By Aria BrentAFRO Staff Writerabrent@afro.com Rodericka Applewhaite was selected to serve as the new director of Black media at the White House. She’s committed to ensuring equity for Black journalists. Although she’s only been in the position for about three months, the young director has championed inclusive efforts, creating new ways for the Black press […]
Category: Washington D.C. News
Posted inWashington D.C. News
AFRO inside look: Ujamaa School, America’s oldest independent, African-centered institution
By Sabreen Dawud, Special to the AFRO Standing three stories tall on Eighth St. in Washington, D.C. lives the Ujamaa School, the oldest independent African-centered school in the U.S. Founded on May 4, 1968, the Ujamaa School shelters a curriculum that is rich in African culture and history. Students at all levels are taught literature, […]
Posted inWashington D.C. News
Secure D.C. Omnibus crime bill raises tension with residents
By Chrisleen Herard, Special to the AFRO By the end of 2023, the District of Columbia had seen 274 reported homicides—the most homicides recorded in 26 years—while being flooded by a wave of carjackings, armed robberies and other violent crimes. This prompted Councilmember Brooke Pinto (D-Ward 2) to introduce the Secure D.C. Omnibus crime bill, […]
Posted inU.S. Government
A Supreme Court decision could come March 4 in a case about barring Trump from the 2024 ballot
By Mark Sherman, The Associated Press WASHINGTON (AP) — A Supreme Court decision could come as soon as March 4 in the case about whether former President Donald Trump can be kicked off the ballot over his efforts to undo his defeat in the 2020 election. Trump is challenging a groundbreaking decision by the Colorado […]
Posted inCOMMUNITY
Woodlawn Cemetery Conference brings light to preservation efforts
By Sabreen DawudSpecial to the AFRO The Woodlawn Cemetery Perpetual Care Association Board of Directors partnered with the Woodlawn Collaborative Project to host the virtual Woodlawn Cemetery Conference on Feb. 18. A burial land established on May 13, 1895 in Washington, D.C., Woodlawn Cemetery is 22.5 acres of African-American history. The land consists of 36,000 […]
Posted inBUSINESS
JPMorgan Chase’s Advancing Black Pathways program celebrates five years
By Ashleigh FieldsAFRO Assistant Editorafields@afro.com C-suite executives, students and leaders from around the country gathered at the Smithsonian Museum of African American History and Culture on Feb. 22 to celebrate the fifth anniversary of JPMorgan Chase’s Advancing Black Pathways program. The initiative was created in 2019, sparking corporate efforts to address racial economic injustices. “For […]
Posted inWashington D.C. News
AFRO inside look: D.C. Fashion Week 2024
By Layla Eason, Special to the AFRO D.C. Fashion Week (DCFW) returned for the 20th year during Autumn/Winter fashion season where many emerging designers presented their newest lines. The events were held from Feb. 23-25 in various locations throughout D.C. during the three days of programming. Over the years, DCFW has created a platform that […]
Posted inWashington D.C. News
AFRO spotlight on Black excellence: Peter Bug Shoe Academy, fixing souls and soles
By Mennatalla Ibrahim, Special to the AFRO As the sun sets in the nation’s capital, painting the sky vibrant shades of reds and purples, John “Peter Bug” Matthews stands proudly outside his historic shoe shop on Capitol Hill. Even on his day off, Matthews is at the shop on his own, tirelessly repairing shoes for […]
Posted in!Front Page National News
Supreme Court to decide if cities can punish homelessness
By Lisa WoelfCapital News Service More homeless people than ever sleep on the streets. The U.S. Supreme Court will decide if local governments can punish homeless people who sleep or camp outside when no shelter beds are available, or if such laws violate the Eighth Amendment’s protection against cruel and unusual punishment. The issue came […]
Posted inWashington D.C. News
Anacostia Community Museum prepares to unveil ‘A Bold and Beautiful Vision’
By Michayla Maxwell, Special to the AFRO Just weeks into the new year, the Anacostia Community Museum is ready to celebrate the opening of its new 2024 exhibition. The Anacostia Community Museum will be opening “A Bold and Beautiful Vision: A Century of Black Arts Education in Washington D.C.,1900-2000” on March 23. This exhibit will […]
Posted inNational News
DOJ inspector general exposes critical failures in federal prisons leading to inmate deaths
By Stacy M. Brown, NNPA Newswire Senior National Correspondent, @StacyBrownMedia (NNPA NEWSWIRE) – A scathing report released by the Department of Justice (DOJ) Inspector General Michael E. Horowitz unveiled a disturbing pattern of operational and managerial deficiencies within the Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP), shedding light on the alarming rate of inmate deaths. The report, […]
Posted inWashington D.C. News
Meet Cedi Johnson: The artist taking the fashion world by storm
By Sabreen Dawud, Special to the AFRO As a clothing designer and style expert with over 40 years in the fashion industry, Cedi Johnson, of Cedi Collection has contributed to fashion in more ways than one. A Detroit native who is now based in Washington, D.C., Johnson began developing the Cedi Collection brand in the […]
