As the holiday season kicks into high gear, the staff of the AFRO American Newspapers and the Afro Charities team would like to send warm wishes to all who celebrate in a special way during this time of year. Regardless of faith, creed or color, now is the time to come together in peace and love, with hopes of a better future. We pray that as the year comes to a close, each and every reader can look back on the year 2023 with gratitude, while also looking forward to the opportunities and blessings to come in 2024. 


Shown here: Bacarri Byrd (back, left), Afro Charities communications manager; AFRO Managing Editor Alexis Taylor; Afro Charities Processing Fellow Jasmine Clarke; Deyane Moses, Afro Charities curator of archives; Bilphena Yahwon, Afro Charities processing fellow; Afro Charities Archives Assistant Oyinda Omoloja; AFRO Production Manager Denise Dorsey; AFRO Community Relations Director Diane Hocker; Taryn Atkinson, AFRO executive assistant; AFRO Advertising Account Receivables Specialist Latasha Owens; AFRO Production Assistant Mishana Matthews; AFRO Circulation/ Receptionist Wanda Pearson; Independent Media Sales Consultant Denise Deleaver; AFRO Executive Director Lenora Howze and AFRO Billing Specialist Chakya Brown; (Front, left) Craig Talley; AFRO Finance Manager Bonnie Deanes; AFRO Publisher Frances “Toni” Draper; AFRO Assistant Editor Ashleigh Fields and AFRO Special Projects Editor Rev. Boulware. Inset Left: AFRO Digital Marketing Editor, Aria Brent; AFRO Digital Solutions Director, Dana Peck; AFRO Editorial Assistant, Ama Brown, AFRO Videographer/Social Media Consultant, Wesley Robinson; Inset Right: AFRO President, Benjamin M. Phillips; AFRO VP Technology & Marketing; AFRO Charities Executive Director, Savannah Wood

We hope you enjoy the gift of this drawing from Thomas Stockett. Mr. Stockett “served as the AFRO’s editorial cartoonist from 1955 until his death in 2007. Throughout that time, he was the visual voice of the paper, illustrating its editorial point of view to help readers envision numerous topics from a Black perspective. His illustrations continue to provide historical relevance to African American Studies, African Diaspora Studies, and media studies, as well as those interested in the study of American political cartoons, and as a resource for state and local historians.” Read more about Thomas Stockett at afro.com here.