By Tashi McQueen, AFRO Political Writer, tmcqueen@afro.com For more than 100 years, Black Americans have been seeking reparations as compensation for centuries of free, Black labor. And while most are familiar with the 1865 initiative that gave slaves “forty acres and a mule,” what they might not know is that slave owners along the South […]
Author Archives: Tashi McQueen AFRO Staff Writer
Posted inNational News
Why isn’t Juneteenth a paid holiday nationwide?
By Tashi McQueen, AFRO Political Writer, tmcqueen@afro.com Juneteenth only became a nationally recognized holiday in 2021, at the direction of President Biden. The most recent federal holiday to be created commemorates the emancipation of enslaved people in the U.S. Though the recognition is now at an all-time high, the benefit of being a full-fledged federal […]
Posted inBaltimore News
Baltimore City council members lead land bank initiative to address vacant housing crisis
By Tashi McQueen, AFRO Political Writer, tmcqueen@afro.com Baltimore may be getting its own land bank to address the vacant housing crisis seen across the city. “Our land bank would be a quasi-governmental entity,” said Councilwoman Odette Ramos (D-14) at a recent Land Bank 101 Community Session she co-hosted with Councilman James Torrence (D-07). “It would […]
Posted inPrince George's County News
Prince George’s County leaders and residents divided over proposed two-year pause on townhome construction
By Tashi McQueen, AFRO Political Writer, tmcqueen@afro.com Prince George’s County Council Vice Chairwoman Wala Blegay (D-District 6) and Chairman Thomas E. Dernoga (D-District 1) have proposed legislation that would stop the production of townhomes in non-transit areas of Prince George’s County, Md. for two years. “The reason behind this legislation is infrastructure,” said Blegay. “We […]
Posted inBaltimore News
Baltimoreans and legislators commemorate National Gun Violence Awareness Day
By Tashi McQueen, AFRO Political Writer, tmcqueen@afro.com On June 2 the Historic East Baltimore Community Action Coalition (HEBCAC) and In All Ways Human led an event commemorating National Gun Violence Awareness Day at the HEBCAC and Youth Opportunity (Yo! Baltimore) center. “Today, we are focusing on the impact and implications of chronic and long-standing gun […]
Posted inHealth
Maryland therapists and 988 address increasing concern for Black male mental health
By Tashi McQueen, AFRO Political Writer, Report For America Corps Member, tmcqueen@afro.com Less than a year ago, beloved “The Ellen Show” star, Stephen “tWitch” Boss, lost his life in a battle with suicide. When the news broke it shocked many, as he usually carried a bubbly personality. This incident created a spotlight for the need […]
Posted inBaltimore News
Taxpayers advocate for a West Baltimore skatepark and renter protection
By Tashi McQueen, AFRO Political Writer, tmcqueen@afro.com Baltimore City’s Annual Taxpayer’s Night recently gathered residents, community activists and Charm City newcomers to offer suggestions for the Fiscal Year 2024 budget. “It’s important that the taxpayers have an opportunity to bring up issues they feel are a concern,” Marvin “Doc” Cheatham, president of the Matthew Henson […]
Posted inWashington D.C. News
Mayor Bowser unveils strong public safety measures to address rising street violence in D.C.
By Tashi McQueen, AFRO Political Writer, tmcqueen@afro.com Amid a surge of street violence in the nation’s capital, D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser has announced new public safety legislation. “The legislation I will send to the council is common sense legislation,” said Bowser at a live-streamed news conference. “For example, we know that addressing violence in D.C. […]
Posted inWashington D.C. News
Upcoming meetings and events in the D.C. area
By Tashi McQueen, AFRO Political Writer, tmcqueen@afro.com Awesome Con From June 16 – 18 geek culture will be on full display at Awesome Con, which will be hosted inside of the Walter E. Washington Convention Center. Attendees can see their favorite movie, comic and game stars. The convention will include Levar Burton from “Reading Rainbow” […]
Posted inBaltimore News
Gov. Wes Moore delivers commencement speech to Coppin State University grads
By Tashi McQueen, AFRO Political Writer, tmcqueen@afro.com On May 19, Gov. Wes Moore addressed Coppin State University (CSU) graduates, their families and Baltimore City as a whole as he delivered a stirring commencement speech. Moore discussed the importance of Baltimore’s prosperity and negated the rhetoric that Baltimore is “nefarious” and “undisciplined.” “Today, you have before […]
Posted inAfro Briefs
NAACP issues travel advisory for Florida
By Tashi McQueen, AFRO Political Writer, tmcqueen@afro.com On May 20 the NAACP Board of Directors issued a travel notice for Florida, warning individuals that Florida is “openly hostile” concerning Black Americans, people of color and people within the LGBTQ+ community. The notice advises the aforementioned groups to “understand that the state of Florida devalues and […]
Posted inMaryland Government
AFRO spotlight on Black excellence: meet the Maryland legislators who got their start in the classroom
By Tashi McQueen, AFRO Political Writer, tmcqueen@afro.com Looking through biographies of state legislators, you’ll see various paths and journeys to a career in policy-making. While some elected officials pursued careers as lawyers or became business owners prior to their time in office, others –well before their titles as senators and delegates– answered the call to serve […]
