Salem Baptist Church in Chicago is leading “Spend in the Black,” a faith-driven initiative encouraging residents to support Black-owned businesses and strengthen local economic power. Through large marketplace events and community partnerships, the effort channels consumer spending into Black communities, boosts small businesses, and promotes long-term wealth building. Organizers see it as a scalable movement that blends faith, activism, and entrepreneurship to rebuild the “Black dollar” and foster sustainable economic ecosystems.
Category: Money
Posted inMaryland News
Free tax preparation returns through CASH Campaign of Maryland
The CASH Campaign of Maryland has launched its free tax preparation services for the 2026 tax season, helping households earning under $69,000 claim valuable tax credits and refunds. Last year, the program assisted more than 308,000 Maryland households in securing nearly $455 million in tax refunds and credits.
Posted inDMV News
Deborah Owens, financial educator, author and advocate for women’s wealth, dies at 66
By Special Press Release Deborah Owens, a nationally recognized financial advisor, author, educator, and champion for women’s financial empowerment, died on Jan. 4 at the age of 66. Her passing marks the loss of a powerful voice in the movement to close the wealth gap and equip women, particularly women of color, with the tools […]
Posted inNational News
New tax law locks in gains for the rich, leaves Black households behind
Economists warn that the 47th president’s new tax law, now in effect as the 2026 filing season begins, entrenches economic inequality by delivering the largest benefits to the wealthiest Americans while raising taxes and cutting supports for low-income households. Analyses show Black families are disproportionately harmed, as the law expands tax breaks tied to wealth and inheritance while offering limited, often inaccessible relief to working-class and poor households.
Posted inWord In Black
What’s in a coin?
By Dr. Frances ‘Toni’ DraperWord in Black More than metal. More than money. More than nostalgia. A coin is a declaration — of who a nation chooses to honor, what it chooses to remember and what it is willing to erase. That is why what happened at the U.S. Mint should unsettle anyone who cares […]
Posted inBUSINESS
Year-end moves that could boost your 2026 tax refund
Even in December, taxpayers have more control over their refund than they might think. Strategic contributions, careful planning and overlooked credits can still make a difference before the year ends.
Posted inBUSINESS
Not just for the rich and wealthy: How to start investing in 2026
According to Pew Research, in 2022, 66 percent of White families owned stocks directly or indirectly, compared to 39 percent of Black families according to the Federal Reserve’s Survey of Consumer Finances (SCF).
Posted inMoney
Rising costs push Black households to cut back on everyday comforts
Black households across Baltimore and beyond say rising costs are reshaping their daily lives from food spending to basic beauty routines. Women like Sydney Robinson and Olivia Dreux describe holding on to hairstyles longer and cooking more at home as inflation outpaces income. Their stories along with those of new parents Rya and Eric Greene reflect a growing sense that even simple comforts have become harder to afford.
Posted inEditorial
This Christmas, give our children something that will grow with them
By Dr. Frances “Toni” Murphy DraperAFRO CEO and Publisher Every holiday season, we search for the perfect gifts for the children in our lives. We want the joy and the surprise. But most of what we buy doesn’t last. Sneakers lose their shine, video games get replaced and toys are forgotten by spring. As families […]
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Overcoming barriers to homeownership: Assistance programs for first-time buyers in Baltimore
Homebuyers in Baltimore can access down payment assistance programs, such as grants, forgivable loans, deferred-payment loans, and low-down payment loans, to help cover the upfront costs of homeownership.
Posted inMoney
When success isn’t enough: Why the Black middle class is still struggling
By Victoria MejicanosAFRO Staff Writervmejicanos@afro.com A stable job, homeownership and a family often defines the concept of the “American Dream.” However, for Black Americans across the country, it can feel impossible to reach, even for those who have “made it.” Caprice Risby was born to teenage parents. Her family relied on different types of federal […]
Posted inMaryland News
Maryland Bankers Association, Coppin State address credit equity gaps
The Maryland Bankers Association and Coppin State University hosted a Community Conversation on Credit Equity to address financial literacy gaps in Baltimore. Students and community leaders emphasized accessible education and practical strategies for building credit and economic opportunity.