By Kayenecha Daugherty As the executive director of a Black-led nonprofit in Baltimore, I am compelled to address a critical issue facing our community: the lack of sufficient financial support for organizations like Creative Nomads and so many others. In a city where disparities are stark and resources often scarce, the vital work undertaken by […]
Category: Opinion
Posted inCommentary
Commentary: BEYA Conference highlights Black excellence in STEM fields and military
By Catherine Pugh, Special to the AFRO For three days I observed the glorious precision of the Black Engineer of the Year Awards (BEYA) Conference that occurred in Baltimore Feb. 15 – Feb. 17. People from across the globe filled downtown hotels, many not checking out until the last few waning hours of the weekend. […]
Posted inCommentary
The power in being “unapologetically Black”
By S.A. Miller, Special to the AFRO The term ”unapologetically Black” has been used by a lot of people for a lot of years. The meaning is often based on the context in which it is being used. For some, it connotes boldness and a “take no prisoners” attitude. For others, the term suggests that, […]
Posted inCommentary
Setting the record straight on an important piece of Black history
By Ben Jealous With the start of Black History Month, I brace myself for the mis-telling of Black History yet again. In schoolhouses and everywhere the stories are told, a persistent myth shows its ugly head: the ridiculous notion that great Black leaders are not just exceptional but exceptions. It is an idea rooted in […]
Posted inCommentary
Commentary: Vitamin D, prostate cancer and racism
By Leeland A. M. Jones, MD The prostate gland is making big headlines. This month O.J. Simpson received a prostate cancer diagnosis, while Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin’s struggle with the disease led to a second hospitalization. King Charles III, in England, recently disclosed information about his enlarged prostate. And with the Jan. 22 death […]
Posted inEditorial
Celebrating Black History Month
By Dr. John E. Warren This year, perhaps more than ever, we need to be especially mindful of Black history. This is a time of banning books from local libraries–especially those that tell of the history and struggle of Black Americans against slavery and racism; creating a threat to both our presence and our future. […]
Posted inCommentary
This Black History Month fight for the freedom to learn
By Svante Myrick A little over a year ago, the College Board unveiled its long-awaited draft AP African American Studies curriculum. What happened next was sad — and all too predictable. Florida officials, led by Gov. Ron DeSantis (R), howled. They claimed the course “lacks educational value” and violated state laws against teaching about race […]
Posted inCommentary
Overcoming the oil and gas industry’s influence at COP28
By Ben Jealous Frederick Douglass said, “Power concedes nothing without a demand. It never did and it never will.” Those of us with history in the civil rights movement know that taking on entrenched power and changing the status quo requires dogged tenacity and seizing key moments to break down barriers. The United Nations COP28 […]
Posted inCommentary
Climate change, climate justice and the Horn of Africa
By Dr. Richard F. Gillum Thanksgiving and Christmas 2022 brought appeals led by UNICEF-USA for victims of famine and drought related to climate change in the Horn of Africa. This crisis and the attending appeals were barely noticed by western media or the American public, which were focused on politics, Ukraine, celebrities and holiday shopping. […]
Posted inWord In Black
Opinion: Angela Alsobrooks – A Senate bid and Black Power springboard
By Roger House, Word in Black The campaign of Maryland’s Angela Alsobrooks for the U.S. Senate may be the most consequential election facing Black Democrats in 2024. That’s because her candidacy can serve as a springboard to a more inclusive Senate chamber and to the consolidation of Black political power in a Southern state. Alsobrooks […]
Posted inCommentary
Sixteen days of activism: bringing awareness to the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women
By Wayne Campbell “Violence against women is a horrific violation of human rights, a public health crisis, and a major obstacle to sustainable development. Let’s build a world that refuses to tolerate violence against women anywhere, and in any form, once and for all.” – António Guterres, Secretary-General of the United Nations The United Nations […]
Posted inCommentary
The Israel-Hamas conflict continues…and the beat goes on
By Art Jones Thinking about this “war” matter a bit more, I had to ask: “Who stands to benefit from the present conflict?” The answer: Raytheon, Lockheed Martin, Boeing, Northrup-Grumman and many more companies– all of which will benefit from the bloodshed in both the Russia-Ukraine and the Israel-Palestine conflicts. All of the above are […]
