By Ashleigh Fields, AFRO Assistant Editor Several women’s rights organizations from around the D.C., Maryland and Virginia area have come together to free Black women who are jailed before trial or serving time in prison. Life After Release, Out for Justice, Harriet’s Wildest Dreams and many others that collectively work under “#FreeBlackMamasDMV” are meeting the […]
Category: NEWS
Posted inWashington D.C. News
Mayor Bowser unveils strong public safety measures to address rising street violence in D.C.
By Tashi McQueen, AFRO Political Writer, tmcqueen@afro.com Amid a surge of street violence in the nation’s capital, D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser has announced new public safety legislation. “The legislation I will send to the council is common sense legislation,” said Bowser at a live-streamed news conference. “For example, we know that addressing violence in D.C. […]
Posted inWashington D.C. News
UDC to unveil new statue honoring alumnus Edwin Bancroft Henderson, Ph.D., the ‘grandfather of Black basketball’
By UDC Communications On June 24 the University of the District of Columbia (UDC) will unveil a statue made in the image of Edwin (E.B.) Bancroft Henderson, Ph.D. The statue will be located at the Dr. Edwin Bancroft Henderson Sports Complex on the Van Ness Campus. The work of art will be presented to the […]
Posted inWashington D.C. News
Kevin Kelley’s Kitchen + Kocktails catapulting soon into D.C.
By Ashleigh Fields, AFRO Assistant Editor Culinary connoisseur Kevin Kelley is set to open Kitchen + Kocktails on I street later this month. The serial entrepreneur is looking forward to bringing his latest endeavor to the D.C. area. “We want our customers to feel like kings and queens when they walk in the restaurant,” Kelley […]
Posted inBaltimore News
Johns Hopkins Hospital to rename outpatient center in honor of first Black chief resident, Dr. Levi Watkins
By Aria Brent, AFRO Staff Writer Known for his work as a cardiologist, Dr. Levi Watkins Jr. was much more than the first person to successfully implant an automatic heart defibrillator– he was a pillar of the Johns Hopkins Hospital community. In 1980, he performed the world’s first implantation of an automatic heart defibrillator in […]
Posted inWashington D.C. News
Upcoming meetings and events in the D.C. area
By Tashi McQueen, AFRO Political Writer, tmcqueen@afro.com Awesome Con From June 16 – 18 geek culture will be on full display at Awesome Con, which will be hosted inside of the Walter E. Washington Convention Center. Attendees can see their favorite movie, comic and game stars. The convention will include Levar Burton from “Reading Rainbow” […]
Posted inBaltimore News
Through Hockey, Mentorships, Tender Bridge Helps Baltimore Youth Achieve Success
By Tawanda W. Johnson, Special to the AFRO For Daryl Fletcher, 21, a player on the Baltimore Banners hockey team since he was 7, the experience has meant more to him than he ever could have imagined. “It’s about family,” he said. “It’s a big support system.” Fletcher added that he’s grateful for the guidance […]
Posted inBaltimore News
The Moore Report: It’s time to honor those who dedicated their lives to ending war and conflict
By Ralph E. Moore Jr., Special to the AFRO With the observance of Memorial Day, Americans honor those who have died in wars since the beginning of the nation. According to the American Battlefield Trust, a Washington, D.C. non-profit organization that preserves battlefields, 6,800 soldiers died were killed in action in the Revolutionary War, 650,000 […]
Posted inNational News
Senate passes bill to increase debt limit, Biden vows to sign immediately
By Stacy M. Brown, NNPA Newswire Senior National Correspondent, @StacyBrown The debt ceiling drama and any threats of America defaulting on its obligations have officially ended – at least for two years. Following successful negotiations between President Joe Biden and House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, and passage in the House, the U.S. Senate voted 63 to […]
Posted inNational News
Fort Bragg drops Confederate namesake for Fort Liberty, part of US Army base rebranding
By HANNAH SCHOENBAUM, Associated Press/Report for America FORT LIBERTY, N.C. (AP) — Fort Bragg shed its Confederate namesake Friday to become Fort Liberty in a ceremony some veterans said was a small but important step in making the U.S. Army more welcoming to current and prospective Black service members. The change was part of a […]
Posted inBaltimore News
Shaw’s Covenant: meet the Baltimore-based tailor serving Baltimore’s elite
By Megan Sayles, AFRO Business Writer, msayles@afro.com When Baltimore native Justin Shaw opened Shaw’s Covenant, a custom suit business in 2017, he had limited experience in the men’s suit market. At the time he was unhappy as a human resources professional and network marketer. His best friend, Gilbryonna, who would later become his wife, urged […]
Posted inStop Killing Us
Killing of South Carolina teen spotlights America’s ‘criminalization of Black men and boys’
By AFRO Staff South Carolina residents and elected officials alike are outraged by the murder of 14-year-old Cyrus Carmack-Belton, shot dead by Rick Chow, 58, who suspected the teen of shoplifting water bottles on the warm spring evening of May 28. Congressman James E. Clyburn, who proudly serves South Carolina’s sixth district, weighed in on […]