By Megan Sayles, AFRO Business Writer, Report for America Corps Member, msayles@afro.com The U.S. Navy recently commissioned an Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer in honor of the late Frank E. Petersen, who was the first Black man to become a general and an aviator in the United States Marine Corps. When he retired from the Marines […]
Category: NEWS
Posted inHealth
Biden takes steps to defend reproductive rights
By Breanna Reeves, for Word in Black President Biden has clarified that the only way to restore nationwide reproductive rights previously protected under Roe v. Wade is through Congress, but “until then, he has committed to doing everything in his power to defend reproductive rights and protect access to safe and legal abortion,” the White […]
Posted inBaltimore News
Cherry Hill honors native Leon Bailey, the man who integrated Navy wrestling
By Nicole D. Batey, Special to the AFRO Leon Bailey, a trailblazer in U.S. Navy Wrestling, was the first African American to integrate Navy wrestling and win an individual title at the AAU New England Six-State Championship in 1964. His life story and accomplishments are shared in his self-published book, Leon Bailey: The Dream. Born […]
Posted inNational News
Reenactments and national parks help reimagine what life was like for Black Civil War soldiers
By Kara Thompson, MDDC Intern Calvin Osborne has always been fascinated by the Civil War. But growing up in the American Midwest, the Civil War battlegrounds were far and few between. The bloody story of how America turned upon itself has intrigued many. And when Osborne moved to the East Coast, he took advantage of […]
Posted inWashington D.C. News
Mary McCleod Bethune Statue Unveiled in U.S. Capitol – First Black Statue in Statuary Hall
By H.R. Harris, Special to the AFRO Mary McLeod Bethune, founder of the National Council for Negro Women made history once again at the U.S. Capitol this week. A tall marble statue of the educator, philanthropist, humanitarian, civil rights and woman’s rights activist was unveiled in her honor at the Capitol’s Statuary Hall. “On behalf […]
Posted inBaltimore News
The life and legacy of Elizabeth Murphy Moss
By Kara Thompson, AFRO MDDC Intern Elizabeth “Bettye” Murphy Moss, a granddaughter of John Henry Murphy, began her journalism career when she first started working at the AFRO at age 13—around 1929. She would later go on to be the first African-American female war correspondent during WWII. Moss was born March 11, 1917, to Carl […]
Posted inBUSINESS
Good Green Grant Program awards funds to nonprofits creating opportunity in Black and Brown communities impacted by the War on Drugs
By Megan Sayles, AFRO Business Writer, Report for America Corps Member, msayles@afro.co Green Thumb Industries, a national cannabis retailer and consumer packaged goods company, recently opened applications for its Good Green Grant Program, which awards unrestricted funding to nonprofit organizations that create change in education, employment and expungement for underserved communities. The program is open […]
Posted in!Front Page
Elected officials aim to give reparations to Black World War II vets and families left out of G.I. Bill benefits
By AFRO Staff Americans have long revered their soldiers and veterans for their service, but the record is clear- American society did not afford Black soldiers or their families the same liberties and benefits. Though some Black soldiers were able to sustain after their return from the warfront, many were unjustly discriminated against or assaulted […]
Posted inNational News
Houston Take an Illuminating Black History and Cultural Tour
by Dwight Brown, NNPA News Wire Travel Writer Houston’s Long History of Black Folks The African American population in Houston has been significant almost since the city was founded in 1836. These days the Black community comprise 22.83% of the population and has yielded two African American mayors: Lee Patrick Brown (1998 – 2004) and […]
Posted inSports
Raiders’ Morgan is NFL’s first Black female team president
By W.G. Ramirez, The Associated Press The Las Vegas Raiders introduced a former Nevada gambling regulator July 7 as the franchise’s new president, the first Black woman to hold the title with an NFL team. Team owner Mark Davis said Sandra Douglass Morgan topped his list every time after he spoke to candidates. “Her experience, […]
Posted inNational News
Illinois swears in high court’s 1st Black woman justice
By John O’Connor, AP Political Writer The first Black woman to serve on the Illinois Supreme Court was sworn in July 7, celebrating the event as recognition of the “undeniable value and merit” women and people of color can offer. Lisa Holder White, formerly a 4th District State Appellate Court justice, took the oath to […]
Posted inCoronavirus
#WordinBlack: Fact check FALSE: If you’re young you can’t get COVID-19, and if you do – it’s not ‘that bad
By Heather M. Butts, JD, MPH, MA, Word in Black In the early days of the pandemic, the prevailing notion regarding COVID-19 was that it was a disease that only affected older people. The term “Boomer Remover” became prevalent on the internet, referring to COVID-19 as a disease that kills older individuals. According to Johns […]