Black military veterans are expressing mixed reactions to the Department of Defense’s decision to strictly enforce facial hair grooming standards and significantly limit medical shaving waivers. While some veterans view the policy as part of the military’s long-standing emphasis on uniformity and discipline, others worry it will disproportionately affect Black service members who suffer from medical conditions like pseudofolliculitis barbae, potentially forcing some out of the armed forces.
Category: NEWS
Posted inDMV News
Go-go, D.C.’s signature sound, to celebrate 50 years
By D. Kevin McNeirSpecial to the AFRO The Go-Go Museum and Café will celebrate 50 years of go-go music at the 2026 Go-Go Awards, on Tuesday, Jan. 6. The awards will be hosted at the Lincoln Theatre in D.C.’s Shaw neighborhood, historically known as the city’s ”Black Broadway.” This year’s theme, “Returning to Our Roots and Embracing the Diaspora,” promises to […]
Posted inEditorial
AFRO CEO reflects on 2025: A year of resilience and relevance in Black journalism
The AFRO, a Black-owned news outlet, has been publishing for 133 years and continues to be a source of truth and self-definition for the Black community, covering a range of topics from public safety to culture and sports, while also honoring the legacy of Black leaders and preserving Black history.
Posted inHealth
From survival to longevity: What aging with HIV looks like in 2025
Medical advances have allowed people with HIV to live longer, creating a growing population of older adults who now face age-related illnesses alongside the emotional and social legacy of the early epidemic. Experts and long-term survivors like Gregory Curtis say aging with HIV in 2025 requires holistic care, continued research, and stronger community support, especially as Black Americans remain disproportionately impacted.
Posted inNEWS
ABC Revival calls faith leaders to renew commitment to Black progress
At a time when Black history is being censored and equity efforts reversed, ABC’s Revival became a call for spiritual renewal and civic resistance. Faith leaders reminded attendees that they were “born to carry the weight” of leadership and truth-telling.
Posted inBaltimore News
Behind the byline: AFRO reporters talk top stories, lessons learned in 2025
An amazing group of tenacious reporters empowered the AFRO to cover everything from health and education to politics, public safety, business and more. Click the link to learn a bit about the reporters and the work done in 2025.
Posted inNational News
Remembering Black leaders and icons who died in 2025
As 2025 ends, the AFRO honors the Black leaders, artists, and trailblazers who passed away this year. Their legacies shaped culture, politics and society, leaving a lasting impact on communities worldwide.
Posted inWashington D.C. News
Year of unprecedented change leaves Washingtonians in a state of flux
By D. Kevin McNeirSpecial to the AFROkmcneir@afro.com While the inevitability of change serves as an unavoidable aspect of the human condition, 2025 was a year in which those who live or work in Washington, D.C. faced challenges, controversies and surprising conclusions that might best be described as unprecedented. As the nation’s capital, one would expect […]
Posted inWashington D.C. News
Annual UDC holiday celebration brings faculty, staff together
By Patricia McDougall The University District of Columbia (UDC) “Firebirds” held the president’s annual holiday celebration for faculty and staff on Friday, Dec. 19. The event was hosted by UDC President Maurice D. Edington and First Lady Tonya Barge Edington. Faculty and staff enjoyed the food and took to the dance floor to have a […]
Posted inNational Sports
Back from brink, Ravens get another chance to make playoffs next weekend
The Baltimore Ravens kept their playoff hopes alive after a dominant win over Green Bay and a timely Cleveland victory over Pittsburgh, setting up a winner-take-all AFC North showdown with the Steelers on Jan. 4. Back from the brink, Baltimore now controls its fate behind a resurgent rushing attack led by Derrick Henry, even as questions remain about Lamar Jackson’s health.
Posted inINTERNATIONAL
Central African Republic’s incumbent president, a Russian ally, eyes a third term in key elections
Voters in the Central African Republic went to the polls Dec. 28 in wide-ranging national elections, with incumbent President Faustin Archange Touadéra favored to secure a third term after consolidating power and relying on Russian-backed security forces. Analysts say his likely victory would further entrench Russia’s political, security and economic influence in the conflict-scarred country amid a weakened and divided opposition.
Posted inINTERNATIONAL
Guineans vote in first election since 2021 coup with junta leader likely to win
Guineans cast ballots on Dec. 28 in the country’s first presidential election since the 2021 coup, with junta leader Gen. Mamadi Doumbouya widely expected to win amid a weakened and sidelined opposition. The vote follows a controversial transition that expanded presidential terms and allowed military leaders to run, even as poverty, food insecurity and concerns over civil liberties persist.