By Tashi McQueen, AFRO Political Writer, tmcqueen@afro.com The D.C. Council swiftly passed a series of public safety emergency bills to address the rise in crime on July 11. According to data from the Metropolitan Police Department, violent crime has increased by 33 percent since last year and homicides by 17 percent. The D.C. Council summer […]
Category: Washington D.C. News
Posted inWashington D.C. News
How we made it over: a look at how Black restaurants in the nation’s capital survived a global pandemic
By Megan Sayles, AFRO Business Writer, msayles@afro.com When Prince George’s County native Olumide Shokunbi noticed there was an opportunity in the fast-casual restaurant space for African food, he quickly acquired an LLC for Spice Kitchen West African Grill. Shokunbi’s plan worked like a charm, and soon, he was well on his way to opening a […]
Posted inWashington D.C. News
AFRO Spotlight on Black excellence: meet first-time restaurateur Deirdre Holliday-White, owner of D.C.’s Flavor Garden
By Megan Sayles, AFRO Business Writer, msayles@afro.com Deirdre Holliday-White was inspired to open her first restaurant, the Flavor Garden, in Washington, D.C., out of personal tribulations. She initially started a career in hotel and restaurant management, but after graduating from culinary school at Stratford University’s Tysons Corner campus, the D.C. native discovered her mother was […]
Posted inArts & Culture
AFRO inside look: a chat with “Anatomy of Love” creator, Rickey Solomon II
By AFRO Staff The stage play, “Anatomy of Love,” has returned for a third year to the D.C., Maryland and Virginia (DMV) area. The musical, focused on the intricacies of love, life and relationship, is on its final run at the Bowie Center for the Performing Arts this weekend, with one show running July 14 […]
Posted inWashington D.C. News
Howard University establishes 14th Amendment Center for Law and Democracy
By Ashleigh Fields, AFRO Assistant Editor, afields@afro.com The Supreme Court’s decision to overturn affirmative action in college admissions shattered fifty years of legal precedent, citing the policy as a violation of the 14th Amendment which provides “equal protection under the law.” As the nation reacted with outrage, Howard University announced plans to launch the 14th […]
Posted inWashington D.C. News
Life After Release holds annual Ocean City retreat for formerly incarcerated people and their families
By Zsana Hoskins, Special to the AFRO Life After Release, a local women-led organization dedicated to serving formerly incarcerated citizens and their families held their annual beach retreat from June 23 to June 25. The event took place in Ocean City, Md. Qiana Johnson, the founder of Life After Release, said the retreat was inspired […]
Posted inWashington D.C. News
D.C. community leaders and residents fear new bill will increase mass incarceration
By Tashi McQueen, AFRO Political Writer, tmcqueen@afro.com Black men are being jailed and killed at unusually high rates according to data reported by the Metropolitan police. Residents in predominantly Black areas including Ward 7 and 8 makeup more than 60 percent of victims of violent crime in the District. “We have a crisis of violence […]
Posted inNational News
NNPA welcomes new chair and executive board at 2023 convention
By Stacy M. Brown, NNPA Newswire Bobby Henry, the publisher of the Westside Gazette in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., won the election as chair of the National Newspaper Publishers Association (NNPA) during the organization’s 2023 convention in Nashville, Tenn. The NNPA is the trade association of more than 200 African American-owned newspapers and media companies in […]
Posted inBUSINESS
Inside look: the AFRO speaks with Black businesses at the new Sycamore & Oak Retail Village
By Megan Sayles, AFRO Business Writer, msayles@afro.com The Retail Village at Sycamore & Oak opened to D.C.’s Congress Heights community on June 14. The 23,000-square-foot community-led and sustainable development is now home to 13 local, Black-owned small businesses ranging from restaurants to apparel stores. The retail village is expected to create more than 100 jobs […]
Posted inWashington D.C. News
D.C. Police Chief Robert Contee retires from Metropolitan Police Department
By Ashleigh Fields, AFRO Assistant Editor, afields@afro.com After 30 plus years of service, D.C. Police Chief Robert Contee III effectively retired on June 3. As a native to the District, he shared that his experiences in the Carver Langston neighborhood inspired him to become a cadet at 17 years old. Contee became a member of […]
Posted inWashington D.C. News
Representatives call on Department of Homeland Security Inspector to resign
By Committee on Homeland Security Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), ranking member of the Committee on Homeland Security, and Rep. Glenn Ivey (D-MD), ranking member of the Oversight, Investigations, and Accountability Subcommittee, sent a letter to Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Inspector General Joseph Cuffari calling on him to immediately resign after he admitted during […]
Posted in!Front Page
Hip Hop legend Monie Love headlines Cherry Hill Waterfront Festival
By Sean Yoes The organizers of the Cherry Hill Arts and Music Waterfront Festival have been intentional in their desire to “celebrate culture” in their beloved South Baltimore community. And once again they raise the bar beyond the typical 4th of July fare of hot dogs and fireworks as they welcome Hip Hop legend Monie […]
