The Coretta Scott King Classic, a women’s basketball tournament held at Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey, marked the first time the Kings’ family name has been licensed for a sporting event, with Texas defeating Maryland 89-51, and UCLA defeating Baylor 72-57.
Author Archives: Special to the AFRO
Posted inU.S. Government
How halting police reform agreements threatens Black community
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries has criticized the Trump administration for halting agreements that required police reforms in departments highlighted by the Justice Department for patterns of misconduct, a move that could significantly impact Black communities disproportionately affected by systemic issues in law enforcement.
Posted inPOLITICS
Texas lawmaker Jasmine Crockett calls U.S. Rep. Nancy Mace a ‘liar’ following heating exchange
Rep. Nancy Mace and Rep. Jasmine Crockett engaged in a tense argument during a House hearing, with Mace challenging Crockett to “take it outside” after she criticized her remarks about transgender individuals.
Posted inPOLITICS
PRESS ROOM: NCNW applauds President Biden on history-making pardons, commutations and clemencies
President Biden has granted pardons and clemencies to several individuals, including Kemba Smith and Ravidath “Ravi” Ragbir, as part of his commitment to dismantling the effects of the War on Drugs and promoting justice and equity in the criminal justice system.
Posted inCivil Rights
Black Vote Black Power: President’s actions on DEI are an attack on Black America
Donald Trump has issued a memorandum to carry out his Inauguration Day executive order eliminating federal DEIA programs, which would result in thousands of Black federal employees losing their jobs and Black people in private companies being laid off.
Posted inU.S. Government
President Biden signs Social Security Fairness Act, one of the last bills of his presidency
President Biden signed the Social Security Fairness Act into law, reversing the Windfall Elimination Provision Act of 1983 and the Government Pension Offset of 1977, ensuring that current and retired public service workers receive their full Social Security benefits.
Posted inPrince George's County News
Prince George’s police chief says perceptions of crime and reality ‘don’t align’
Crime rates in Prince George’s County, Md. have decreased by 5% for homicides and 2% for violent crimes in 2024, however, residents’ perceptions of crime remain high due to the decline being overshadowed by other issues.
Posted inCivil Rights
Lawmakers reflect on the political strategy behind the Civil Rights Act and Voting Rights Act
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. played a pivotal role in the Civil Rights Movement as a moral compass, political architect, and strategist, leading to the passage of landmark legislation such as the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Voting Rights Act of 1965.
Posted inArts & Culture
Tom Miller week returns to Baltimore
The Fifth Annual Tom Miller Week will take place from Feb. 15–22 with events hosted at the Eubie Blake National Jazz and Cultural Center, the Maryland Center for History and Culture, and the Reginald F. Lewis Museum, celebrating the life and work of renowned artist Tom Miller through community art-making, an oral history circle and the auction of a never-before-seen screenprint.
Posted inPrince George's County News
Achieving justice: Former D.C. Mayor Sharon Pratt speaks to new generation
Sharon Pratt, the first female leader of the District of Columbia and first Black woman to serve as mayor of a major urban city, spoke at the Greater Washington Urban League Guild’s MLK holiday prayer brunch, discussing the need for justice and equality in America.
Posted inBaltimore News
Baltimore County residents want action: End BGE’s multi year rate plans and increased rates
Many Baltimore Gas and Electric Co. customers are seeing extreme increases in their electric bills this month, prompting calls for the Maryland Public Service Commission to do away with the multiyear rate plans that have led to excessive rate hikes.
Posted inCommentary
Commentary: Why Biden’s refusal to pardon Marilyn Mosby is a disservice to justice
Former President Joe Biden did not pardon Marilyn Mosby, the former State’s Attorney of Baltimore, despite her legal battles and public support, while he pardoned his son Hunter Biden, highlighting a systemic disregard for Black women in positions of power.
