With the growing Black-White wealth gap and diminishing federal job opportunities, financial literacy has become essential for Black Americans. Experts are increasingly using social media to provide practical advice on budgeting, saving and investing.
Category: Afro Briefs
HBCUs ponder their future as 47th president makes cuts to education dollars
HBCUs face mounting uncertainty as the Trump administration scales back federal education funding and support programs, leaving schools that serve predominantly Black students in financial limbo. Despite their critical educational and economic impact, decades of underfunding and political shifts threaten their survival—prompting urgent calls for policy reform, state investment, and grassroots advocacy.
Record-high credit card interest rates and fees are bogging down consumers– here’s how to avoid them
By Jill Jaracz Monthly credit card statements are causing consumers ongoing stress and concern. After years of high inflation and rising interest rates, consumers are having trouble keeping up with their credit card bills. According to industry data compiled by BankRegData, nearly 3 in 4 consumers carry outstanding balances on their credit cards, and more […]
Prescription drug costs in America are rising- can discount cards provide relief?
The cost of prescription medications in the U.S. continues to rise, placing a significant financial strain on individuals and families. While factors such as specialty drug pricing, PBM influence and regulatory gaps contribute to high prices, prescription discount cards offer a temporary reprieve for consumers struggling with out-of-pocket expenses.
Are you an ALICE, HENRY or DINK? Explaining the wealth hierarchy
Acronyms like ALICE (Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed), DINK (Dual Income, No Kids) and HENRY (High Earners, Not Rich Yet) highlight the financial realities of different income groups, reflecting economic trends and challenges in wealth accumulation. Understanding these labels helps individuals make informed financial decisions, whether it’s stabilizing income, countering lifestyle inflation, or planning for long-term security.
House of Ruth Maryland: Supporting financial independence after interpersonal violence
Financial independence is crucial for domestic abuse survivors. Savings, job readiness and legal resources help them achieve stability. This week, Shanna Norwood (left) , director of crisis response at the House of Ruth Maryland, and Lauren Corbin, a criminal defense attorney in Maryland, discuss how to financially prepare to leave an abusive relationship.
Empowering teens: A guide to budgeting and saving for the future
Tammira Lucas, an assistant professor of business at Coppin State University, believes that teaching high school students about money management is essential for their long-term success. She outlined a year-by-year financial plan for teens, encouraging them to start saving early, set clear financial goals and eventually explore investment opportunities as they approach adulthood.
From piggy banks to budgets: How to pass down smart money habits
Teaching children about money at an early age can set them up for lifelong financial success, even if parents struggle with their own finances. Financial literacy advocates and consultants suggest parents start with simple budgeting and saving lessons, using engaging tools and real-life money experiences to build healthy money management skills.
Altadena residents rebuild, but luxury developers could stop them in their tracks
In the aftermath of the Eaton fire, Altadena residents are struggling to rebuild as luxury developers—many from outside the U.S.—rapidly buy up scorched land, pricing locals out. The situation reflects a troubling pattern of disaster exploitation known as “The Shock Doctrine,” prompting warnings from officials and advocates to protect vulnerable homeowners.
Rapid-response teams aid troubled youths in New Jersey – but funding limits Maryland’s similar effort
By Colin McnamaraCapital News Service A New Jersey girl tormented others in her kindergarten class. Alienated from her classmates, she physically attacked other students and colored the bathroom walls with a permanent marker. Access to mental health care was complicated in her rural county, and school officials considered suspending the 6-year-old. That was when the […]
The US has revoked visas for South Sudanese while civil war threatens at home
The Trump administration has revoked all U.S. visas for South Sudanese nationals, citing the country’s failure to accept deportees—an action South Sudan criticized as unfair and based on a mistaken identity. This move threatens to return individuals to a nation facing renewed civil unrest and underscores the stark shift in U.S. policy toward a country it once helped to independence.
College diversity, equity and inclusion probes undermine Black high school success
The Department of Education’s investigation into elite college admissions has reignited harmful assumptions that Black students don’t earn their spots, despite rising graduation rates and academic gains. Experts argue these biases ignore systemic inequities in education access and funding, and call for solutions that expand opportunity rather than question who deserves it.

