By Alexis TaylorAFRO Managing Editor Artscape returned to Baltimore at a different time of year and in a new location over the 2025 Memorial Day weekend. Thousands packed the downtown Baltimore area to hear the likes of LeToya Luckett, Tweet, Fantasia, Robin Thicke and more on May 24 and 25. The dates for the country’s […]
Category: ENTERTAINMENT
Posted inAFRO CHARITIES
Afro Charities set to host ‘Wildest Dreams’ fundraiser
Afro Charities will host its annual “Wildest Dreams” fundraiser on June 7 in Baltimore to support the preservation of the AFRO’s more than 130-year-old archival collection. The event reflects the organization’s ongoing work to honor Black legacy, expand public access to historical records and invest in community memory.
Posted inBaltimore News
Baltimore’s creative pulse takes center stage at inaugural Scout Art Fair
The inaugural Scout Art Fair, part of Baltimore’s revitalized Artscape and curated by Derrick Adams and Teri Henderson, showcases over 40 local artists in a landmark cultural moment that affirms the city’s arrival as a major force in the contemporary art world.
Posted inENTERTAINMENT
Key moments from the second week of Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs’ sex trafficking trial
In the second week of Sean “Diddy” Combs’ trial, witnesses—including celebrities like rapper Kid Cudi, former staff, and associates—testified about alleged abuse, threats and coercion, as prosecutors aim to prove he used his businesses to run a racketeering operation.
Posted inARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
Acclaimed playwright Tarell Alvin McCraney tackles issue of gay marriage amid recent attacks on LGBTQ rights
Playwright Tarell Alvin McCraney’s new work “We Are Gathered” explores same-sex marriage and Black queer love amid renewed political threats to LGBTQ rights following the 47th president’s return to the White House. Premiering during WorldPride 2025 in Washington, D.C., the play celebrates love and resilience while underscoring the urgency of preserving hard-won freedoms in a shifting political climate.
Posted inBaltimore News
Patrons experience last Preakness prior to Pimlico renovation
Thousands gathered in Baltimore for the historic 150th Preakness Stakes, marking the final race at Pimlico Race Course before major renovations begin. While attendees enjoyed the race and cultural festivities, some expressed frustration with event organization despite the excitement and tradition surrounding the event.
Posted inWashington D.C. News
Locals celebrate D.C. Natives Day 2025 with live trivia showdown
Dwayne Lawson-Brown, a poet, author and artist known as the “Crochet Kingpin,” serves as host of the inaugural “Ask a D.C. Native, Live!” event, held in honor of D.C. Natives Day. Shown here, Lawson-Brown (standing) as he introduces a trivia category to test audience knowledge of slang used by D.C. natives.
Posted inBaltimore News
“To Baltimore With Love”: Call for artists – $500 honorarium for selected creators
“To Baltimore With Love,” a new exhibition curated by Baltimore Unity Hall and The Mary Ann Connelly Fund in Support of Artists, invites local creators to celebrate the city’s spirit through art. Submissions are open until June 9, 2025, with selected artists receiving a $500 honorarium.
Posted inArts
Baltimore artists take center stage in prestigious $30K Sondheim Art Prize show
The Walters Art Museum is presenting the 2025 Janet and Walter Sondheim Art Prize Finalists Exhibition, featuring the work of five finalists, and the award ceremony will take place on June 26.
Posted inENTERTAINMENT
Cassie testimony against Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs ends after she spent days describing abuse
R&B singer Cassie testified in court on May 13 that music mogul Sean “Diddy” Combs abused and sexually exploited her for years, describing coerced participation in violent, drug-fueled sex acts known as “freak offs” and physical assaults during their relationship.
Posted inBooks
Memoir: “A Soldier’s Life: A Black Woman’s Rise From Army Brat to Six Triple Eight Champion”
Retired Army Colonel Edna W. Cummings, author of A Soldier’s Life, fulfilled her dream on April 29, 2025, as the Six Triple Eight—the only all-Black, all-women U.S. Army unit of WWII—received the Congressional Gold Medal, a tribute made possible by her tireless advocacy to honor their overlooked legacy.
Posted inENTERTAINMENT
Smokey Robinson’s lawyer says rape allegations against him are ‘vile’ and ‘false’
Smokey Robinson has denied allegations of rape and sexual assault made by four former housekeepers in a $50 million lawsuit, with his lawyer calling the claims “vile” and “false” and accusing the plaintiffs of attempting to extort money from the 85-year-old music legend.