By Aaron Wright, The Baltimore Banner via The Associated Press Araba Maze noticed neighborhood kids gathering around her as she read children’s books to her niece on her front stoop. As she wrapped up storytelling, one of the kids asked, “When are you gonna do this again?” She later made it an everyday occurrence to […]
Category: News
Posted inAfro Briefs
Statue honors once-enslaved woman who won freedom in court
By Mark Pratt, The Associated Press The story of the enslaved woman who went to court to win her freedom more than 80 years before the Emancipation Proclamation has been pushed to the fringes of history. A group of civic leaders, activists and historians hope that ends Aug. 21 in the quiet Massachusetts town of […]
Posted inINTERNATIONAL
UK museum agrees to return looted Benin Bronzes to Nigeria
By Danica Kirka, The Associated Press A London museum agreed Aug. 7 to return a collection of Benin Bronzes looted in the late 19th century from what is now Nigeria as cultural institutions throughout Britain come under pressure to repatriate artifacts acquired during the colonial era. The Horniman Museum and Gardens in southeast London said […]
Posted inCommentary
D.C. delivers some good news – yes, really
By Ben Jealous We could all use some good news out of Washington. I’ve got some. The Senate’s passage of the Inflation Reduction Act this month is good news for families, the economy, the planet, and even our democracy. As I write this, the House is poised to pass the bill too, giving Congress and […]
Posted inAfro Briefs
CEO selling NFTs of Confederate monuments he took down
By Chris Suarez, The Richmond Times-Dispatch via The Associated Press After removing the Robert E. Lee monument in Richmond and nearly two dozen other statues across the city and state, Devon Henry is seeking to raise money for charity by selling digital artwork inspired by their removal in the cryptocurrency market. CryptoFederacy, Henry’s newest venture, […]
Posted inHealth
University of Maryland reports first case of monkeypox
By Tinashe Chingarande, Special to the AFRO The first presumptive case of monkeypox was reported at the University of Maryland on Aug. 17, according to a campus-wide email sent to students, faculty and staff. The email assured the university community that precautions were being taken to prevent the spread of the disease on campus. “The […]
Posted inNational News
Fauci to step down in December
By Stacy M. Brown Dr. Anthony Fauci, who quickly became the face — and, for many, the voice of reason — of the federal government’s response to the coronavirus pandemic, announced Monday he would leave government service in December. Fauci, who has served as chief medical adviser to President Joe Biden and seven other presidents, […]
Posted inWashington D.C. News
Meet the team: Many thanks to the AFRO’s summer crew of D.C. writers
By AFRO Staff From breaking news to entertainment, from sports to arts and culture, theAFRO’s summer 2022 reporting team covered it all. The D.C. regionencompasses a unique combination of local, national, and international storiesas both the home to 700,000 DC. Residents as well as the seat of U.S.government. Our nimble team also brought you “hyper-local” […]
Posted inHBCU
HBCU spotlight: Howard University starts the year with service
By Deborah Bailey, AFRO D.C. Editor The Hilltop is open! Classes have started for Howard University students coming from all corners of the globe this week– but did you know the real start of the Howard University School year happens the week before classes? This year – as they have for the past several […]
Posted inNational Sports
Washington Nationals on a bumpy road to rebuilding
By Mark F. Gray, Special to the AFRO On the way to the 2019 world championship, the Washington Nationals seemed to be a franchise set to become a dynastic organization with a championship pedigree. “Bumpy roads lead to beautiful places” was the mantra that carried them to a seven-game victory over the Houston Astros in […]
Posted inSports
Ravens’ Jackson enters another season with plenty to prove
By Noah Trister, The Associated Press Even more than usual, this feels like a crucial season for Lamar Jackson. Baltimore Ravens’ star quarterback has been both celebrated and doubted throughout his NFL career, whether he was winning MVP honors in 2019 or setting a career high in interceptions a season ago. After a late-season injury […]
Posted inReligion
#FaithWorks: Faith leaders address violence at Bless Baltimore Prayer Motorcade
By Marnita Coleman, Special to the AFRO, mcoleman@afro.com The Bless Baltimore Prayer Motorcade resumed in-person activity on July 30. The annual event came after a two-year hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic. While many were sleeping-in, prayer warriors from around the area gathered at War Memorial Plaza to launch a spiritual attack against the lawlessness […]