Misty Copeland, the first Black female principal dancer at the American Ballet Theatre, has used her platform to open the doors of the art form to a diverse group of people, and has also founded the Misty Copeland Foundation to offer free, after-school ballet classes for girls and boys in under-resourced communities.
Category: Arts & Culture
Posted inArts, Arts & Culture, ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT, Black History, Entertainment, ENTERTAINMENT, History, Women's Rights
Anne Benna Sims: American Ballet Theatre’s first African-American ballerina
Anne Benna Sims was the first African-American ballerina to sign a contract with the American Ballet Theatre, and she was inspired by the artistry of Rudolf Nureyev and Margot Fonteyn in “Giselle”.
Posted inArts & Culture, ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT, Black History, Civil Rights, ENTERTAINMENT, Entertainment, History, Music, National News, SpecialCoverage, TV and Film, Women's Rights
“Six-Triple-Eight: A New Musical,” to honor Black women of WWII’s European Theater
The 6888th Postal Directory Battalion, the only all-female, Black unit to serve in Europe during World War II, is the subject of a play currently being developed for Broadway, which aims to celebrate the courage and resilience of Black women in the face of adversity.
Posted inArts & Culture, ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT, Baltimore News, Entertainment, ENTERTAINMENT, NEWS, News
Empowering creativity: Highlights from the Black Arts District’s annual meeting
By Ericka Alston Buck, Special to the AFRO In a celebration of culture, empowerment and community, the Black Arts District (BAD) recently convened for its annual community meeting at the New Song Community Center in Sandtown. At the heart of their mission lies a commitment to use an anti-displacement framework to empower Black creatives and […]
Posted inArts & Culture, ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT, Entertainment, ENTERTAINMENT, Music, TV and Film
Celebrating Black excellence at the 96th Oscars: A night of triumph and diversity
By Ericka Alston Buck, Special to the AFRO The 96th Annual Academy Awards will take place on March 10 in Los Angeles at the Dolby Theatre and the film industry’s Black talent will be on full display. In the past year, a host of extraordinary African-American nominees have garnered the spotlight in leading and supporting […]
Posted inArts & Culture, D.C. Community, D.C. Events, ENTERTAINMENT, LIFE & STYLE, Washington D.C. News
D.C. Fashion Week displays cultural pride during international showcase
D.C. Fashion Week celebrated its 20-year milestone with an international couture collections showcase that highlighted international design with a wide variety of styles and culture.
Posted inARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
“I AM Story” podcast nominated for NAACP Image Award
By Sabreen Dawud, Special to the AFRO Earlier this year the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) announced their NAACP Image Award nomination for the I AM Story podcast. The podcast has been nominated in the Outstanding Limited Series/Short Form category. Released in April 2023, the I AM Story is centered around […]
Posted inNEWS
REVISIT REIMAGINE’: Commemorating Maryland’s ‘Year of Civil Rights’ at the Banneker-Douglass Museum
By Ericka Alston Buck, Special to the AFRO In the heart of Annapolis, Md., nestled at 84 Franklin Street, lies the Banneker-Douglass Museum, a beacon of African-American history and culture. Stepping through its doors, visitors embark on a journey through time, a journey that is both reflective and forward-thinking. Now, with 2024 marking the 60th […]
Posted inBaltimore News
Rev. Lee Michaels, renowned radio talk show host, retires from Heaven 600’s ‘The Morning Experience’
By Gene Lambey, Special to the AFRO Rev. Lee Michaels has retired after over 40 years as a gospel radio host for “The Morning Experience” on Baltimore’s Heaven 600 radio station. Michaels, who officially retired on Dec. 31, 2023, told the AFRO that his time as host of Heaven 600 “The Morning Experience” was “fun […]
Posted inBaltimore News
Honoring the legacy of griot ‘Grandmother’ Edna Lawrence-Williams: A celebration of storytelling and sound
By Ericka Alston Buck, Special to The AFRO In a vibrant celebration of African-American culture and storytelling, the Waxter Center in Baltimore recently hosted an event to honor griot Edna Lawrence-Williams for her outstanding achievement in the art of storytelling. Affectionately known as Grandmother Edna, Lawrence-Williams was awarded the prestigious Chesapeake Associated Press Broadcasters Association […]
Posted inWashington D.C. News
AFRO inside look: D.C. Fashion Week 2024
By Layla Eason, Special to the AFRO D.C. Fashion Week (DCFW) returned for the 20th year during Autumn/Winter fashion season where many emerging designers presented their newest lines. The events were held from Feb. 23-25 in various locations throughout D.C. during the three days of programming. Over the years, DCFW has created a platform that […]
Posted inArts & Culture
Jason Steer begins as Creative Alliance’s executive director
By Layla Eason Special to the AFRO Creative Alliance recently selected Jason Steer as the new executive director. The organization released a statement on the decision to have Steer join Creative Alliance after a career at New York’s renowned Apollo Theatre, where he held a variety of senior leadership positions in programming, education, and youth development. […]