By Maya Pottiger, Word in Black Between summer camp, family vacations, and partaking in some well-deserved rest and relaxation, reading is often not at the top of students’ list of summer priorities. But it should be. Though reading achievements have improved in nearly every grade level since Spring 2021, they still aren’t quite reaching pre-pandemic […]
Category: NEWS
Posted inBaltimore News
Elected officials react to attack of Squeegee crew that led to fatal shooting in Downtown Baltimore
By Tinashe Chingarande, Special to the AFRO The July 7 killing of 48-year-old Timothy Reynolds at a downtown Baltimore intersection has once again inflamed the long-standing debate of how to handle “squeegee boys,” or young men and children who clean car windshields on busy street corners across the city Reports from the Baltimore Police Department […]
Posted inCommentary
Commentary: The Moore Report – Frank Wills: The Black patriot who did his job and brought down a president 50 years ago
By Ralph E. Moore, Jr., Special to the AFRO There once was a president named Richard M. Nixon (1969-1974) who was the first president in U.S. history to resign. There once was a hotel in D.C. named “Watergate,” where the president’s men broke in to steal secrets from his election opponents (the Democrats in 1972). […]
Posted inBaltimore News
Anthony Barksdale appointed as new Deputy Mayor for Public Safety
By Kara Thompson, MDDC Intern On July 8, Mayor Brandon Scott announced that Baltimore’s next Deputy Mayor for Public Safety would be Anthony Barksdale. Born and raised in Baltimore, Barksdale brings a thorough knowledge of Baltimore to his new position, as well as years of experience in law enforcement and a history of proactive public […]
Posted inBaltimore News
Ground has been broken on the new Thurgood Marshall Amenity Center
By Kara Thompson, MDDC Intern A groundbreaking ceremony was held on July 2 at the site that will house the new Thurgood Marshall Amenity Center in West Baltimore. The new building will honor the legacy of Justice Marshall and other civil rights leaders from the Upton area, as well as provide resources, education, and community […]
Posted inPolitics
Congressman Kweisi Mfume Statement on the Passing of Vernon Simms, Longtime Congressional Staffer
By Congressman Kweisi Mfume Washington, DC – Congressman Kweisi Mfume (D-MD) issued the following statement on the July 16, 2022, passing of Mr. Vernon Simms, a congressional staffer for three decades who served under Congressmen Mfume and Elijah Cummings. “It was devastating to hear of the passing of my friend and former colleague Vernon Simms, […]
Posted inHealth
Why walking might be the key to Black women’s health
by Alexa Spencer, for Word in Black When Black women walk, things change. That’s the belief of GirlTrek, a non-profit organization transforming lives through walking. The organization’s mission is unique: to reclaim their health and bodies as Black women and fight systems that enable poor health — and it’s working. Over one million GirlTrekkers have […]
Posted inHealth
How much health insurers pay for almost everything is about to go public
By Julie Appleby, Word in Black Consumers, employers, and just about everyone else interested in health care prices will soon get an unprecedented look at what insurers pay for care, perhaps helping answer a question that has long dogged those who buy insurance: Are we getting the best deal we can? As of July 1, […]
Posted inPolitics
41st District’s Jill P. Carter and other Black politicians are outraged by Schleifer’s all White slate
By Tashi McQueen, Report For America Corps Member, Political Writer for The AFRO On June 11th, 2022 Democratic State Central Committee candidate Evan L. Serpick posted to Twitter announcing Sen. Jill P. Carter’s (D-41) slate, which he is a member of. It was reposted by Sen. Antonio Hayes (D-40) and Sen. Carter (D-41) herself a […]
Posted inBaltimore News
Formerly segregated plaza now redeveloped with help of HBCU
By Kara Thompson, MDDC Intern Northwood Plaza used to be a segregated shopping area located next to Morgan State University, a historically Black college. Starting in the early 1950s, hundreds of Morgan State students participated in sit-ins and other peaceful protests in the name of equal rights, culminating with the arrest of more than 415 […]
Posted inWord In Black
#WordinBlack: Black educators are being ‘Rapidly Pushed’ out of the classroom
By Camika Royal, for Word in Black Amidst battles over various school reforms throughout the nation, urban educators strive to meet students’, families’, and communities’ extensive needs despite having the fewest resources. Disparate impacts of school reforms have been stratified by race. No segment of educators has experienced the intersection of school reform policy pressures, […]
Posted inPrince George's County News
Alsobrooks campaigns for four more years, though challenges with police, schools remain
By Cara Williams and Deborah Bailey, Special to the AFRO Angela Alsobrooks, 51, is a lifelong resident of Prince George’s County. She received her bachelor’s degree in Public Policy from Duke University and a Juris Doctor from the University Of Maryland School of Law. Alsobrooks lives with her daughter Alex in Upper Marlboro, Md. the […]