As the government shutdown halts SNAP benefits for millions of Americans, Black churches across the country are stepping up to fill the gap. Congregations like New Birth Missionary Baptist Church in Georgia and Open Altar Ministries in Virginia are expanding food programs, feeding thousands, and demonstrating the Black Church’s long tradition of community care. With food insecurity disproportionately affecting Black households, faith leaders are mobilizing resources, donations, and volunteers to ensure no family goes hungry.
Author Archives: The Rev. Dorothy S. Boulware
AFRO Editor
Posted inReligion
‘A Master Teacher’: Remembering Dr. W. James “Jimmie” Abbington
Dr. W. James “Jimmie” Abbington, a renowned musician, scholar, and educator known as the “dean of Black church music,” died Sept. 27 at age 65. Recently appointed as Duke University Divinity School’s first professor of Black sacred music, Abbington’s lifelong mission was to preserve and elevate African American sacred music as both art and theology.
Posted inWashington D.C. News
Bridging the ‘Black-Blue Divide’ — one congregation at a time
Faith and Blue, a national initiative launched in 2020 by MovementForward, invites police officers into houses of worship to foster trust and dialogue with communities that have often viewed law enforcement with skepticism. At Set the Captives Free Outreach Center in Maryland and hundreds of churches nationwide, congregations are bridging the “Black-Blue divide” through worship, conversation, and shared activities with local officers.
Posted inWord In Black
Rev. Jamal Bryant: Target is canceled. Dollar General’s next
On the fifth anniversary of George Floyd’s murder, faith leaders held prayer vigils outside Target stores to protest the company’s retreat from its racial equity commitments, leading Rev. Jamal Bryant to announce a full cancellation of the retailer. Calling it the most successful Black boycott since Montgomery, Bryant said the movement has cost Target $1 billion in valuation and is now turning its focus to holding Dollar General accountable for failing Black communities.
Posted inWord In Black
Hoodoo vs. Holy Ghost: The ‘Sinners’ controversy
The film “Sinners” has become a box office hit while igniting debate over whether its portrayal of Hoodoo and evil in the Jim Crow South is anti-Christian or a deeper cultural and spiritual exploration. While some critics call it demonic, many argue it respectfully presents African traditions and challenges viewers to confront uncomfortable truths about faith, race and history.
Posted inReligion
A Black pope? Francis made it a possibility
Pope Francis, who died at age 88, leaves behind a legacy of advocacy for marginalized communities, including Black people, through actions like appointing the first African-American cardinal and condemning racism as a sin. His inclusive leadership reshaped the Catholic Church’s global power dynamics and opened the possibility for the election of the first Black pope.
Posted inReligion
What is Holy Week and why does it matter?
Holy Week commemorates the final days of Jesus’ life, highlighting both his sacrifice and his acts of resistance against empire and injustice, culminating in his resurrection on Easter Sunday. While many see Jesus as a loving savior, Holy Week invites believers to also recognize his radical challenge to power and the modern-day church’s call to carry on that spirit through justice, reflection and community action.
Posted inReligion
Bishop Michael Curry’s gospel of love
By Rev. Dorothy S. Boulware Overview: Appointed in 2015, Curry, a widely respected theologian, guided the Episcopal Church through challenging times, including the COVID-19 pandemic and racial reconciliation. Bishop Michael Curry has no doubt: There is evil in the world. Turn on the evening news, as he does most days, and you’ll see plenty of […]
Posted inWord In Black
As services shrink, the Black Church steps up
By Rev. Dorothy S. Boulware Overview: Since its founding during the era of slavery, the Black church has made community service and social justice core parts of its mission. A survey of faith leaders found the Black church is far more likely to take on those roles at home than white churches, who are more […]
Posted inReligion
Black marriage on the decline? These pastors have another opinion
Faith leaders such as Pastor Corey Cunningham and Dr. Derren Thompson are promoting marriage among Black people by offering advice, lessons, and a philosophy to help newly married couples consider themselves partners or teammates, rather than lovers or rivals.
Posted inWord In Black
Ramadan: A catalyst for growth and change
Sister Mothyna James Brightful, a former AFRO intern, shares her experience of Ramadan, which is a 30-day Islamic fasting period where Muslims aim to read the entire Quran, break their fast with dates, and practice acts of kindness to absolve themselves of fasting days.
Posted inReligion
Blood clot awareness group to tour Southern Black churches
The National Blood Clot Alliance is launching a six-city bus tour to raise awareness of blood clots and their impact on the Black community, with a focus on preventing blood clots, identifying warning signs, and managing the condition.