Virginia officially replaced its statue of Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee in the U.S. Capitol with a statue honoring Barbara Rose Johns, the teenage civil rights activist whose 1951 student-led protest against segregated schools helped spark the legal fight that culminated in Brown v. Board of Education. The dedication marked a historic moment, recognizing Johns as one of only four Black women represented by statues in the Capitol and symbolizing a broader shift away from honoring Confederate figures toward celebrating champions of justice and equality.
Category: Afro Briefs
Posted inPrince George's County News
Harrison family sues over toddler’s death in police chase
The parents of 3-year-old Zoey Harrison have filed a lawsuit against Prince George’s County, two local police departments, and the driver involved in a March high-speed chase that killed their daughter. The suit alleges negligence in the pursuit, supervision and post-crash response— claiming law enforcement violated their duty of care in a heavily trafficked area over a minor traffic violation.
Posted inWord In Black
What’s in a coin?
By Dr. Frances ‘Toni’ DraperWord in Black More than metal. More than money. More than nostalgia. A coin is a declaration — of who a nation chooses to honor, what it chooses to remember and what it is willing to erase. That is why what happened at the U.S. Mint should unsettle anyone who cares […]
Posted inINTERNATIONAL
AP report details widespread sexual violence allegations amid Mali conflict
An Associated Press investigation details allegations of rape and other sexual assaults in Mali involving a new Russian military unit known as Africa Corps, as well as abuses committed by militants and other armed actors in the conflict. Aid workers and the U.N. say sexual violence is widespread but severely underreported because of fear, stigma, and limited access to medical and legal support.
Posted inHealth
Six vaccines that can keep you safe this holiday season
By Jennifer Porter GoreWord in Black Christmas, Kwanzaa and other end-of-year holidays typically mean travel followed by close indoor contact with friends or loved ones — near-perfect conditions for nasty airborne viruses to spread. And when it comes to communicable illnesses, experts say, this holiday season is going to be a doozy. This December, public […]
Posted inINTERNATIONAL
UN aid coordination agency cuts appeal for 2026 to $33B after lowest annual support in a decade
By The Associated Press GENEVA (AP) — The U.N.’s humanitarian aid coordination office is downsizing its appeal for annual funding in 2026 after support this year, mostly from Western governments, plunged to the lowest level in a decade. The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs said Dec. 8 it was seeking $33 […]
Posted inNational News
Dr. Rod Paige, the first African American to serve as secretary of education, dies at 92
The AFRO sends condolences to the family and all those who knew and loved Dr. Rod Paige, the first Black leader to serve as the secretary of education. Paige died at 92 years old on Dec. 9.
Posted inDMV News
41st annual King Day Program and Celebration January 19
The Prince William County Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. will host its 41st annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Youth Oratorical Competition and Celebration on Jan. 19, featuring student speeches, a youth choir, performances, and a community Day of Service.
Posted inNational News
Civil rights attorney Ben Crump scores $779 million verdict for Black family
Civil rights attorney Ben Crump won a historic $779.3 million verdict for the family of Lewis Butler, a security guard killed during an armed robbery at a Florida internet café that failed to report a previous crime involving the same gun. The ruling delivers long-sought accountability while Butler’s widow presses for reforms to shut down dangerous, unregulated gambling venues.
Posted inMaryland News
Settlement with Cracker Barrel over allegations, disability discrimination involving students with autism at Waldorf restaurant
Maryland officials announced a settlement with Cracker Barrel resolving allegations that students with autism from Dr. James Craik Elementary School faced discrimination during a 2024 visit to the company’s Waldorf restaurant. Under the agreement, Cracker Barrel will pay $75,000 to affected students, donate to school programs, and revise its public accommodation policies nationwide to comply with disability rights laws.
Posted inAfro Briefs
Cinnabon worker fired after racist outburst directed at customers goes viral
A Wisconsin Cinnabon employee was fired after a video showing her using racist slurs, taunting customers, and mocking a woman’s hijab went viral on TikTok. The incident has sparked dueling online fundraisers — one supporting the Black Somali Muslim couple targeted, and another raising tens of thousands for the terminated worker, who is White.
Posted inINTERNATIONAL
Trinidad and Tobago prime minister confirms U.S. Marines working on Tobago radar system
Trinidad and Tobago Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar confirmed that U.S. Marines are working in Tobago on radar and airport upgrades, reversing earlier statements that no American military personnel were present. The disclosure comes amid growing regional U.S. military activity and questions about how the upgraded radar system may be used.