By Frances “Toni” Murphy Draper, AFRO Publisher In 1963, the AFRO meticulously chronicled the “March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom,” where the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. delivered his now-famous “I Have A Dream Speech.” As more than 240,000 people of all races and creeds prepared to gather in front of the Lincoln […]
Category: NEWS
Posted inBaltimore News
Keith Davis Jr. freed, new Baltimore City State’s Attorney drops all charges
By AFRO Staff Keith Davis Jr. is finally a free man. Today, newly sworn-in Baltimore City State’s Attorney Ivan Bates announced that he has dismissed all pending charges against Keith Davis Jr. Davis was shot by police in a West Baltimore garage in June 2015 after being chased by officers who accused him of a […]
Posted inNews
MLK Day brings opportunities to volunteer on annual Day of Service
By AFRO Staff According to the U.S. Department of the Interior, “taking place each year on the third Monday in January, the Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service (MLK Day) is the only federal holiday that is also designated by Congress as a national day of service – a ‘day on, not a day […]
Posted inBUSINESS
Corporate America responds to investors’ calls for more civil rights audits
By Megan Sayles, AFRO Business Writer msayles@afro.com In 2016, Laura Murphy, former director of the American Civil Liberties Union’s Washington Legislative Office, pioneered a new kind of audit: the civil rights audit. Today, more Corporate America giants, like Microsoft, JPMorgan Chase and Amazon, are engaging in the process. Rather than examine a company’s finances, a […]
Posted inBaltimore News
Former AFRO photographer Irving H. Phillips Jr. dies at 79
By Kara Thompson, Special to the AFRO Legendary photographer Irving H. Phillips Jr. died Dec. 22 of end-stage renal failure at Loch Raven VA Medical Center in Baltimore. He was 79 years old. Phillips was born in Baltimore to I. Henry Phillips Sr. and Laura Mackay Phillips. He got his start in photography through the […]
Posted inNational News
Evolution of a man: how Martin Luther King Jr. changed over time and inspired the next generation of leaders
By Megan Sayles, AFRO Business Writer, msayles@afro.com Freeman Hrabowski’s first memory of Martin Luther King Jr. dates back to when he was 12 years old. The former president of University of Maryland, Baltimore County (UMBC), was inspired into action after hearing the activist speak about the importance of children participating in protests, so the country […]
Posted inBaltimore Government
Mayor Scott announces legislative priorities for 445th session of Maryland General Assembly
By DaQuan Lawrence, Special to the AFRO Baltimore Mayor Brandon M. Scott wants help from the Maryland General Assembly in addressing the city’s public safety, environment and quality of life. On Jan. 5, he unveiled his legislative and budget priorities for 2023. Scott announced he is seeking $20.25 million in state aid for Police Protection […]
Posted inMaryland Government
Maryland General Assembly commences 2023 session, lawmakers discuss upcoming legislative proposals
By Tashi McQueen, AFRO Political Writer, tmcqueen@afro.com On Jan. 11, the Maryland General Assembly commenced the historic 445th session. All Maryland senators and delegates were officially sworn in. Though delegates and senators are still getting acquainted with each other and the operations of the 2023 session, they are ready to tackle issues of great concern […]
Posted inBaltimore News
AFRO Agent of Change: how entrepreneur Matthew Reeds is improving health literacy in the Black community
By Jannette J. Witmyer, Special to the AFRO During his senior year as an undergraduate at Morgan State University, Matthew Reeds began laying the groundwork for a nonprofit organization. It was 2017, and his mission was to address what he described as “insufficient government and healthcare services in Baltimore.” Reeds had seen his sister and […]
Posted inNational News
Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and a letter to America
By Rev. Dr. C. Anthony Hunt, Special to the AFRO This year marks the 94th anniversary of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s birth in Atlanta. A son of Ebenezer Baptist Church, Dr. King’s life and legacy can be seen in his signature contribution to the human project — a reminder that whoever we are, […]
Posted inWord In Black
Word In Black expands staff with $1M in new funding from Conrad N. Hilton Foundation
By LMA Staff Word In Black, a groundbreaking collaboration of the nation’s leading Black publishers and a program of Local Media Foundation, has received $1 million from the Conrad N. Hilton Foundation to establish a climate justice desk and fund several other journalist positions for the next two years. This funding will enable Word In […]
Posted inBUSINESS
Business Partners and Father-Daughter Duo Find Success with Turo
By Turo As a loving father of eight children, Bradford Phillips has always been committed to supporting and guiding his family. He was an unconditional provider and protector, dedicating all of his resources to ensure the joy, safety, and comfort of his children. The Phillips family, like many families in the Black community, were hit […]