portia Wood, an attorney and founder of Legacy Wealth Institute / Black Trust Fund Kids
Posted inHealth
Early detection of maternal sepsis is critical for survival
Maternal sepsis is the second leading cause of maternal mortality in the US, and early detection and treatment is critical to prevent deadly outcomes, especially in rural communities where maternity care deserts are increasing.
Posted inOPINION
The emotional economy of social media
By Stacy Sneed How did we get here? And more importantly, where are we going? Will this fast-paced digital way of communicating continue to expand, or will we ever return to more meaningful connections like before? Modern technology has transformed how people think about themselves and one another. Social media platforms offer both opportunity and […]
Posted inOpinion, OPINION
Opinion: Tiger Woods didn’t just disappear–we just stopped looking at his pain
By Steven Ragsdale From Augusta to Baltimore, Tiger’s story reflects a familiar pattern—pain ignored, addiction misunderstood and lessons learned too late. Rory McIlroy’s Masters win gave golf the kind of storybook ending it has come to expect from its biggest stage. A boy who learned to play golf in the foothills of Ireland on a […]
Posted inBaltimore News, HBCU, National News, NEWS
From sharecropper to scholar: Andrew Billingsley at 100
At 100, Andrew Billingsley is celebrated for a lifetime of groundbreaking scholarship and leadership that reshaped understanding of Black families and strengthened higher education, particularly at Morgan State University. Honored at Hampton University with a new endowed scholarship, his legacy reflects a journey from the son of sharecroppers to a nationally influential sociologist and educator.
Posted inCommentary
Sarcoidosis revisited: What I’ve learned since ‘Sarcoidosis Doesn’t Have to Be a Death Sentence’
By Stacy Sneed Nearly a decade after first writing “Sarcoidosis Doesn’t Have to Be a Death Sentence,” I now understand that the truth is far more complex—but still rooted in hope. When I think about sarcoidosis in 2026, I realize how far we have come in awareness, knowledge and medical advancement. Technology has improved, and […]
Posted inObituaries - Baltimore
Mrs. Annie Jewel Foutz dies at 89
Obituary for Mrs. Annie Jewel Foutz, a devout member of the Central Church of Christ Baltimore, who passed away at the age of 89.
Posted inBlack Press
Levi Henry Jr., founder of the Westside Gazette, dies — a legacy rooted in truth, community, and unshakable purpose
Levi Henry Jr., founder of the Westside Gazette, has died, leaving behind a decades-long legacy of championing Black voices, advancing community empowerment and preserving local history through journalism rooted in truth and purpose.
