For those who don’t recognize this phrase, it was the twice-weekly call that let the neighborhood know the AFRO paper boy or girl was in the block. Or maybe you thought his name was “Diddy AFRO” as did Brenda Payne Durrington.
She and her sister have been part of the AFRO since they were little girls growing up in D.C.
“Our grandma, Louise Payne used to read it to us.”
She later learned that her paper boy was actually saying “Get the AFRO!”
No matter the content, the familiar call produced the same response.
Folks ran for their change jars to meet “Eddie” at the door to purchase the only paper that carried news of the Black community. The weddings. The funerals. The successes.
The failures. The crime and the punishment.
And since we’re celebrating 120 years of bringing your news to you, we are setting aside time to celebrate those young people, who now are more young at heart, who made it all possible. A special breakfast event is scheduled for 8:30 a.m., July 21 at the Reginald Lewis Museum of African American History in Maryland, 830 East Pratt St.
If you or someone you know has ever delivered the AFRO in Baltimore, Washington, Newark, New Jersey, Philadelphia, Richmond or one of the National editions circulated in the south, please add your name to the list by contacting Diane Hocker at dhocker@afro.com or 410-554-8243.