by Ezinne Ezepue, University of Nigeria via New Pittsburgh Courier Nollywood – the Nigerian movie industry – was described as a small screen cinema involving amateurs who produced low budget trashy videos with predictable storylines. But in the intervening decade it’s been transformed into a multi-million dollar industry with rising international interest. For my PhD I interrogated this transformation as […]
Category: NEWS
Posted inBaltimore News
Report for America Corp Member: Meet Tashi McQueen, new AFRO Politics Writer
By AFRO Staff The AFRO is happy to welcome Tashi McQueen as the new political writer. McQueen will serve as the second writer to join our team from Report for America (RFA). She joins our business writer, RFA intern Megan Sayles, who has filled out our coverage with excellence. McQueen is currently a graduate student […]
Posted inWord In Black
#WordinBlack: Juneteenth Ice Cream: Black exploitation or cultural celebration?
By Laura Onyeneh, Word in Black By now you would have thought corporations would have learned their lesson about exploiting Black pain for capital gain after the killing of George Floyd. Well… guess not. Walmart recalled its Juneteenth ice cream commemorating the holiday after it received heavy backlash on social media. The ice cream which […]
Posted inMaryland Government
Congressman Anthony Brown: Honor victims with action
By AFRO Staff Congressman Anthony G. Brown (MD-04) wants to increase the age to purchase a semiautomatic rifle from 18 to 21-years-old. Brown is calling on House Democrats’ to include his legislation in the upcoming “Protecting Our Kids” package to tackle the epidemic of gun violence. “I’m heartened to see the House of Representatives act […]
Posted inArts & Culture
General Assembly passes legislation to increase funding for Commission on African American History and Culture
By Kara Thompson, AFRO MDDC Intern History was made recently when the Maryland General Assembly passed two bills that will delegate or increase funding to the Commission on African American History and Culture and the African American Heritage Preservation Grant Fund. “As the Chair of this historic commission, I am truly honored to be at […]
Posted inAfro Briefs
Mourners gather as funerals begin for Uvalde school killings
By Nathan Ellgren, Adriana Gomez Licon and Jim Salter, The Associated Press The pallbearers wore white shirts and gloves. The desert-brown church with the tall bell tower was filled to overflowing. The casket held a 10-year-old girl who loved purple. On May 31, hundreds of mourners turned out for the funeral Mass for Amerie Jo […]
Posted inSports
Coppin State’s Jordan Hamberg named a finalist for John Olerud Two-Way Player of the Year Award
By Special to the AFRO Coppin State’s Jordan Hamberg of South Plainfield, N.J. has been named one of five finalists for the John Olerud Two-Way Player of the Year Award, it was announced by the College Baseball Foundation on May 31. Hamberg is joined by Georgia State’s Cameron Jones, Devin Ortiz of University of Virginia, […]
Posted inPOLITICS
President Biden signs landmark police reform executive order
By Stacy M. Brown, NNPA Newswire Correspondent, @StacyBrownMedia Black Press USA President Joe Biden signed an executive order on police reform that he hopes will help prevent excessive use of force and encourage officers to intervene in such cases. “Two years ago, the murder of George Floyd exposed for many what Black and Brown communities […]
Posted inCoronavirus
CDC now says Baltimore has high community transmission levels
By Special to the AFRO In just two weeks, the Baltimore region has transitioned from “medium” to “high” on the CDC’s COVID-19 Community Transmission level system. The re-categorization took place on May 26. New data indicates there are 283 cases per 100,000 people in the region over the last seven days, and the hospitalizations per […]
Posted inReligion
The Moore Report: Holy Bad Attitudes and Behaviors: “Subversive Habits,” a book about White racism among nuns in the Catholic Church
By Ralph E. Moore, Jr., Special to the AFRO If you have ever had your hand slapped by a sister in school or you were treated lovingly, I recommend a book for you: “Subversive Habits-Black Catholic Nuns in the Long African American Freedom Struggle,” by Dr. Shannen Dee Williams. Catholic nuns, particularly, are viewed in […]
Posted inCoronavirus
Committees’ report on emergent BioSolutions uncovers extensive vaccine manufacturing failures, clear efforts to hide deficiencies
By AFRO Staff Emergent BioSolutions (Emergent), a vaccine manufacturer located in East Baltimore, has come under fire for intentionally misleading the FDA about the mishandling of COVID-19 vaccines. Rep. Carolyn B. Maloney, Chairwoman of the Committee on Oversight and Reform, and Rep. James E. Clyburn (SC), Chairman of the Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Crisis, […]
Posted inWord In Black
#WordinBlack: Coppin Academy students display creative
By Kara Thompson, AFRO MDDC Intern In a special partnership with AFRO Charities and Leaders of Tomorrow Youth Center, students of Coppin Academy have been exploring the rich history of Black Baltimore and the influence of African Americans on multiple genres of art. The program recently closed out their semester with the Student Fellowship Showcase, […]