Black Americans have demonstrated remarkable political power in recent American elections, shaping two Democratic presidential nominations and resulting presidencies, and this power can be further amplified by investing in educational achievement, family stability, and economic self-determination.
Category: OPINION
Posted inCommentary
Church leadership urged to review outdated agreements for legal clarity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.
Posted inCommentary
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 […]
Posted inOPINION
From revolution to distraction: What changed?
By Bill Curtis If, today, say, I was born, say, after the period of 1989 to 1995, then I would find it difficult to even think, believe or imagine that Black people lived such conviction like an Angela Davis in the quote where she says, “Revolution is a serious thing, the most serious thing about […]
Posted inOPINION
What we do now
The Voting Rights Act: Part Four of a Five-Part Series The federal path is largely closed. The maps are being redrawn right now. Here is what’s left, who is already fighting, and what it is going to take. By Portia WoodSpecial to the AFRO I’m a lawyer. I’m not going to tell you there are […]
Posted inOPINION
The 60-year project to kill it
Attorney Portia Wood traces a six-decade legal campaign to dismantle the Voting Rights Act, arguing that Supreme Court decisions from Shelby County v. Holder to Louisiana v. Callais systematically weakened protections against racial discrimination in voting and redistricting. She contends that the erosion of the law was deliberate, not accidental, and highlights the AFRO’s long-standing role in documenting the ongoing struggle for Black voting rights.
Posted inOPINION
Baltimore is investing—now our children deserve the results
Despite Baltimore’s high investment in public schools, student outcomes remain below average, indicating a need for greater accountability and transparency from the Baltimore City Board of School Commissioners.
Posted inOPINION
Representation at risk: The fragile progress of Black political power
Dedrick Asante-Muhammad, president of the Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies argues that while the Voting Rights Act of 1965 dramatically expanded Black political representation in Congress, those gains remain fragile amid weakened federal protections and growing partisan gerrymandering. He warns that recent legal and political shifts threaten decades of progress and stresses that preserving equitable representation is essential to advancing policies that impact Black economic and social well-being.
Posted inCommentary
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.
Posted inCommentary
They cancelled the election
Portia Wood, an attorney and founder of Legacy Wealth Institute / Black Trust Fund Kids
Posted inWord In Black
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 […]
Posted inOPINION
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 […]
