By DaQuan Lawrence, Special to the AFRO Comptroller of Maryland, Brooke Lierman (D), was sworn into office on Jan. 16 as the first woman to serve in an independent, statewide office in the state of Maryland. Leirman will serve as the 34th comptroller in the state and has announced several key appointments for her leadership […]
Category: NEWS
Posted inWashington D.C. News
Martin Luther King Jr. Day parade returns to D.C.
By MeKayla Pierre, Howard University News Service A seemingly endless trail of people drove, marched and danced down Martin Luther King Jr. Avenue in Southeast D.C. on Jan. 16 to celebrate the life and legacy of the civil rights leader. They were also celebrating the return of the annual King parade for the first time […]
Posted inPOLITICS
US divided over Roe’s repeal as abortion foes gird for march
By David Crary, The Associated Press Anti-abortion activists will have multiple reasons to celebrate — and some reasons for unease — when they gather on Jan. 20 in Washington for the annual March for Life. The march, which includes a rally drawing abortion opponents from across the nation, has been held annually since January 1974 […]
Posted inWord In Black
Florida to Black People: We’re Not Teaching Your History
by Aziah Siid The Florida Department of Education officially launched its 2023 Black History Month Student and Educator Contests with the theme of celebrating the achievements of African American Floridians. In the same breath, they’ve rejected the College Board’s AP African American course for high school students. On Jan. 19, news broke that Gov. Ron DeSantis’ […]
Posted inWashington D.C. News
Biden warns MLK Breakfast attendees about Republican-led House of Representatives’ new legislation, cripples middle and low-wealth Americans
By Deborah Bailey, Contributing Editor President Joe Biden warned the audience who gathered for the National Action Network’s (NAN) annual MLK Day breakfast on Jan. 17, about the Republican-led House of Representatives. Their session began days ago with drastic plans that would negatively affect middle and low-income families in America. “I have your back, but we’ve […]
Posted inBaltimore News
Thousands gather inside Baltimore Convention Center to celebrate Maryland’s first Black governor
By AFRO Staff On the evening of Jan. 18 Governor Wes Moore welcomed more than 10, 000 supporters from around the country to help him celebrate in his new role. The governor spoke to the crowd, danced with his family and made his way to festivities happening on multiple levels of the Baltimore Convention Center, […]
Posted inBaltimore News
The Moore Report: Aching knee, breaking hearts: Lamar Jackson and his absence for the season
By Ralph E. Moore Jr., Special to the AFRO The Ravens’ season was going well, but then in week number, unlucky 13 against the Denver Broncos, star quarterback Lamar Jackson went down. It was officially diagnosed as a sprain in his PCL (posterior cruciate ligament). Jackson suffered a reported knee sprain on Dec. 4 against the Broncos […]
Posted inBaltimore News
City of Baltimore battles cigarette manufacturers in first-of-its-kind lawsuit for million-dollar cleanup costs associated with toxic cigarette litter
By Megan Sayles, AFRO Business Writer, msayles@afro.com The City of Baltimore recently launched a first-of-its-kind lawsuit against cigarette manufacturers. Mayor Brandon M. Scott and the Baltimore City Law Department are suing six major tobacco companies, including Philip Morris USA, Altria Group, R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company, British American Tobacco P.L.C, Liggett Group LLC and The George […]
Posted inMaryland Government
Governor Wes Moore takes office, becomes only sitting Black chief of state
On Jan. 18, Governor Wes Moore was officially sworn into office on the steps of the Maryland State House. The first Black man to take the governor’s seat in the state publicly stepped into his role on the steps of a building built by slaves, with his hand on a bible that belonged to the […]
Posted inNational News
All hail the King: a look through the AFRO Archives
By AFRO Staff Though Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. only had 39 years on Earth, he knew how to maximize the potential of each day. AFRO Archives detail his movements across the country, trading from city to city preaching the gospel and equality for all. Though his civil rights work and leadership in the faith […]
Posted inPrince George's County News
Black men making a difference as mentors to young male students
By Reginald Williams, Special to the AFRO When Terrell Arrington was trying to steer an academic path through Prince George’s Community College in 2009, the instructor whose guidance he valued most was Brian Hamlin, he said. Hamlin, known to the young men he mentors as “Heat,” was able to get the nearly seven-foot-tall 19 year […]
Posted inNational News
Education department announces new actions on Student Loan Relief
By Julius Washington, Howard University News Service Department of Education officials recently announced an overhaul of the federal government’s income-driven repayment plan to provide relief to Americans who have taken out federal student loans to pay for college. The announcement comes after months of legal challenges against the department’s plan to forgive up to $20,000 […]