Dr. Kevin James was removed from his role as president of Morris Brown College after seven years, with the Board of Trustees citing gratitude for his service but providing no specific cause. Nzinga Shaw, a current trustee and co-chair of the Board’s Facilities Committee, will serve as interim president, while James criticized the timing and governance of the decision in a LinkedIn statement.
Author Archives: Tavon N. Thomasson
Posted inARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
At Morgan State theater, ‘Ain’t No Mo’’ mixes comedy with painful honesty
Morgan State University’s theater department staged the 2019 play “Ain’t No Mo’” on Oct. 28, transforming the Murphy Fine Arts Center into a space filled with laughter, tension and reflection. Set in an alternate America where the U.S. government offers Black citizens one-way plane tickets to Africa, the play used scenes that ranged from grief to parody to explore race, identity and survival.
Posted inBUSINESS
Generational wealth summit highlights franchising as a way forward
The Generational Wealth Business Summit filled the Reginald F. Lewis Museum in Baltimore with Black entrepreneurs eager to learn practical steps toward ownership and financial independence. Over its 11 years, the event has become a stage where lessons about business strategy meet the lived experiences of those who took the leap.
Posted inBUSINESS
Black-owned floral businesses blossom with creativity and community care
Fleurs d’Ave in Baltimore and Postal Petals in Los Angeles use flowers to spark creativity, encourage self-care and build community, blending floral design with events and wellness activities.
Posted inBaltimore News
Wes Moore, Brandon Scott reject 47th president’s National Guard plan for Baltimore
Gov. Wes Moore and Mayor Brandon Scott denounced the Oval Office’s plan to send the National Guard to Baltimore, calling it unnecessary and “performative.” At a Sept. 5 press conference in Park Heights, they pointed instead to record crime reductions, with homicides at a 50-year low. City leaders and community advocates stressed that resources should go toward collaboration, jobs and housing — not militarization.
Posted inBaltimore County Government
Councilman Julian Jones launches campaign for Baltimore County executive
Julian E. Jones Jr. launched his bid for Baltimore County executive on August 28, with the potential to make county history as the first African-American to hold the office.District 4 Councilman Julian E. Jones Jr. launched his campaign for Baltimore County executive Aug. 28 at the Marriott Owings Mills Metro Centre, drawing more than 350 supporters to his kickoff event. Jones, the only official candidate so far, outlined priorities on public safety, education and economic growth in a race that could make county history.
Posted inBUSINESS
Howard, Bowie State alumnae build brands from passion
Howard University alumna Skyler Buchanan and Bowie State University alumna Chanel Turner have each carved unique paths in entrepreneurship—Buchanan with her custom rug business, Decor Ones, and Turner with her premium vodka brand, FOU-DRÉ. From a home studio to international shelves, both women continue to grow their ventures with persistence and a clear creative vision.
Posted inWashington D.C. News
Short-staffed and stretched thin: Special Ed crisis leaves Black students with disabilities at risk
Black students with disabilities often depend on individualized education programs for support, but severe special education staffing shortages and burnout are making that support harder to deliver. With 70 percent of K–12 schools reporting vacancies, educators say the growing workload is driving many out of the field, leaving students without the consistent help they need.
Posted inBaltimore News
Abell Foundation names Fagan Harris as new president and CEO
Fagan Harris, chief of staff to Governor Wes Moore, has been named the next president and CEO of the Abell Foundation. He will assume the role Jan. 5, 2026, becoming only the second leader in the foundation’s history after Robert C. Embry Jr., who served nearly 40 years.
Posted inAfro Briefs
AFRO’s Black Business Matters Expo debuts Power Pitch competition
By Tavon N. Thomasson AFRO Intern The AFRO-American Newspaper hosted its fifth annual Black Business Matters Expo on Aug. 14 at the Reginald F. Lewis Museum of Maryland African American History & Culture, debuting its first official AFRO Power Pitch competition. Kendrick Tilghman, a professional speaker and DJ, won the inaugural contest with his pitch […]
Posted inAfro Briefs
Tuskegee University mourns sudden death of student-athlete
Tuskegee University is grieving the death of junior mechanical engineering student and Golden Tiger baseball player Macahri Washington-Parker, remembered by peers and faculty as a dedicated leader and mentor. His passing, amid broader concerns about suicide among Black youth, has prompted an outpouring of support from the campus community and his family, who celebrate his lasting impact on those he touched.
Posted inAfro Briefs
Still printing, still powerful: The Savannah Tribune at 150 years
For 150 years, The Savannah Tribune has championed Black voices, from urging voter registration in Reconstruction-era Georgia to navigating the challenges of today’s digital media landscape. Under Publisher Shirley B. James, the historic paper remains committed to informing and empowering the Black community while embracing modern platforms to expand its reach.