Frances Murphy Draper is the publisher and CEO of the AFRO. This week she reflects on the resilience, contributions and financial empowerment of Black communities—highlighting how faith, determination and collective action have shaped our economic journey.
Category: Opinion
Posted inCommentary
Radical resistance: Honoring the ancestors who saved their way to freedom
Alexis Taylor, managing editor of the AFRO American Newspapers, speaks on the ancestors who engaged in the revolutionary act of saving money and building generational wealth.
Posted inOpinion
‘Baltimore Still Rising’: Honoring a decade of resilience and resistance
S. Rasheem is an independent scholar and social scientist whose scholarship encourages a critical examination of society and culture through the lens of race, gender, and class. She is the director and executive producer of the Baltimore Legacy Project docuseries, which includes “Baltimore Still Rising.” This week, she marks the 10th anniversary of the protests and activism that erupted in Baltimore following the death of Freddie Gray while in police custody, and examines the advocacy needed now and in the future in the city.’
Posted inCommentary
Commentary: Legally Written: Women caregivers need to plan for the future
Black women, often balancing work, school and family, are the backbone of caregiving, managing not only the day-to-day needs of aging loved ones but also the emotional and logistical complexities of end-of-life planning. This labor—both paid and unpaid—underscores the urgent need for estate planning and access to legal resources to protect what generations have built.
Posted inOPINION
Weaponized dollars, a silent weapon that works
By Alice T. Crowe Grassroots boycotts are proving their power on Target’s Balance Sheet. On a March 4 quarterly earnings call, Target reported that quarterly net sales declined 3.1 percent. Target sales are declining, and so is its reputation. The company’s stock has slipped over 50 percent from its three-year high. While some experts will […]
Posted inCommentary
Commentary: April is National Minority Health Month
National Minority Health Month highlights the ongoing effort to achieve health equity, with this year’s theme emphasizing the need for sustained collaboration to eliminate disparities. Despite improvements in healthcare access, racial and ethnic minority groups continue to face significant health challenges, underscoring the importance of culturally informed care, community engagement, and preventive action.
Posted inOpinion
The politics of harm: How conservative policies disguise their impact on our communities
Dayvon Love is public policy director for the Baltimore-based think tank Leaders of a Beautiful Struggle. This week he discusses how conservative political forces have historically promoted policies that harm Black communities while claiming to act in their best interests. For example, advocates for harsh sentencing often cite protecting victims while ignoring how such policies disproportionately fuel mass incarceration. Such right-wing stances reflect a broader indifference—or even hostility—toward the systemic oppression faced by Black people.
Posted inOPINION
Commentary: Whistling while you work: A tribute to retiring Bishop Walter Scott Thomas Sr.
Bishop Walter Scott Thomas’ retirement marks the end of an era for Baltimore, where he built a nationally recognized ministry from a small congregation and profoundly influenced the city’s faith-based community. A visionary leader, preacher and mentor, his legacy continues through his children, his congregation, and the countless lives he touched, ensuring that his impact will endure beyond his final sermon.
Posted inOPINION
Op-ed: Unconscious bias doesn’t need a color line
By Frances Murphy DraperAFRO CEO and Publisher My husband and I recently visited First Watch in Towson expecting a relaxing breakfast. Instead, we left feeling disrespected and dismissed. When we arrived we were in line, in front of two White patrons. The Black host asked how many were in our party. “Two,” we replied. He […]
Posted inWord In Black
Why Black thrivers are the future
Lauren Hood’s Institute for AfroUrbanism challenges deficit-based narratives about Black communities, focusing instead on their thriving through audacity, agency and abundance. Through a yearlong fellowship, Detroit thrivers travel to meet other Black leaders, exchanging knowledge to promote collective transformation and empowerment.
Posted inOpinion
The business of literacy — breaking barriers, building futures
By Sen. Cory V. McCray Thriving communities aren’t built by chance—they are the product of vision, investment and a deep commitment to the people who call them home. One of the greatest influences in my life, the late Congressman Elijah Cummings, often reminded us that “our children are the living messages we send to a […]
Posted inCommentary
Addressing the healthcare gap for working women
By Candrese Jones Cervical Cancer is one of the most treatable cancers if detected early. No one should die from this disease, however, an estimated 4,360 women in the United States died from cervical cancer in 2024. In Mississippi, Black women are almost one and a half times more likely to die of the disease […]
