Black Diary 1887 is a revolutionary, GPS-enabled mobile app that connects users with overlooked narratives from the African Diaspora through interactive maps and audio storytelling, and is now available in 30 US cities, including Washington, D.C.
Category: Arts & Culture
Posted inBaltimore News
Love Groove Festival celebrates 9 years of music, art and empowerment
The Love Groove Festival, founded by Baltimore native John Tyler, celebrated its ninth year in Baltimore City with music, art, and empowerment, showcasing Baltimore culture and bringing the Black community together.
Posted inArts & Culture
Lewis Museum opens new satellite gallery at The Village at Mondawmin with ‘Blacks In White’ exhibit
The Reginald F. Lewis Museum will open its first satellite gallery at The Village at Mondawmin with a ribbon cutting. Museum leadership, community partners and elected officials will gather at 10 a.m. on Sept. 19 to mark the launch of The Lewis at Mondawmin.
Posted inArts & Culture
‘The Piano Lesson’ hits the right key at Everyman Theatre
By Nyame-Kye KondoSpecial to the AFRO “Everybody’s got to travel,” says Doaker, played by actor Jefferson A. Russell in August Wilson’s “The Piano Lesson” at Everyman Theatre. “If you stay in one place, you get stuck with the same thing.” Transience is a common theme in Wilson’s work, and although the setting in “The Piano […]
Posted inARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
Baltimore MET Gala 2025: A timeless celebration of style, culture and community
On Sept. 13 the fourth annual Baltimore MET Gala (BMG) transformed The HALL at Live! Casino and Hotel into a dazzling celebration of art, fashion, culture and cuisine. With this year’s theme, “TIMELESS — The Evolution of Style: Past. Present. Future,” the evening proved to be nothing short of phenomenal from the moment guests stepped onto the blue carpet to the final applause.
Posted inBaltimore News
Jody Davis turns fashion passion into purpose with Orioles collaboration
By Victoria Mejicanos AFRO Intern From selling food out of her family’s front yard to winning a contest selling AFRO newspapers, Jody Davis grew up with an entrepreneurial spirit. Eventually, she combined that with her passion for fashion and opened her own boutique, Jody Davis Designs. A proud Baltimore native, she has most recently collaborated with […]
Posted inHBCU
MPT to debut documentary on Thurgood Marshall during HBCU Week 2025
By D. Kevin McNeirSpecial to the AFROkmcneir@afro.com In a public media partnership that offers content about the history, legacy, cultural heritage and degree programs offered by America’s historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs), Maryland Public Television (MPT) will debut “Becoming Thurgood: America’s Social Architect.” The new documentary will explore the legacy of Justice Thurgood Marshall, […]
Posted inBaltimore Events
ABC’s The Cookout returns: Celebrating Black culture, community and equity in Baltimore
Associated Black Charities (ABC) announced the return of its signature event, The Cookout, on Sept. 13, 2025, at The Village of Cross Keys in Baltimore. Presented by SECU, the free, family-friendly celebration will feature a march and rally, children’s activities, game tournaments, live entertainment, food trucks, and a showcase of Black-owned businesses.
Posted inMusic
CeCe Winans celebrates 30 years of solo success with intimate NPR Tiny Desk concert
CeCe Winans celebrated the 30th anniversary of her solo debut album with a soulful NPR Tiny Desk performance, which has now amassed over 881,000 views on YouTube.
Posted inBaltimore News
Pilot of ‘3 Blind Mice’ shines spotlight on Baltimore while exploring Black identity
Inspired by the spirit of 90s classics, “3 Blind Mice” follows a young Black woman’s search for identity and belonging after transferring to a historically Black college in Baltimore. The pilot, filmed entirely in the city, weaves themes of culture, community and self-discovery while showcasing Baltimore as a character in its own right.
Posted inArts & Culture
Jean E. Merrick, Baltimore icon of fashion and fine millinery, feted at 90th birthday celebration
Baltimore icon of fashion and millinery, Mrs. Jean E. Merrick, was celebrated at a 90th birthday luncheon in Catonsville, where nearly 150 family members and friends gathered to honor her elegance, lifelong service, and legacy of style. The afternoon featured tributes from loved ones, citations from public officials, and a display of her famed hat collection, making the milestone a fitting tribute to her remarkable life.
Posted inCommentary
Defending the African American Museum of History and Culture is defending America’s truth
By Dr. Frances Murphy DraperAFRO Publisher and CEO America cannot afford to whitewash its past. Yet that is exactly what is at stake in the current review of the National Museum of African American History and Culture. To question whether slavery and racism belong in the story of this nation is not only dangerous—it is […]
