Brandon Lake emerged as the night’s top winner at the 56th Annual GMA Dove Awards, taking home five honors including Song of the Year for “Hard Fought Hallelujah,” performed alongside Jelly Roll and surprise guest Jon Batiste. The star-studded event at Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena featured powerful performances from CeCe Winans, Carrie Underwood, and Tamela Mann, as well as a historic Opry 100 medley by Steven Curtis Chapman, Lady A, and Vince Gill.
Category: ENTERTAINMENT
The AFRO Named Among the Nation’s Top Black News Outlets on Two Feedspot Lists
The AFRO-American Newspapers, the nation’s oldest continuously published Black-owned newspaper still owned by its founding family, has been named to Feedspot’s list of the “45 Best Black News Websites of 2025.” The recognition honors The AFRO’s legacy of trusted journalism and its continued innovation in digital media, storytelling, and community engagement.
Malcolm X meets Shakespeare in revisioning of ‘The Tragedy of Julius Caesar’ at D.C.’s Folger Theatre
“Julius X: A Revisioning of The Tragedy of Julius Caesar by William Shakespeare” is a powerful and emotionally charged play that merges the lyrical brilliance of spoken word artist Al Letson with the time-revered speeches and scenes of William Shakespeare’s “Julius Caesar,” featuring renowned Shakespearean actor Brandon Carter as Malcolm X.
Government shutdown forces Smithsonian to temporarily close all museums and National Zoo
The Smithsonian owns 17 museums within the Washington D.C area, in addition to the National Zoo. Since Oct. 12, all 21 of the Smithsonian museums nationwide and the zoo have been closed. Shown here, would-be visitors, as they learn that the doors to the Smithsonian’s National Museum of Natural History are closed due to the shutdown.
Neo-soul icon D’Angelo dies at 51 — fans, radio and the music world mourn
D’Angelo, the influential neo-soul artist, passed away at the age of 51 after a private battle with pancreatic cancer, leaving a void in modern music and a legacy of soulful intensity, stylistic daring, and deep musical integrity.
Common headlines United Way of Central Maryland’s 100-year celebration at the Meyerhoff
United Way of Central Maryland celebrated its 100th anniversary with a star-studded concert at Baltimore’s Meyerhoff Symphony Hall, headlined by Common and featuring performances from CeCe Peniston and the Baltimore City College Choir. The evening honored a century of community service while inspiring hope for the organization’s next hundred years of impact across Central Maryland.
Creative Nomads honors the past and celebrates 10 years at annual “Jubilee Noir”
Creative Nomads, a Baltimore-based arts advocacy organization, celebrated its 10th anniversary with its annual fundraiser, Jubilee Noir, at Clifton Mansion, which was once a slave plantation, to honor the sacrifices of those who toiled there and to celebrate the joy of the arts in the community.
Kamala Harris draws sold-out D.C. crowds on book tour, urges Democrats to stay in the fight
Former Vice President Kamala Harris drew sold-out crowds at Washington, D.C.’s Warner Theatre on Oct. 9 to discuss her new book, “107 Days,” reflecting on her 2024 presidential campaign and America’s political challenges. In candid remarks, she urged Democrats to stay engaged and united as the fight for democracy continues.
United Way of Central Maryland to celebrate centennial anniversary with benefit concert
United Way of Central Maryland, led by Franklyn Baker, is marking its 100th anniversary with a star-studded benefit concert on Oct. 11 at the Joseph Meyerhoff Symphony Hall, featuring Common, CeCe Peniston, and Elyscia Jefferson. The celebration not only honors a century of impact but also calls on the community to continue supporting the organization’s mission to build stronger, healthier, and more equitable neighborhoods across Greater Baltimore.
The National Civil Rights Museum announces 34th Freedom Award honorees
The National Civil Rights Museum will honor Marc H. Morial, Velma Lois Jones, and Mark Suzman with its 34th annual Freedom Award on Oct. 16 in Memphis. The event will celebrate their lifelong commitments to advancing civil and human rights and feature performances, student programming, and community engagement.
The 50-year legacy of Black Classic Press
Paul Coates, a former Black Panther Party member, founded Black Classic Press in 1978 as a program to provide books for incarcerated African American people. From chicken dinners to book drives, the business has now become a publishing and printing house where a few of his children and grandchildren work to continue the mission of sharing Black narratives.
In Black columnist’s firing, advocates fear decreasing diversity, vital perspectives in news media
The Washington Post’s firing of columnist Karen Attiah over social media posts has raised concerns among advocates and journalists about shrinking newsroom diversity and the silencing of Black voices.

