Two Frederick County deputies pulled a gun on a 15-year-old Black teen conducting a Memorial Day vigil, traumatizing the teen and his family and highlighting the need for police to take responsibility for their actions and protect Black children from similar experiences.
Author Archives: Special to the AFRO
Posted inNational News
House votes overwhelmingly to pass bill to force release of Epstein files
By Curtis Yee, Michael Warren, Carley Petesch and Bridget Brown The House voted overwhelmingly to pass a bill Nov. 18 to force the Justice Department to publicly release its files on the convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, a remarkable display of approval for an effort that had struggled for months to overcome opposition from President […]
Posted inOPINION
Complacency is the biggest public health threat
By Wolfgang Klietmann This year, roughly a dozen Americans will contract melioidosis, an infection caused by a tropical bacteria with a fatality rate as high as 50 percent. Two of the four patients in one recent outbreak died – and none of them had recently traveled abroad, which suggests the bacteria is incubating on U.S. […]
Posted inOPINION
Vaccines don’t cause autism—here’s how we know
Greg Scaduto is the parent of a nonverbal autistic child, author of the blog “Broken but Readable” and an advocate for the Autism Society. In this piece that originally appeared in U.S. News and World Report, he debunks the theory that vaccines cause autism.
Posted inPolitics
Black student parents can thrive with access to this critical federal program
Learn about the challenges faced by Black student parents in higher education and how the CCAMPIS program can provide support for child care costs.
Posted inOpinion
The 47th president is hollowing out America’s only agency for minority business
The dismantling of the Minority Business Development Agency — the nation’s only federal agency dedicated to supporting minority and other disadvantaged entrepreneurs — threatens millions of small businesses that rely on its technical assistance and capital access. As the 47th president’s administration hollows out the agency’s remaining staff and infrastructure, experts warn that its loss would deepen economic inequities and undermine U.S. competitiveness.
Posted inMaryland News
Randallstown NAACP hosts community town hall for leaders looking to become Baltimore County executive
The Randallstown NAACP branch recently held a town hall for those looking to take on the role of Baltimore County executive. Those throwing their hats in the race answered questions about their campaigns and plans to help the community.
Posted inCommentary
Homecoming and the spirit of unity: What HBCUs teach America
Dr. Javaune Adams-Gaston is president of Norfolk State University, chairwoman of the Mid Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) and a member of the Board of Governors for the NCAA; and Dr. Tony Allen is president of Delaware State University, vice chairman of MEAC, and the chairman emeritus of the White House Initiative on Historically Black Colleges and Universities. In their joint commentary, the pair celebrates the spirit and legacy of HBCU homecomings as more than festive gatherings—they are affirmations of cultural pride, resilience and unity.
Posted inWashington D.C. News
A ‘gamble’: Washington area airport travelers worry about shutdown’s impact on flights
By Holliday Woodard and Peter Riccio Three weeks into the government shutdown, travelers have mixed feelings about flying in and out of the nation’s capital. Most interviewed by Capital News Service said they worry the ongoing shutdown could make conditions worse, even as they have faced only slight delays so far. “I think it’s a […]
Posted inDMV News
Restaurants, city agencies step up to support workers and families facing food and housing insecurity
By Chianti Marks and Victoria MejicanosAFRO Intern, AFRO Staff Writervmejicanos@afro.com While the Trump administration and lawmakers in Congress played political brinkmanship over the budget, leaving the well-being of millions hanging in the balance, organizations, local government agencies and corporations in Baltimore and Washington, D.C., have been offering support to furloughed federal workers and residents impacted […]
Posted inOPINION
Teach your kids backyard and urban farming to promote nutrition and neighborhood health
Community gardens in urban areas provide inter-generational learning, promote social cohesion, provide nutrition education, reduce crime, lower grocery bills, create jobs, reduce carbon footprint, and improve air and soil quality.Community and backyard gardens teach children about nutrition, provide fresh produce, lower grocery costs, and strengthen neighborhood ties. Urban farming also promotes intergenerational learning, community cohesion, economic opportunities, and environmental benefits, while requiring organized efforts to overcome space, soil, resource, and regulatory challenges.
Posted inOPINION
The goalposts keep moving: Maryland’s public arts funding is failing its working artists
By Sarahia Benn “Maryland artists just saved the arts budget, and yet somehow, we still can’t get a grant. It’s like showing up to your own party and being told the punch bowl is for everyone else.” – Sarahia Benn For decades, I’ve worked as an artist, educator and advocate for public arts funding in […]
