By Matthew Ritchie, Special to the AFRO The Philadelphia Eagles were the latest team to not visit the White House to celebrate their championship victory. After less than 5 Eagles players and staff committed to visit the President’s home for the celebration, Donald Trump subsequently disinvited the team from coming to the White House. Many […]
Category: Commentary
Posted inCommentary, OPINION
An Orchestra of Hope for Baltimore’s Future
By Elijah Cummings, Special to the AFRO Anyone with any doubts about the value of “OrchKids,” the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra’s instrumental music program for inner city students, should listen to what young Asia Palmer, a flute player in her 10th year with the program, had to say to the New York Times recently. “The program […]
Posted inCommentary, OPINION
Don’t Lose Sight of DC’s Charter School Success
By Dr. Ramona Edelin, Special to the AFRO As controversy continues to swirl around public education in the District of Columbia, with much misunderstanding and misinformation as well as genuine problems, District parents, guardians, and taxpayers might be forgiven for wondering what is going on in the District’s public schools lately. The news has been […]
Posted inCommentary, OPINION
The Supreme Court Case Unions Are Anxiously Watching
By Kenneth Wiley, Special to the AFRO It’s hard to imagine things getting any worse for African-Americans these days, whether it’s police shootings, Starbucks or the rise of hate crimes. However, no one is talking about an assault on African-American workers that is right around the corner. By the end of June, the Supreme Court […]
Posted inCommentary, OPINION
Year Up Changes Lives
By Davone Banks, Special to the AFRO “Your story may not have had the happiest of beginnings, but that doesn’t make you who you are. It is the rest of your story, who you choose to be.” When I first heard these words, they resonated with me in a profound way. I could relate because […]
Posted inCommentary, OPINION
Environmental Fake News and The Truth
By Cathy Allen, Special to the AFRO Last week I was on social media and ran across a post with a lovely picture of a honey bee covered in pollen inside a flower bloom with the caption, “Maryland will be the first state to ban pesticides and save the bees.’ Unfortunately, that is environmental fake […]
Posted inCommentary, OPINION
Celebrating Pentecost In the Midst of a Divided Evangelicalism?
By Kevin Daniels, Special to the AFRO All around the country and, specifically in the city of Baltimore, people are celebrating the Feast of Pentecost (Shavuot). Pentecost is believed by most evangelicals and mainline denominations to be a prophetic divine encounter and empowerment of the Holy Spirit, as a cosmic reality, into the human domain. […]
Posted inLIFE & STYLE
Thank You to the OGs at the Barbershop
By Christopher Hearn, Special to the AFRO The following is a speech delivered by at New York University’s commencement on May 16 by a graduating student. It has been lightly edited and condensed for space and clarity. Before I begin my formal speech, I want to acknowledge that we are on Lenape land and I […]
Posted inOPINION
Ending Price Gouging By The Prescription Drug Industry
By Elijah Cummings, Special to the AFRO If you suspect that you and your family are paying far too much for the prescription medicines that help you stay healthy and alive, your suspicions are justified – and you are not alone. These realities are why I asked our Democratic staff experts on the House Oversight […]
Posted inOPINION
Remembering Richard Collins III on the House Floor
By Steny H. Hoyer, Special to the AFRO Congressman Steny H. Hoyer (MD-05) spoke on the floor of the House of Representatives in about the death Richard “Richie” Collins III one year ago. Collins was killed in what police say was a case of racial bias. His accused killer is set to stand trial later […]
Posted inOPINION
Starbucks: From Boycott to Victory
By Phillip Jackson, Special to the AFRO If Howard Shultz wasn’t the founder of Starbucks, he would have been one of the boycott protesters with us. He said he was “embarrassed” and “ashamed” by the arrest of two Black men in a Starbucks Store in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania who were taken away by police and subsequently […]
Posted inOPINION
Will Baltimore be the Next Flint, Michigan?
By Cathy Allen, Special to the AFRO Maryland elected officials might be living in a secret world, like the mythical world of Wakanda; where the air and the waters are crystal-clear and clean, foods are natural and free from harmful pesticides and genetic alterations and where plant life is protected. That’s not the case here […]