By Micha GreenAFRO D.C. and Digital Editormgreen@afro.com Sometimes when Washingtonians speak out and up on an issue in one accord, bigwig businessmen like Jeff Bezos listen- as was the case after many D.C. residents protested the Amazon founder’s name being on the auditorium of the District’s newly remodeled Martin Luther King Jr. Library. Bezos […]
Category: Washington D.C. News
Posted inWashington D.C. News
Violent Crime is on the rise in D.C.
By Aysia Morton, Special to the AFRO 2021 was the most violent year the District has seen in more than a decade. This year brings an increase in violent crime, burglary and theft; violent crime has increased by 22 percent, burglary by 66 percent, and theft by 11 percent, according to the Metropolitan Police Department […]
Posted inPrince George's County News
‘You’re threatening our children,’ HBCU prof says of bomb threat
By DeAnna Giles and John Little, Special to the AFRO Sophomore Eday Koundjou woke up to text alerts on Jan. 31 notifying students at Bowie State University of a campus emergency. “It was a little scary. I was hoping it was a false alarm,” Koundjou said of the text alerting the campus community to a […]
Posted inCommentary
Commentary: Marching with MLK III; We have a lot of bridges still to cross
By DaMareo CooperSpecial to the AFRO On Martin Luther King Jr. Day I found myself thinking about bridges. I had driven through the night, through a snowstorm, from Ohio to D.C. for the MLK Day march. I was crossing the Frederick Douglass Bridge when the sun finally came out. It was a powerful moment. My […]
Posted inWashington D.C. News
HU gets $5 million grant for new data science center aimed at racial equity
By Briana Thomas, Special to the AFRO Howard University is a recipient of a $5 million grant that will support the creation of the college’s new center for data science aimed at driving racial equity in economics and healthcare, according to an announcement submitted to the {AFRO} on Jan. 25. The funding from Mastercard’s philanthropy […]
Posted inWashington D.C. News
HU President, Ben & Jerry’s CEO talk equity, advocacy in corporate America
By Deborah Bailey, Special to the AFRO Howard University President Wayne A. I. Frederick and Ben & Jerry’s CEO, Matthew McCarthy met with Howard students virtually this past week to discuss equity, advocacy and innovation in Corporate America. McCarthy discussed Ben & Jerry’s commitment to racial equity and the company’s history of advocacy and activism […]
Posted inNEWS
Taking action to shift the narrative of youth and crime in D.C.
By Aysia MortonSpecial to the AFRO DC Action, DC Out-of-Time School Coalition, the Latin American Youth Center (LAYC), and the DC Girls Coalition held a virtual community discussion on the urgent need to shift the District’s narrative on youth and crime. In attendance to this important summit was the District of Columbia’s Attorney General (AG) […]
Posted inBooks
D.C. Democratic Women’s Club hosts Critical Race Theory Forum
By Valca ValentineSpecial to the AFRO Some argue that racial oppression, discrimination, and inequality in America is a fairytale. Others cite evidence that measures the impact of past and continuing racial inequity. Why discuss these issues at all? Critical Race Theory (CRT), the study of the origin and systematic impact of racism – is fueling […]
Posted inNational Sports
Washington Commanders ‘Will fight for old D.C.’ in new era
By Mark F. Gray, Special to the AFRO After 90 years and three world champions the once proud but now the most heavily scrutinized National Football League franchise began it’s makeover by announcing it’s new team name on national television Feb. 2 at FedEX Field in Landover. “We are the Commanders,” said Super Bowl MVP […]
Posted inNational News
Check out Biden SCOTUS spectator nominees
By Micha Green, AFRO D.C. and Digital Editormgreen@afro.com Supreme Court Justice Stephen Breyer is retiring, ushering in room for President Joe Biden’s promise to nominate a Black woman to the Supreme Court, and it’s got a lot of people talking. “Black women saved our fricken’ democracy, so I don’t give two fiddly figs if you’re […]
Posted inWord In Black
#WordinBlack: HBCUs Responses To The Omicron Variant
By Maya Pottinger The Omicron variant of the coronavirus has hit society like a ton of bricks this winter and HBCUs are no exception. Howard University pushed back the start of the Spring 2022 semester by more than a week, hoping to combat the uptick in on-campus cases following the holiday season. And they were […]
Posted inWashington D.C. News
Organization continues Harriett Tubman’s legacy, dreams
By Deborah Bailey, Special to the AFRO Harriet Tubman’s dreams and visions are an epic part of her story. The abolitionist and underground railroad conductor was said to gain spiritual insight for her multiple travels leading enslaved relatives and friends to freedom, according to Harriet, the 2019 movie biopic about the brave leader’s life. Washington, […]