The National Society of Black Engineers will hold its 2026 Annual Convention at the Baltimore Convention Center from March 18-22, bringing together thousands of students, professionals and leaders in STEM fields. The multi-day event will feature workshops, panel discussions, a career fair and the Black on Purpose Festival— celebrating Black engineering excellence with food, music, art and technology demonstrations.
Category: National News
Posted inNational News
Black lawmakers warn of disproportionate impact as House rejects War Powers Resolution and ethics reform
The House of Representatives recently reinforced expansive executive authorities by rejecting measures to curb presidential war powers and increase transparency regarding congressional sexual harassment. Black lawmakers warned that these decisions leave the burden of military conflict on a disproportionately represented active-duty force while shielding institutional misconduct from public accountability.
Posted inNational News
Haitian man dies in US immigration custody with untreated toothache, brother says
A 56-year-old Haitian man, Emmanuel Damas, died at a hospital after being held for months at an immigration detention center in Arizona, where his brother says a tooth infection went untreated. His death is among several reported this year in custody of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, raising concerns about detainee medical care.
Posted inNational News
‘Worse than a prison’: 911 calls, interviews reveal problems at ICE’s largest detention camp
Records of more than 100 emergency calls and interviews reveal serious medical, mental health and safety concerns at Camp East Montana, the nation’s largest ICE detention facility in El Paso, Texas. Detainees report overcrowding, inadequate food and medical care, and repeated suicide attempts, while federal officials dispute claims of poor conditions.
Posted inNational News
Thousands honor Rev. Jesse Jackson’s life and legacy at Chicago homegoing
Thousands gathered at Chicago’s House of Hope on March 6 to celebrate the life and legacy of Rev. Jesse Jackson, the civil rights leader who died Feb. 17 at age 84. Former presidents, national leaders and activists paid tribute to his lifelong fight for justice, voting rights and equality, urging a new generation to carry forward his message to “keep hope alive.”
Posted inNational News
Rev. Robert Turner to take reparations fight nationwide after years-long protest
Rev. Robert Turner, the pastor who has walked from Baltimore to the White House for 40 months, has concluded his monthly treks to bring attention to the need for federal reparations. Turner recently spoke with the AFRO about his next steps.
Posted inNational News
Cleveland father says his missing daughter was one of 2 girls found in shallow graves
A Cleveland father says one of two young girls found buried in shallow graves earlier this week is his missing daughter, 8-year-old Mila Chatman, whom he had been trying to locate for five years. Police say a 28-year-old woman has been detained as a person of interest as investigators work to determine how the children died.
Posted inReligion
National Week of Prayer confronts HIV in Black communities
Churches nationwide are observing the National Week of Prayer for the Healing of AIDS, March 1–8, a faith-based initiative founded by Pernessa C. Seele and organized through Balm In Gilead. The annual campaign combines worship with HIV testing, education and outreach, addressing the disproportionate impact of HIV on Black Americans and working to reduce stigma through faith and public health partnerships.
Posted inAfro Briefs
Despite recent gains, tribal citizens descended from slaves face disparate treatment
Despite expanded access to services in recent years, tribal citizens descended from people enslaved by several Oklahoma tribes continue to face barriers to health care, education and housing. A Government Accountability Office report highlights ongoing disparities, particularly for Seminole Freedmen descendants and those still denied citizenship in the Muscogee, Chickasaw and Choctaw nations.
Posted inAfro Briefs
President, allies said to be creating executive plan to steal the 2026 midterms
Activists who support the 47th president are said to be drafting a proposed executive order claiming, without evidence, that China interfered in the 2020 election and seeking expanded federal authority over voting systems ahead of the 2026 midterms, according to The Washington Post. Voting rights advocates warn the move would challenge states’ constitutional control over elections.
Posted inWashington D.C. News
Rev. Jesse Jackson Sr. to lie in state in South Carolina after Capitol Hill dispute
The Reverend Jesse Jackson Sr. will lie in state at the South Carolina State House on March 2, following a decision by Governor Henry McMaster to honor the Greenville, S.C. native and civil rights leader. The state-level tribute follows a dispute in Washington after House Speaker Mike Johnson denied a request for Jackson’s casket to lie in honor at the U.S. Capitol. A memorial caravan is currently traveling from Chicago to Columbia, South Carolina, where public and private services will be held to honor Jackson’s lifelong legacy of activism and political influence.
Posted inBlack History
Autherine Lucy Foster’s courage opened doors at the University of Alabama
Autherine Lucy Foster became a civil rights pioneer when the University of Alabama rescinded her 1952 admission after learning she was Black. With legal backing from Thurgood Marshall and the NAACP, she won the right to enroll in 1956, but violent protests led to her suspension and expulsion. Decades later, the university reversed its decision, and Foster earned her master’s degree in 1991. She was later honored by Morgan State University for her role in desegregating higher education.