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.
Category: ENTERTAINMENT
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 inBaltimore Recovery
Pimlico demolition underway, redevelopment to boost Park Heights
By Tashi McQueenAFRO Staff Writertmcqueen@afro.com Maryland Gov. Wes Moore (D) and first lady Dawn Moore attended a demolition ceremony for the old Pimlico Race Course that hosts the iconic Preakness Stakes annually in West Baltimore on Aug. 21. Demolition is expected to conclude by the end of the year, with construction for the new race […]
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 […]
Posted inArts & Culture
From craft to calling: How Nate Couser turns Black stories into wearable art
Artist and entrepreneur Nate Couser, founder of VashtiBlue Jewelry and The Artist Exchange, uses fashion, jewelry, and teaching to honor and preserve Black culture through creative expression. Through deeply personal and spiritual artwork, Couser creates wearable pieces that tell stories and celebrate individuality, while advocating for the proper teaching and representation of Black art history.
Posted inArts & Culture
More than a theater: Arena Players is a home for diverse artists and stories
Arena Players, the oldest African-American community theater in the US, is undergoing renovations. Artistic director Donald Owens discusses the theater’s legacy and future.
Posted inARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
Kid ‘n Play to be inducted into the National Hip-Hop Museum’s Hall of Fame
By Mekhi AbbottSpecial to the AFROmabbott@afro.com The National Hip-Hop Museum will conclude the summer by inducting a new class of Hall of Fame honorees, which include Christopher Reid and Christopher Martin of Kid ‘n Play, at the Woolly Mammoth Theatre on Aug. 23. The induction ceremony will be followed by a concert headlined by Kid […]
Posted inDMV News
5 Washingtonians spotlight beloved Black-owned businesses
By Nyame-Kye KondoSpecial to the AFRO The AFRO had the pleasure of catching up with some Washingtonians as they went about their daily lives. We asked five individuals to name their favorite Black-owned businesses in the area and their answers reflected both the shared culture and varied interests of the African-American community. Dezhane Moore – […]
Posted inArts & Culture
Baltimore continues salute to August Wilson as ‘The Piano Lesson’ debuts Aug. 31
Ten Baltimore theater companies have united for a three-year August Wilson Celebration, presenting his entire American Century Cycle to highlight Black history and culture through live theater. The next play, “The Piano Lesson,” opens Aug. 31 at Everyman Theatre, inviting audiences to engage deeply with Wilson’s legacy and storytelling.
Posted inINTERNATIONAL
Ciara is among the first descendants of enslaved people granted citizenship by Benin
Grammy-winning artist Ciara was granted citizenship in Benin on July 26 under a groundbreaking new law offering citizenship to descendants of enslaved Africans. The move is part of Benin’s wider effort to confront its role in the transatlantic slave trade and invite Afro-descendants to reconnect with their ancestral roots through cultural heritage and “memorial tourism.”