A recent executive order aimed at reducing government functions has significantly cut staffing and funding for key federal programs like the Minority Business Development Agency (MBDA) and the Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFI) Fund, despite their proven success in fostering minority-owned businesses and revitalizing underserved communities. Critics, including bipartisan senators and Rep. Maxine Waters, argue these cuts undermine economic equity and squander public-private models that yield substantial returns and job creation.
Category: OPINION
Posted inOPINION
Every day must be Earth Day
Dear editor at the Baltimore AFRO American, Our Creator calls us to love others and care for them by caring for the Creation on which we all depend to live, move and have our being. We all have failed to do this in the past and the Creation now cries out in wildfires, tornadoes, hurricanes, […]
Posted inBaltimore Community
Is there room to lead in Black Baltimore? Absolutely.
Chrissy M. Thornton serves as president and CEO of Associated Black Charities. This week, she calls out the division and competition among individuals and organizations that advocate for Black Baltimore, saying such disunity undermines the mission.
Posted inBaltimore Community
Reflections on the 10th anniversary of the Baltimore uprising
A decade after the death of Freddie Gray and the Baltimore uprising, the city still spends nearly seven times more on policing than on recreation and youth development—despite hard-earned lessons about the dangers of disinvestment in young people. Baltimore’s comptroller calls for a shift in priorities, reminding us that a city’s budget is a reflection of its values.
Posted inCommentary
The war on birthright citizenship is a war on all of us
On May 15, 2025, the Supreme Court will hear a case challenging Oval Office Executive Order 14160, which seeks to revoke birthright citizenship for children of undocumented immigrants—threatening a core protection enshrined in the 14th Amendment. If upheld, the order could dismantle over a century of settled law, redefine citizenship as a privilege, and grant future presidents dangerous new power to unilaterally rewrite constitutional rights.
Posted inOPINION
Erasing Black history and culture is a key step in erasing Black lives – and we must resist
Kimberlé Williams Crenshaw is the executive director of the African American Policy Forum (AAPF), a leading organization in the Freedom to Learn Network. In this column she discusses the advocacy needed to combat the 47th president’s attempts to erase African American history.
Posted inPolitics
‘Margaritagate,’ propaganda and the erosion of justice: Why the Abrego García case is a national alarm bell
The orchestrated photo op between Sen. Chris Van Hollen, D-Md., and wrongfully deported Maryland resident Kilmar Abrego García, dubbed “Margaritagate,” exemplifies the government’s use of propaganda to mask state misconduct and deportation abuses. This case highlights a broader erosion of democratic principles—where truth-tellers are punished, due process is subverted, and marginalized communities face systemic injustice.
Posted inCommentary
Black boys matter: Why are they disappearing from schools?
The absence of young Black men in college reflects a long-standing pattern of systemic exclusion that begins in early childhood, with disproportionate discipline and a lack of support in K–12 education. Experts call for reimagining schools as spaces of healing, affirmation and culturally sustaining education that honor the full humanity of Black boys.
Posted inOPINION
At the threshold: Why the D.C. Bar election matters for the future of legal integrity in America
The 2025 election for President-Elect of the D.C. Bar Association, though under the radar, could significantly influence the ethical direction of the legal profession during a time of heightened political pressure. As concerns about impartiality and the politicization of justice grow, the leadership of the Bar stands as a critical safeguard for legal independence and public trust.
Posted inOPINION
Op-Ed: 10 opportunities for the next BDC leader
By Mark Anthony Thomas At a time where Maryland and all of the Baltimore Region’s jurisdictions are committing to greater investments in economic development, recently announced transitions offer a chance to celebrate impactful public leaders and use this moment of change to build stronger organizations that drive our future. Former Thurgood Marshall International Airport CEO […]
Posted inCommentary
Why does America keep punishing Haitians for wanting freedom?
Nana Gyamfi is a prominent civil and human rights attorney and the executive director of the Black Alliance for Just Immigration (BAJI). This week, she discusses policy regarding Haitian asylum seekers.
Posted inOpinion
Opinion: ‘Leave Now.’ Deportation emails, the delayed military report, and the dangerous rise of executive power
In April 2025, the Department of Homeland Security sent mass emails to thousands of immigrants, warning them to leave the U.S. within seven days or face removal—part of a broader, escalating strategy under the Trump administration to instill fear, provoke self-deportation, and test constitutional limits. While the Supreme Court has temporarily paused the removals, the administration continues advancing a militarized, legally dubious agenda targeting vulnerable communities and reshaping immigration enforcement through executive force.