At 100, Andrew Billingsley is celebrated for a lifetime of groundbreaking scholarship and leadership that reshaped understanding of Black families and strengthened higher education, particularly at Morgan State University. Honored at Hampton University with a new endowed scholarship, his legacy reflects a journey from the son of sharecroppers to a nationally influential sociologist and educator.
Category: National News
Posted inWashington D.C. News
Dr. Faith Gibson Hubbard appointed interim president and CEO of Greater Washington Urban League
By D. Kevin McNeirSpecial to The AFRO The Board of Directors of the Greater Washington Urban League (GWUL) recently appointed Dr. Faith Gibson Hubbard as interim president and CEO. Hubbard replaces George Lambert, who retired earlier this year after 10 years of stellar service to the organization. Under Lambert’s tenure, GWUL expanded education and empowerment […]
Posted inU.S. Government
Lawmakers move to oust Rep. Cherfilus-McCormick for alleged ethics violations
The House is moving toward a bipartisan vote to expel Rep. Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick (D-Fla.-20) after a committee investigation proved 25 ethics violations. While a federal judge has delayed the Florida Democrat’s criminal trial for the alleged theft of $5 million in FEMA funds until 2027, congressional leaders indicated that the chamber is prepared to act as early as next week.
Posted inNational News
8 children between the ages of 1 and 14 are dead after a mass shooting in Louisiana, police say
Eight children, ages 1 to 14, were killed in a domestic violence mass shooting across two homes in Shreveport, Louisiana, on April 19, police said. The suspect, an adult male believed to be related to the victims, died after a police pursuit. Authorities are still investigating what led to the attack, which is the deadliest mass shooting in the U.S. in more than two years.
Posted inNational News
Police say former Lt. Gov. Justin Fairfax killed wife, then turned gun on himself
Friends and family are mourning the deaths of former Lt. Gov. Justin Fairfax and his wife, Cerina. Police say Justin Fairfax killed his wife before turning the weapon on himself.
Posted inNational News
Judge orders individuals associated with Patriot Front to pay punitive damages in civil rights case for destroying mural of Arthur Ashe in Richmond
A federal court ordered members of Patriot Front to pay over $470,000 for vandalizing a mural honoring Arthur Ashe in Richmond, finding the act was driven by racial animus. The lawsuit, brought by the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law, underscores the harm to the local Black community and marks a significant victory for civil rights accountability.
Posted inPOLITICS
Supreme Court weighs future of 14th Amendment in historic citizenship case
The Supreme Court is preparing to rule on an executive challenge to the 14th Amendment that could replace the long-standing principle of birthright citizenship with a system requiring proof of parental status. Legal experts and advocates warn that this shift could create profound administrative hurdles for marginalized communities and potentially leave millions of American-born children without access to essential services.
Posted inBlack Press
Levi Henry Jr., founder of the Westside Gazette, dies — a legacy rooted in truth, community, and unshakable purpose
Levi Henry Jr., founder of the Westside Gazette, has died, leaving behind a decades-long legacy of championing Black voices, advancing community empowerment and preserving local history through journalism rooted in truth and purpose.
Posted inReligion
Many US Catholics are dismayed by No. 47’s unprecedented broadside at the first American pope
Many U.S. Catholics and some evangelical leaders are expressing dismay after the 47th U.S. president launched an unprecedented verbal attack on Pope Leo XIV, the first American pope, highlighting growing tensions between the White House and key religious constituencies ahead of the midterm elections.
Posted inAfro Briefs
Revolve Fund to provide $20,000 to support food access efforts in Alabama Black Belt
Revolve Fund has awarded a $20,000 grant to the Black Belt Community Foundation to support food access initiatives in Alabama’s Black Belt, helping communities impacted by SNAP delays and rising food insecurity.
Posted inNational News
Family sues US over 8-year-old’s death in custody after crossing the border
The family of 8-year-old Anadith Danay Reyes Alvarez has filed a wrongful death lawsuit against the U.S. government, alleging medical neglect while she was in border custody in 2023 despite known serious health conditions.
Posted inENTERTAINMENT
Hip-hop pioneer DJ Afrika Bambaataa dies at 68
Afrika Bambaataa, a pioneer of hip-hop, died of prostate cancer at the age of 68, leaving behind a legacy of music and a controversial history of sexual abuse allegations.