Scholars and descendants are uncovering the forgotten role of Black Marylanders in the Revolutionary War, highlighting how free and enslaved men fought for independence yet were largely erased from history.
Category: Black History
Posted inBlack History
Black artists as historians: Preserving memory through art
For generations, Black artists have documented Black life, preserving memory and identity where traditional histories have overlooked or erased their stories. From painting and performance to film and public art, their work captures the everyday, the ancestral and the deeply personal— creating a living record of Black history.
Posted inHBCU
Pepsi National Battle of the Bands presents ‘The Best of the Battles’ in honor of Black History Month
The Pepsi National Battle of the Bands airs “The Best of the Battles” from Jan. 31 to March 1 in honor of Black History Month, highlighting 15 years of performances by more than 30 HBCU marching bands. The film revisits iconic moments from showcases across the country, including the 2026 event in The Palm Beaches, and celebrates the cultural impact and legacy of HBCU band tradition.
Posted inOPINION
The AFRO: A vanguard to civil rights
In this opinion commentary, Rev. Stacy Swimp traces the historic role of the AFRO-American Newspaper as a cornerstone of Black self-definition, intellectual advocacy and civil rights activism. From its founding by John Henry Murphy Sr. in 1892 to its modern-day mission, the AFRO is presented as a vital institution that has equipped Black communities to confront media bias, preserve historical truth and exercise collective agency through literacy, scholarship and service. Credit: AFRO Photo
Posted inOPINION
Opinion: Erasing exhibits will never erase Black history
By Alice T. Crowe Crews equipped with crowbars dismantled an exhibit at Independence National Historic Park in Philadelphia on Jan. 22. The panels removed honored the lives of nine people enslaved by George Washington. Under a Federal directive, staff were to take down information that “disparages” American icons and fosters national shame. The take-down of […]
Posted inEducation
5 free resources for teaching Black history
The Zinn Education Project offers free resources to help educators teach Black history with honesty and depth, connecting past struggles to present-day civil rights issues. From virtual workshops and study groups to lesson plans on systemic racism, the Constitution, and the fight for Black education, the project equips teachers to give students a fuller understanding of African American history and resistance.
Posted inOPINION
Black History Month 2026: We proclaim it!
By Dr. Kaye Whitehead In 1926, during the nadir of Black history, Dr. Carter G. Woodson—the founder of the Association for the Study of African American Life and History (ASALH), the son of formerly enslaved parents, a former sharecropper and miner, and the second Black person to receive a Ph.D. from Harvard University—launched the first […]
Posted inBlack History
Faith community remembers sacrifice of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
Faith leaders in D.C. honor Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s legacy with a call to action. Bishop Mariann Budde delivers a powerful sermon on equality.
Posted inBooks
Enoch Pratt to highlight work of Angela Flournoy at 38th Annual Booklover’s Breakfast
Enoch Pratt Free Library will host its sold-out 38th Annual Booklovers’ Breakfast featuring award-winning novelist Angela Flournoy on Feb. 7 at the Baltimore Marriott Waterfront.
Posted inBaltimore News
Baltimore Symphony Orchestra, Morgan State University choir honor MLK Day with community concert
The Baltimore Symphony Orchestra honored Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day with a powerful community concert at the Joseph Meyerhoff Symphony Hall. Featuring the Morgan State University Choir, the program celebrated the civil rights leader and his legacy through music by Black composers.
Posted inBlack History
Protect the day, protect the truth
By Dr. Frances “Toni” Murphy DraperAFRO CEO and Publisher As the nation marks Martin Luther King Jr. Day, the real question is not how loudly we celebrate — but whether we are willing to live by the values Dr. King demanded. Each January, the nation knows how to celebrate. We mark the day. We replay […]
Posted inBlack History
Remembering the fight for Martin Luther King Jr. Day
By Victoria Mejicanos AFRO Staff Writer vmejicanos@afro.com Nearly 60 years after the assassination of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., and decades after a hard-fought campaign to make his birthday a federal holiday, organizers, city leaders and scholars are preparing to celebrate on Jan. 19. Though Martin Luther King Jr. Day events are festive, many are […]