The AFRO, a Black-owned news outlet, has been publishing for 133 years and continues to be a source of truth and self-definition for the Black community, covering a range of topics from public safety to culture and sports, while also honoring the legacy of Black leaders and preserving Black history.
Category: Editorial
Posted inEditorial
This Christmas, give our children something that will grow with them
By Dr. Frances “Toni” Murphy DraperAFRO CEO and Publisher Every holiday season, we search for the perfect gifts for the children in our lives. We want the joy and the surprise. But most of what we buy doesn’t last. Sneakers lose their shine, video games get replaced and toys are forgotten by spring. As families […]
Posted inEditorial
This Christmas, don’t let our elders be the last ones noticed
This Christmas, make sure to include and honor the elders in your family by listening to their stories, inviting them to contribute to conversations and decisions, and showing them appreciation with small gifts.
Posted inWord In Black
Editorial: The right to vote is on trial… again
AFRO CEO and Publisher Frances “Toni” Draper warns that the right to vote is once again under threat as the Supreme Court reviews a case that could weaken the Voting Rights Act. She calls on all Americans to stay vigilant, reminding readers that protecting democracy demands courage, participation, and collective responsibility.
Posted inEditorial
Auntie Mo’Nique wasn’t wrong: Leave the bonnets and pajamas at home
AFRO CEO and Publisher Frances Murphy Draper argues that while comfort and convenience explain why many women—especially Black women—wear pajamas and bonnets in public, the practice undermines self-respect and opportunities. Citing Mo’Nique’s earlier critique, Draper stresses that presentation still matters, particularly in a world that already unfairly judges Black women, and urges sisters to show up polished, confident, and prepared.
Posted inOpinion
Another blood-stained sanctuary: America cannot look away
Violence in sacred spaces is an American epidemic that must be addressed with laws, leadership, and a return to civil speech, as well as preparation and vigilance in faith institutions, schools, and civic organizations.
Posted inEditorial
From Baltimore to D.C.: Building the next century of Black business
By Dr. Frances Murphy DraperAFRO Publisher and CEO Black-owned businesses have always been a cornerstone of our communities—anchoring neighborhoods, creating jobs and proving that vision can thrive even in the face of economic headwinds. Last week, we celebrated companies across the country that have endured for a century or more, surviving depressions, recessions, and sweeping […]
Posted inEditorial
Silencing dissent: The high price of criticizing hate in America
Alexis Taylor is managing editor of the AFRO American Newspapers. This week, she discusses the economic lynching of those who are chose to speak on the late Charlie Kirk’s history of White supremacy.
Posted inOpinion
It’s time to make affordability a priority
Congressman Kweisi Mfume discusses the need for a living wage, affordable housing, healthcare, and education in order to build a prosperous America.
Posted inEditorial
The endgame behind the MLK Files — erase the man, then erase the holiday
The sudden release of FBI files on Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. is a calculated attempt to tarnish his legacy and silence the symbols that inspire progress, and is part of a broader reactionary wave aimed at rewriting history.
Posted inEditorial
AFRO Editorial: Our lives are on the line—again: What political violence means for Black America
A surge in political violence—fueled by dangerous rhetoric from figures like the 47th president—is putting lives at risk, and for Black Americans, the deadly consequences of such dehumanization are all too familiar.
Posted inCommentary
Budgeting and saving: Telling your money where to go
Frances Murphy Draper is the publisher and CEO of the AFRO. This week she reflects on the resilience, contributions and financial empowerment of Black communities—highlighting how faith, determination and collective action have shaped our economic journey.