Black leaders are speaking out in support of Kenwood High School student Taki Allen, 16, who was handcuffed at gunpoint by members of the Baltimore County Police Department after an artificial intelligence surveillance system mistakenly identified his Doritos bag as a gun. Now, advocacy and civil rights groups, including Associated Black Charities and the Randallstown NAACP, are calling the incident a failure of leadership and systemic bias and urging accountability, AI audits and reforms to protect students of color.
Category: NEWS
Posted inBUSINESS
New PrattForm program supports Baltimore youth’s entrepreneurial goals
The Enoch Pratt Free Library is expanding its youth entrepreneurship efforts with PrattForm, a new year-round program that helps teens grow their business ideas with continued mentorship and support.
Posted inHealth
Black male breast cancer: Rare, but real
By Victoria MejicanosAFRO Staff Writervmejicanos@afro.com Although rare, men are fighters and survivors of breast cancer—especially men of color—who often face less awareness, and worse outcomes. A recent study done by the American Cancer Society found that “breast cancer incidence rates were 52 percent higher in Black men than White men.” Another study demonstrated that even […]
Posted inWashington D.C. News
Fast Beauty Initiative aims to boost D.C.’s beauty industry
D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser (D) has launched the District’s new Fast Beauty Initiative at Yeleen Beauty Makerspace, which aims to ease licensing requirements and help local entrepreneurs grow in the $60 billion beauty industry.
Posted inBUSINESS
Meet the leaders combatting heat, pollution and inequity in urban areas
Black-led environmental justice organizations like WE ACT for Environmental Justice and Green Scheme are tackling pollution and extreme heat to protect underserved communities and improve their health and living conditions.
Posted inBaltimore News
Vulnerable communities still struggling with aging water systems
Vulnerable Americans face unsafe water from aging pipes, pollution, and underinvestment. Local leaders are pushing for clean, safe waterways with crucial state-level support.
Posted inBUSINESS
Pastor Jamal Bryant launches digital protest of Dollar General
Pastor Jamal Bryant has launched an electronic protest of Dollar General, calling attention to the company’s practices in Black communities. Bryant says the chain contributes to health disparities and food insecurity. Rather than call for a full boycott, he is urging a digital protest to demand change without harming those who rely on the store.
Posted inBUSINESS
Black Founders Table turns intention into infrastructure for entrepreneurs
Black Founders Table (BFT) is carving out an ecosystem where Black entrepreneurs can scale their companies with strategy, mentorship and policy influence. Rather than offering surface-level support, BFT equips founders with practical tools to commercialize ideas, secure contracts and gain long-term influence.
Posted inBaltimore News
Greater Baltimore Urban League builds pathways from classrooms to boardrooms
The Greater Baltimore Urban League is transforming lives by equipping youth and entrepreneurs with the tools to lead, succeed and build wealth. Through programs like the Saturday Leadership Program and hands-on business coaching, GBUL empowers future leaders with life skills, mentorship and access to real opportunities.
Posted inWord In Black
Inside Gucci Mane’s battle for mental health
Rapper Gucci Mane (Radric Davis) is using his memoir and public platform to speak openly about his diagnoses—bipolar disorder, paranoid schizophrenia—and his recovery journey, highlighting the role of family caregiving and destigmatizing mental health in Black communities. With his wife Keyshia Ka’Oir deeply involved in his care, the couple emphasizes early intervention, accountability, and reshaping masculine norms around seeking help.
Posted inBaltimore News
Ask Rusty – How do I navigate the Social Security Maze?
By Russell GloorAMAC and AMAC Foundation Dear Rusty: I am a woman, turning 65 this October (2025). It seems that deciding when to claim Social Security is complicated. I would like more information to navigate through this maze. Thank you. Signed, Ready to Claim Dear Ready: Deciding when to claim Social Security can be challenging, […]
Posted inINTERNATIONAL
US warship docks in Trinidad and Tobago, amid rising tensions with Venezuela
The U.S. warship USS Gravely docked in Port-of-Spain, Trinidad and Tobago, for joint military exercises, heightening pressure on Venezuela amid tensions with President Nicolás Maduro. The visit, supported by Trinidad’s Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar, has drawn criticism from local activists and follows a U.S. Embassy warning about potential threats to Americans in the country.