By Jay Reeves Associated Press A new effort to preserve historic Black churches in the United States has received a $20 million donation that will go to help congregations including one that was slammed during the tornado that killed more than 20 people in Mayfield, Ky., last month. Lilly Endowment, which supports religious, educational, and […]
Category: Afro Briefs
Posted inAfro Briefs
Landmark 15th year of Disney Dreamers Academy Program awaits 2022 Class of talented high school students
The exclusive Walt Disney World Resort mentorship event that fosters the dreams of Black students and teens from underrepresented communities plans to return in March with reimagined programming and a new group of outstanding high school students. By BlackPressUSA LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. – Disney Dreamers Academy, an educational mentorship program created and hosted by Walt Disney […]
Posted inAfro Briefs
National Day of Racial Healing celebrates the voices in America calling for unity and peace
Statement by Dr. Gail C. Christopher, Executive Director, National Collaborative for Health Equity WASHINGTON – “The National Collaborative for Health Equity has a vision and a mission to eliminate health inequities and to help create conditions that will allow all people to experience optimal health and well-being. But we know that the biggest barrier […]
Posted inAfro Briefs
National Geographic dives into the untold story of the Transatlantic Slave Trade with new podcast, ‘Into the Depths,’ launching Jan. 27
(Black PR Wire) – Ahead of Black History Month, National Geographic is launching a powerful new podcast, “Into the Depths,” on Jan. 27 that uncovers the deep history of the transatlantic slave trade as it follows a group of Black divers who are dedicated to finding and helping to document slave shipwrecks. The podcast series trailer is now […]
Posted inCoronavirus
Website for free coronavirus tests is coming. How will it work?
By Zeke Miller and Darlene Superville The Associated Press Under criticism after weeks of shortages, President Joe Biden’s administration is working to make COVID-19 rapid test kits more available and accessible to Americans by boosting supply and lowering costs. A new federal website to request free test kits launches Jan. 19, with the first shipments […]
Posted inAfro Briefs
Black Tennessee woman is exonerated after 27 years in prison
By AFRO Staff Joyce Watkins spent 27 years of her life in prison after she was convicted of the rape and murder of a 4-year-old girl – her grand-niece. On Jan. 13, more than three decades after the nightmare began, Watkins was finally exonerated. “I thank all the people for their prayers and helping me […]
Posted inAfro Briefs
Viral Movements: How internet activism changed the world
By Nadia Reese Special to the AFRO Everyone has interacted with social media in some way. Primarily used to connect people from around the world, recently, the social platforms have taken a political approach. Now, account holders are taking to these websites to spread awareness for issues of social injustice, among other causes. Popular websites […]
Posted inAfro Briefs
For Oath Keepers and founder, Jan. 6 was weeks in the making
By Colleen Long The Associated Press Two days after the presidential election on Nov. 2, 2020, the Oath Keepers were already convinced that victory had been stolen from President Donald Trump and members of the far-right militia group were making plans to march on the U.S. Capitol. “We aren’t getting through this without a civil […]
Posted inAfro Briefs
A year after death of mentally ill SC inmate, Black family still seeking charges
By Michelle Liu The Associated Press/Report for America The family of a mentally ill Black man who died after South Carolina jail employees repeatedly stunned him and then kneeled on his back until he stopped breathing is still seeking criminal charges a year later. Relatives for Jamal Sutherland have repeatedly asked South Carolina Attorney General […]
Posted inCoronavirus
Kids’ low COVID-19 vaccination rates called a ‘gut punch’
By LINDSEY TANNER. AP Medical Writer Distrust, misinformation and delays because of the holidays and bad weather have combined to produce what authorities say are alarmingly low COVID-19 vaccination rates in U.S. children ages 5 to 11. As of Tuesday, just over 17% were fully vaccinated, more than two months after shots became available to […]
Posted inAfro Briefs
Sorrow, grief shatter Bronx community after deadly fire
By BOBBY CAINA CALVAN, ROBERT BUMSTED and NOREEN NASIR, Associated Press NEW YORK (AP) — Sorrow welled across a Bronx community Monday, a day a fire and choking smoke engulfed a high-rise apartment building and claimed the lives of 17 people, eight of them children. As survivors recalled the frantic chaos of their escape, bereft […]
Posted inAfro Briefs
Health Commissioner declares ‘Code Blue Extreme Cold’ alert for Baltimore City Monday morning through Wednesday morning
With the wind chill expected to drop to single digits, Health Commissioner Letitia Dzirasa today issued a Code Blue Extreme Cold declaration for Baltimore City beginning Monday morning, January 10 through Wednesday morning, January 12. “With dangerously cold temperatures expected in Baltimore, I am issuing the Code Blue Extreme Cold declaration beginning Monday morning […]