The death of 21-year-old Delta State University student Demartravion “Trey” Reed, ruled a suicide, is being challenged by his family and activists who cite evidence of foul play and a long history of racial violence in the South. Advocates say Reed’s case reflects a broader pattern of suspicious deaths of Black Americans being dismissed as suicides, echoing the legacy of lynching in America.
Category: Black History
Posted inBlack History
30 years later, Million Man March spirit lives on in local gatherings
This week, the AFRO commemorates the 30th anniversary of the 1995 Million Man March, the historic event orchestrated by the Minister Louis Farrakhan and a host of other community organizations focused on improving the plight of Black men and women. The AFRO was present three decades ago, with images coming from the late J.D. Howard, and will document anniversary events taking place this October.
Posted inBlack History
Lt. Col. George E. Hardy, youngest Tuskegee Airman, dies at 100
Lt. Col. George E. Hardy, the youngest of the Tuskegee Airmen and the last surviving combat pilot from the historic all-Black World War II unit, has died at age 100. Hardy, who served in World War II, Korea, and Vietnam, was remembered for his courage, humility, and lifelong dedication to aviation and mentoring young pilots.
Posted inBaltimore Community
Sunni Gilliam closes Teavolve after 20 years of success
Kendra BryantSpecial to the AFRO Teavolve Cafe, a Harbor East Black-owned restaurant known for tea, closed on Sept. 19 after 20 years in business. Over the past two decades the establishment has made a name for itself as much more than just a trendy spot to enjoy a hot beverage and connect with friends. Founder […]
Posted inBlack History
Many mourn death of Assata Shakur, exiled Black liberation activist and global symbol of resistance
Assata Shakur, the former Black Panther and Black Liberation Army member who escaped a U.S. prison and lived in exile in Cuba for more than four decades, has died at 78. To some she was a fugitive and convicted killer, but to many worldwide she remained a symbol of resistance, liberation, and defiance against oppression.
Posted inMaryland News
Graves of imprisoned Black children inspire reform in Maryland
Members of the Legislative Black Caucus of Maryland visited an overgrown, unmarked cemetery in Prince George’s County holding the remains of at least 230 Black children who died 150 years ago. The visit highlighted the stark racial disparities in Maryland’s juvenile justice system and served as a call to restore the cemetery and pursue reforms that keep youth out of adult court.
Posted inTravel
Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad National Historic Park: A powerful destination for your travel list
The Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad National Historic Park in Church Creek, Maryland is a popular destination for visitors from around the world to pay homage to Tubman’s legacy and learn about her life and work, with the site hosting national events, exhibits, and activities throughout the year.
Posted inBlack History
Efforts for 6888th Battalion Forever Stamp continue after USPS denial
The U.S. Postal Service declined a proposal for a Forever Stamp honoring the 6888th Central Postal Directory Battalion, the only majority Black, all-women Army unit in World War II. Still, Elizabeth A. Helm-Frazier, head of the 6888th Stamp Team, remains hopeful and refuses to give up on the initiative.
Posted inBlack History
62 years later, the world remembers four little girls from Birmingham
By Victoria MejicanosAFRO Staff Writer On Sept. 15, 1963, the 16th Street Baptist Church in Birmingham, Ala., was bombed, killing four girls in the church’s basement and shocking the nation. Sixty-two years later, the attack is remembered as a turning point in the civil rights movement and a reminder of the role Black churches continue […]
Posted inBlack History
Harlem Hellfighters posthumously awarded Congressional Gold Medal for World War I valor
The Harlem Hellfighters, a segregated African-American unit, spent 191 days in front-line combat during World War I without yielding any ground. Decades later, Congress awarded the unit the Congressional Gold Medal, honoring their unmatched valor and long-overdue recognition.
Posted inBlack History
Maj. Gen. Joseph McNeil of legendary A&T Four passes away at 83
Maj. Gen. Joseph McNeil, one of the famed A&T Four whose 1960 sit-in at a Greensboro Woolworth’s helped spark the Civil Rights Movement, has died at 83. McNeil’s courageous act of protest alongside his classmates laid the groundwork for desegregation and continues to inspire generations committed to justice and equality.
Posted inCommentary
Maryland must reckon with its juvenile justice past to protect today’s youth
By Marc Schindler I started my legal career in the mid-1990s as a Baltimore public defender representing children in juvenile court. In the late 1990s I joined a civil rights law firm addressing juvenile justice policies statewide and across the nation. These experiences taught me two things: The Maryland detention facility where many of my […]
