By Maya Pottiger, Word In Black Even in a school year derailed by a pandemic, Black students were disciplined at higher rates than white students across the country. Using statewide discipline data from the 2019-2020 school year, Word in Black analyzed which students in California, Georgia, Maryland, Texas, and Washington state were facing higher rates […]
Category: News
Posted inWord In Black
Why these five diseases disproportionately affect the Black community– and how to avoid them
By Mylika Scatliffe, AFRO Women’s Health Writer The United States is generally considered to be one of the most powerful nations in the world both economically and in terms of military power. It’s also generally known to lag behind most other developed countries when it comes to health and health care– leading to significant racial […]
Posted inBaltimore News
Kindergarten readiness- is your child prepared?
By Ama Brown, Special to the AFRO This week, the AFRO took a look at Kindergarten readiness for new students in the Baltimore City School System (BCPSS). We spoke with a few of the city’s early education teachers, Karan Greene, an early learning teacher at DaySpring Headstart’s Dukeland site, and Baltimore City Public Schools Teacher, […]
Posted inWord In Black
Prince George’s County Schools resume mask mandate as students return
By Deborah Bailey, AFRO D.C. Editor Officials in Prince George’s County have announced that students will start the 2022-2023 school year with masks on. The PGCPS website recently notified parents that masking is now required of Prince George’s County Public Schools (PGCPS) students and employees. “In light of the highly contagious COVID-19 BA.5 variant, Prince […]
Posted inWord In Black
COVID-19 safety protocols priority for students heading back to D.C. schools
By Samuel Williams Jr., Special to the AFRO D.C. Public Schools (DCPS) officials are taking no chances with potential COVID-19 outbreaks as they prepare to open. DCPS used the summer ahead of the 2022-2023 school year to release important up-to-date COVID information for families through its new website, dcpsstrong.com. Families currently have access to the […]
Posted inPolitics
Biden makes good on the promise to address the country’s massive student loan debt
By Deborah Bailey, AFRO D.C. Editor Today, the Biden Administration announced a targeted student debt relief plan designed to support working- and middle-class families. Features of the plan include: Up to $20,000 in debt cancellation to Pell Grant recipients and up to $10,000 in debt cancellation to non-Pell Grant recipients. Borrowers who earn less than $125,000 […]
Posted inBaltimore News
Guaranteed income pilot puts Baltimore at forefront of nation’s fight against poverty
By Fatiha Belfakir, Special to the AFRO This week Mayor Brandon Scott announced that Baltimore’s Guaranteed Income pilot program was officially depositing money into eligible bank accounts. A total of 200 families are participating in the Baltimore Young Families Success Fund’s initial cohort. Baltimore now joins the growing group of U.S. cities such as Chicago, […]
Posted inAfro Briefs
Inflation slamming Blacks in US- here’s how to slam back
By ReShonda Tate, Defender News Network With prices rising to the highest rates the U.S. has seen in more than 40 years, Black families are bearing the brunt of inflation. Researchers say Black families will suffer the worst because they lag behind their White counterparts in income, wealth, financial savings and home ownership. However, with […]
Posted inPolitics
Biden signs Inflation Reduction Act into law
By Tashi McQueen, Report For America Corps Member, AFRO Political Writer On Aug. 16, President Biden officially signed into law the Inflation Reduction Act, which contains policy on deficit reduction, climate change, lower health care costs and better jobs. “I’m about to sign the Inflation Reduction Act into law, one of the most significant laws […]
Posted inBaltimore News
Moore says he will support ‘critical voices of community leaders’ pushing for West Baltimore food market
By Tashi McQueen, AFRO Political Writer, Report For America Corps Member Wes Moore addressed community leaders’ concerns over food deserts in Charm City this summer, agreeing to help them tackle the issue in West Baltimore and beyond. “Food deserts,” a long-established challenge for Baltimoreans, describes a community with little or no access to fresh and […]
Posted inBaltimore News
AFRO Gala draws elected officials, community leaders and Murphy descendants to 130th anniversary celebration
By Tinashe Chingarande, Special to the AFRO Mayor Scott, Congressman Mfume among those in attendance Elected leaders and supporters of the AFRO-American Newspaper convened for a lavish gala on Aug. 13 in Greenbelt, Md. to celebrate the publication’s 130th anniversary. The soiree included live entertainment and was hosted by comedian Tommy Davidson. All in attendance […]
Posted inBUSINESS
Chase Business Banking mentorship program offers one-one coaching to local minority entrepreneurs
By Megan Sayles, AFRO Business Writer, Report for America Corps Member, msaylesafro.com JPMorgan Chase’s senior business consultants in Baltimore, Beth Hehir and Hans Petit-Homme, hold more than 40 years of combined experience in commercial banking, business banking and financial services. Now, using their expertise, the pair has combined forces to mentor minority businesses across the […]