The line between entertainment and education is a thin one, but one that Washington, D.C. playwright Odell Ruffin continues to walk bravely. The Michigan University graduate majored in journalism instead of culinary arts but understands the best recipe to feed an insatiable crowd consists of a mixture of recreation and realism. Set to run from […]
Author Archives: Stephen D. Riley
Special to the AFRO
Posted inARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
Teacher Schools Students with Hip-Hop Syllabus
It landed on vinyl then moved to cassette; traveled to CD before reaching iTunes to be downloaded to iPods. The history of hip hop has had a long and winding journey, but a Washington, D.C. teacher is making sure the origin never escapes her students. Special education inclusion teacher Pamela Mitchell instituted her Hip Hop […]
Posted inSports
James Outduels Rose, Cleveland Claims Game 1, 96-83
LeBron James sat out the last week of the regular season because the Cleveland Cavaliers wanted him well rested for a possible championship playoff run. James rewarded their decision with 24 points, six rebounds and four blocks in Cleveland’s 96-83 win over the Chicago Bulls in a first-round opener on April 17 in Cleveland. […]
Posted inSports
Jennings Shines as Milwaukee Falls to Atlanta, 102-92
Milwaukee Bucks rookie point guard Brandon Jennings made his playoff debut with a 34-point performance but couldn’t get much help from his teammates, as Milwaukee fell 102-92 to the Atlanta Hawks in a first-round opener in Atlanta on April 17. Jennings’ one-man show thrilled the crowd for much of the night, as the slender […]
Posted inSports
Elbows Fly as Celtics Knockout Heat, 85-76
A mild tussle highlighted a low-scoring defensive game as the Boston Celtics rallied to an 85-76 win over the Miami Heat in their series opener on April 17 in Boston. Defensive adjustments, and the fans at Boston’s TD Garden, helped spur Boston back from a 14-point deficit midway through the third quarter. With the […]
Posted inHigh School
Capital All-Stars Drops U.S. Team, 117-108, in 37th Annual Capital Classic
Victor Oladipo timed it just right. The DeMatha High School swingman couldn’t explain how he knew to be in the right place at the right time, but knew what to do once he arrived. His one-handed follow up dunk before the halftime buzzer sent the crowd at American University’s Bender Arena into a frenzy […]
Posted inBaltimore News
Child Abuse Center Raises Awareness
Child abuse is a subject that often takes a backseat to the headlines over other “pressing” issues. While overall perception of the topic is regularly heartfelt, the matters of a listless economy, declining homeownership, murders, failing schools and other concerns typically speed to the top of most news broadcasts. So, in celebration of Child Abuse […]
Posted inD.C. Community
Local Development Initiative Brings Homes to Families
Most people would be thankful for just one helping hand, but a District-based development initiative is planning to lend out several. Enterprise Community Partners Faith-Based Development Initiative (ECP) is planning to help local houses of worship and other faith-based groups bring 629 affordable housing units to blighted areas over the next few years. With 14 […]
Posted inColumnists
Holmes Created His Own Path Out of Pittsburgh
What message did the Pittsburgh Steelers send by booting one highly troubled player while retaining another? Inquiring minds would like to know. You hold onto a guy coming off back-to-back offseasons of sexual allegations, but trade a guy who’s coming off back-to-back seasons of drug charges. See the difference? Sex scandals and drugs often go […]
Posted inSports
AFRO Mocks the 2010 NFL Draft
Scheme and fit are two terms that are often forgotten when putting together mock drafts. The top talent at a particular position doesn’t necessarily make him the ideal fit for a position-starved team. Balancing a player’s abilities and the needs of a team is what grants franchises the right to say they had a successful […]
Posted inHealth
Ohio-Based Cosmetologist Helps Women Battle Baldness
Gimmick commercials, dry shampoos and mythical greases aside, hair loss can be a complex problem to combat. While baldness is traditionally common among men, the idea that it’s a rarity among women is a fading tale. Over 21 million women are affected by hair loss and the matter has become increasingly common in African-American women. […]
Posted inColumnists
Goodbye Mediocre, Hello McNabb
Not even a fantastic finish to the NCAA tournament (sigh, congrats, Duke) could trump the football news in D.C. So Daniel Snyder has done it to you guys again, huh, Redskins fans? Quirky guy, he is. After he leaves your heads drooped low to close the season, he vows he’s a changed man. Provides the […]