Juneteenth reminds us that freedom is not enough, and that we must focus on removing barriers to opportunity in order to unlock the potential of Baltimore’s workforce.
Category: Commentary
US delegates witness Cuba’s struggles under blockade and sanctions
Twenty-three delegates from the United States, led by Dr. Ron Daniels and James Early, visited Cuba to witness the effects of the US blockade, sanctions and threats, and to meet with President Miguel Díaz-Canel, while also visiting hospitals, schools and other sites.
The price of an enduring father
What aging taught me about movement, mobility, and the hidden cost of survival By Steven Ragsdale A few weeks ago, I sat waiting for a hip X-ray and found myself thinking about my father and quite a few of the older guys in my community, especially how their bodies grew physically older over the years […]
‘Under Babied’: Alarming new language and double standards around the politics of birth
By Crystal Coache Picture this: after hours of contractions, listening to the sound of multiple beeping heart monitors, the breathless he-he-whhhhooooo’s, and constant poking and prodding from nurses, you finally give birth and your doctor looks up at you and says, “Congratulations! You’ve just been babied!” Actually, you don’t need to use your imagination. Recently, […]
Gov. Moore’s veto of SB 459 misses the reality of modern local media
Rebecca Snyder, executive director of the MDDC Press Association, argues that Gov. Wes Moore’s veto of SB 459 undermines Maryland’s local news ecosystem by overlooking the reach, sophistication and community impact of local media outlets. The commentary is accompanied by a statement from AFRO leadership noting that the publication has served as a trusted paper of record for many in the African American community for 134 years and continues to reach audiences through a modern, multi-platform media operation.
Shame about being abused silenced me–now, I’m speaking up
Survivor of intimate partner violence shares her story to break the shame and silence surrounding IPV. Black women are disproportionately affected.
Church leadership urged to review outdated agreements for legal clarity
A pastor and his senior deacon discovered that an old agreement to provide retirement payments to the former pastor was not legally enforceable, costing the church $180,000 in unnecessary payments over a decade.
Uncovering the legacy of Maj. Charity Adams and her all-Black battalion
By Dante R. Brizill In 2024, many Americans were introduced to the legendary “Six Triple Eight” for the first time through Tyler Perry’s movie of the same name. The inspirational story of these amazing women who sorted the mail during World War II, captured the attention and imagination of millions. Within the story we met […]
The blood that bought the ballot
Before the Voting Rights Act existed, before the Civil Rights Movement had a name, Black Americans were fighting — and dying — for the right to vote. The AFRO was there keeping the record. Here’s what it cost to get to 1965.
They cancelled the election
Portia Wood, an attorney and founder of Legacy Wealth Institute / Black Trust Fund Kids
Gen X’s grind vs. Gen Z’s boundaries: Who’s right?
By Sharif El-MekkiWord in Black During a recent Freedom Friday podcast, our host, Chris Stewart, pointed out that we are living in a time when four, sometimes five, generations are working side by side, exposing fault lines around toughness, trauma, and what “safety” should mean at work. As a proud member of Generation X, I […]
The emotional economy of social media
By Stacy Sneed How did we get here? And more importantly, where are we going? Will this fast-paced digital way of communicating continue to expand, or will we ever return to more meaningful connections like before? Modern technology has transformed how people think about themselves and one another. Social media platforms offer both opportunity and […]

