By Nyame-Kye KondoSpecial to the AFRO The AFRO had the pleasure of catching up with some Washingtonians as they went about their daily lives. We asked five individuals to name their favorite Black-owned businesses in the area and their answers reflected both the shared culture and varied interests of the African-American community. Dezhane Moore – […]
Category: Health
Posted inCommentary
Where’s the class for grief? Why schools must make healing mandatoryÂ
By Kanika Cousine In March 2025, 16-year-old Sincere Jazmin was fatally shot while seated at a bus stop in Jamaica, Queens, after stepping off his school bus. According to the New York Post, he ran into a nearby deli before collapsing and dying on-site. Just days later, a 16-year-old student at Lansdowne High School in […]
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 inHealth
Thousands to lose in-network access to Johns Hopkins Medicine if UnitedHealthcare contract expires Aug. 24
Johns Hopkins Medicine and UnitedHealthcare are in a dispute over a new contract, which could result in 60,000 patients in the mid-Atlantic region losing in-network coverage if an agreement is not reached by August 24.
Posted inWashington D.C. News
Howard University names veteran healthcare leader Kerry Watson Interim CEO of Howard University Hospital Corp.
Kerry Watson returns to Howard University Hospital as interim CEO, bringing decades of leadership at major health systems across the country.
Posted inWord In Black
Toxic legacy: How lead in schools is silently harming kids
Aging school infrastructure continues to expose Black children to toxic lead, with cities like Cleveland and Milwaukee reporting some of the highest contamination rates. Experts warn the damage from lead exposure is irreversible, yet many schools in Black and low-income communities remain dangerously unaddressed.
Posted inHealth
Dr. Barbara Ross-Lee: A healthcare trailblazer with a legendary legacy
Dr. Barbara Ross-Lee, 82, is a pioneering leader in osteopathic medicine. She broke barriers as the first African-American woman to lead a U.S. medical school. She encourages others to define themselves and aspire for excellence despite the challenges they may face in pursuit of their career.
Posted inWord In Black
Youth activism: The crucial role of family support
Young changemakers are leading movements for climate action, gun violence prevention and equal representation—supported by families who help them heal, organize and sustain their activism.
Posted inHealth
From stigma to power: Empowering those with invisible disabilities in the Black community
Invisible disabilities come in many different forms but they are always without visual indicators of a disability. The AFRO spoke with experienced people in this field and they offered their insight and advice on how to tackle the stigma around this topic. Black people are afraid to disclose and talk about their invisible disabilities for fear of losing job opportunities, being scorned in school or being socially ostracized. The time for stigma is over, and the time for community and Black empowerment is now.
Posted inHealth
An overlooked crisis: Women with disabilities and maternal health inequity
Black mothers with disabilities face unique challenges during pregnancy, including medical dismissal and higher costs. Advocates call for systemic change to ensure equitable, compassionate care for all mothers navigating these barriers.
Posted inHealth
Left out twice: Shawn Callaway fights for inclusion at the crossroads of race and disability
Blinded by a stray bullet in college, Shawn Callaway once believed fatherhood—and a full life—were out of reach. Now, as president of the National Organization of Blind Black Leaders, a division of the National Federation of the Blind, he’s working to dismantle the double stigma of being both Black and blind in America.
Posted inHealth
Black disability advocates who helped shape civil rights
Black history and disability rights history are more connected than many realize, thanks to leaders like Brad Lomax and Lois Curtis. Their advocacy forged pathways for justice where race and disability intersect.