Category: Afro Briefs

A majority of U.S. renters lived in unaffordable housing in 2009, according to new data from the 2009 American Community Survey (ACS) released by the Census Bureau on Sept. 28. The study results also found most Americans faced unaffordable living expenses as a result of increased rents and a decline in incomes on the other. […]

With near-perfect SAT scores and stellar grades, Ralph Jones Jr., a 16-year-old Atlanta, Ga. native and freshman at Florida A&M University (FAMU), had the opportunity to attend almost any college in the world. But the award-winning student turned down Ivy League schools like Harvard and other HBCUs Howard and Morehouse to attend the Tallahassee institution. […]

Almost two weeks after Tyler Clementi, 18, killed himself by diving into New York’s Hudson River, hundreds of New Jersey students and activists gathered at Rutgers University to honor the life of a college freshman called a “fine musician” by his family. “Tonight begins the process of healing,” Jenny Kurtz, acting director of the school’s […]

An 18-year-old freshman at Rutgers University recently committed suicide after his roommate filmed him having sex with another man in their dorm room. Tyler Clementi took his own life on Sept. 22 by jumping off the George Washington Bridge spanning the Hudson River, according to ABC News. The teen gave notice of his intention on […]

Grambling State University (GSU) is in a constitutional controversy with the American Civil Liberties Union of Louisiana and the Foundation for Individual Rights in Education over a recent e-mail sent by its president. According to Marjorie Esman, executive director of the ACLU’s Louisiana chapter, an e-mail sent to students on July 13 from university president […]

The United Nations Security Council lifted the last remaining sanctions against Sierra Leone during the week that ended Oct. 1, clearing the way for international assistance to return to the violence-ravaged nation. The council said the country had reclaimed some measure of stability after the government disarmed and disbanded rebel forces. “Today’s actions are important […]

The Obama administration unveiled plans Sept. 28 for a large-scale Gulf Coast recovery effort, aimed at providing long-term financial assistance, to improve the regions environment, economy and health. Work by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) are at the heart of the plan of the administration to […]

Two hours or more per week of vigorous exercise, such as aerobics and running, reduced breast cancer risks in postmenopausal Black women by 64 percent, according to researchers at Georgetown Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center (LCCC). Women who engaged in moderate exercise reduced their risks by 17 percent compared to women who did not exercise. Lead […]

TAMPA, Florida (AP) — A Florida judge this week declared a mistrial for Jamaican reggae star Buju Banton, who was accused of conspiring to buy cocaine from an undercover police officer last year. U.S. District Judge James Moody made the decision after the 12-person jury sent him a second note saying they couldn’t reach a […]

BERLIN (AP) _ Patrick Makau of Kenya won the 37th Berlin Marathon on Sunday, but failed to break the world record set on the course two years ago. Makau ran through the rain-soaked German capital in 2 hours 5 minutes and 8 seconds, finishing 2 seconds ahead of countryman Geoffrey Mutai. Bazu Worku of Ethiopia […]

UNITED NATIONS (AP) — Kenya’s foreign minister said Saturday the millions being spent to fight pirate attacks off the coast of Somalia should be spent instead on helping the country become a functioning state. Moses Wetangula said in an interview with The Associated Press that Uganda has offered troops to expand the African Union force […]

KINGSTON, Jamaica (AP) — Hundreds of medical technicians, nurse’s aides and other support staff at Jamaica’s major public hospitals went on strike Monday to demand pay raises and allowances they say haven’t been paid by the government. The walkout left public hospitals and clinics across the Caribbean island short-handed for such duties as taking X-rays […]