The White House signed an executive order to begin dismantling the Department of Education, fulfilling a campaign promise to MAGA supporters, but sparking backlash from civil rights groups who warn it will disproportionately harm Black students. The move, which includes mass layoffs and a directive to transfer education authority to states, has been criticized as a threat to equity, student civil rights protections, and funding for underprivileged schools.
Category: Civil Rights
Posted inCivil Rights
Black women mobilize large scale ‘Buycott’ at Costco in Arlington, Va.
Members of the Black Women’s Roundtable staged a large-scale “buycott” at Costco in Arlington, Va., to support corporations that prioritize diversity, equity and inclusion. Led by civil rights leader Melanie L. Campbell, the effort highlighted the significant economic power of Black consumers and the importance of businesses valuing their diverse customer base.
Posted inCivil Rights
Some New York prison guards charged in beating death of handcuffed inmate appear in court
Six New York prison guards have been indicted for second-degree murder in the beating death of a handcuffed inmate, while four other corrections workers have been charged with lesser crimes.
Posted inCivil Rights
Black Americans are Under Attack. Diversity Equity and Inclusion is just the beginning.
Special to the AfroRyan Coleman The origins of DEI programs date to the Civil Rights Movement, which played apivotal role in accelerating efforts to create more diverse and inclusive workplaces. The Civil Rights Act of 1964 outlawed employment discrimination based on race, religion, sex, color and national origin. It also banned segregation in public places, […]
Posted inCivil Rights
Black Press Day 2025 highlights need for innovation and resilience in media
At the NNPA Fund’s 2025 Black Press Day event, NNPA President and CEO Benjamin Chavis reaffirmed the Black Press’s role in advocating for justice and equality. He emphasized adapting to digital platforms while preserving print’s impact and urged stronger collaboration between the Black Press and the Black church. Quoting Freedom’s Journal, he reflected on progress and ongoing challenges, stressing that Black media must continue to be the trusted voice of Black America.
Posted inD.C. Government
‘More than brick and mortar:’ DC begins removing ‘Black Lives Matter’ plaza near the White House
Crews began removing the large yellow “Black Lives Matter” letters from the street near the White House on March 10, in response to pressure from Republicans in Congress, with the goal of replacing them with city-sponsored murals.
Posted inNational News
Alice Allison Dunnigan: The pioneering White House correspondent
Alice A. Dunnigan was the first African-American female correspondent at the White House and the first Black female member of the Senate and House of Representatives press galleries, and she was a trailblazer in journalism and civil rights.
Posted inNational News
Ida B. Wells-Barnett: The journalist whose legacy lives on
Ida B. Wells-Barnett was a pioneering journalist, educator and advocate who used her pen and voice to document and address the injustices faced by Black Americans, and her legacy is being revived this year with the release of a book and coin.
Posted inAFRO CHARITIES
Letters, love and legacy: The AFRO’s historic column comes to life again
Afro Charities hosted a mixer and networking session centered around their “Re-Reading the News” series, inspired by the AFRO Archives’ “Lonesome Hearts” column, where attendees exchanged letters and formed connections.
Posted inCivil Rights
‘Bloody Sunday’ 60th anniversary marked in Selma with remembrances and concerns about the future
The 60th anniversary of Bloody Sunday was marked in Selma, Alabama, with calls to recommit to the fight for equality and a reminder of the importance of federal agencies in making America a democracy for all.
Posted inCivil Rights
Fighting to keep Blackness
Trump supporters have introduced bills to remove the Black Lives Matter Plaza sign in Washington, D.C. and the Freedom Riders Museum in Montgomery, Ala., while Democrats are pushing back against the anti-DEI and anti-woke message by reintroducing the Voting Rights Act.
Posted inAfro Briefs
Robert Clark, Mississippi’s first Black lawmaker after Civil Rights era, dies at 96
Robert G. Clark, who became the first Black legislator in Mississippi since Reconstruction, died at age 96, having served as chairman of both the House Ethics Committee and the Education Committee, and as speaker pro tempore from 1992-2004.
