By Chuck Richardson The recent death of a New York homeless man, Jordan Neely, is not merely a reflection of two individuals caught in a Shakespearian tragedy – with the victim being Neely and the other player, Daniel Penny, the perpetrator of the crime. Rather, this incident is a microcosmic reflection of many White Americans’ […]
Category: OPINION
Posted inCommentary
For COVID-19 vaccination, the emergency may be over, but the fight continues
By Martha Dawson Public health officials have spent the past two years urging people to get vaccinated and boosted against COVID-19, but despite free and available vaccines, many have yet to take their advice. Now, we are entering a new phase. With the end of the federal Public Health Emergency (PHE) on May 11, the […]
Posted inCommentary
It’s a losing battle for many veterans
By Veronica Raussin Drug and alcohol addiction is a common problem in the veteran community. This is often made worse by mental health disorders or suicidal ideation. While Memorial Day is the day to honor all those men and women in the U.S. military who made the ultimate sacrifice, we must continue to fight for […]
Posted inWashington D.C. News
A Memorial Day tribute
By Wayne E. Williams, Special to the AFRO When my long-term colleague Carolyn Long-Williams invited me to attend the reburial service and ceremony for her late husband, Pfc Lamar Williams, at Arlington National Cemetery (ANC), the suggestion captivated me. For years, Long-Williams and I were coworkers as special education teachers. We never mentioned or conversed […]
Posted inPrince George's County News
Commentary: How to create a strong, connected, and prosperous future for Prince George’s County
By Ann Brooks, Special to the AFRO In her recent State of County Budget Address, County Executive Angela Alsobrooks speaks to Prince George’s County’s “future proof budget.” In fiscal year 2024, nearly 82 percent of the county’s $5.4 billion budget will go to education, public safety and policing. While these investments will undoubtedly make our […]
Posted inOpinion
Maryland: a look at the new center for Black Power
By Ke’Aun Charles, Special to the AFRO With Gov. Wes Moore’s historic win in 2022, the large presence of the Legislative Maryland Black Caucus in state government and wealthy Black areas such as Prince George’s County, Maryland have the potential to become something we have never seen before in America: a center of institutional Black […]
Posted inOpinion
Black hair should be clean of politics
By Wayne Campbell Black hair continues to be policed– and these days those at the forefront of the discrimination have a new face. Sadly, negative opinions against Black hair these days are not only being expressed by our former European colonizers– but by those who have Black skin. We have all read about Black students […]
Posted inCommentary
Commentary: Collaboration breeds success through a culture of opportunity and innovation in Baltimore City Public Schools
By Kyair Butts, Special to the AFRO Imagine a world where the best of the best shared their insights with others without ego, red tape or hoops to jump through. Think of how you feel when you successfully collaborate on a project, idea or task. The results at completion usually far exceed what one can […]
Posted inCommentary
Commentary: The time is now to recognize the Black men and women of World War II
By Dante R. Brizill, Special to the AFRO As we approach the Memorial Day weekend, it is fitting to remember the ever-vanishing WWII generation. The sense of urgency calls out to us, as they are leaving us at a rapid pace. According to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, we have approximately 167,000 World War […]
Posted inCommentary
Why are we ignoring our children?
By Dr. Julianne Malveaux, Ph.D, Forward Times Staff The recent massacre of three students and three adults in Nashville is alarming. How and why did a former student invade the school locked and loaded with an automatic weapon and ruthlessly kill innocent students and their caretakers? While it is useless to speculate on the thought […]
Posted inCommentary
Summer 2023 is coming- ready or not
By Maxine J. Wood, Ed.D, Special to the AFRO Winter in the Maryland, Virginia, Washington D.C. areas in 2022–2023 was moderately kind, with no real extreme weather challenges. Spring entered rather quietly on March 20, and will end June 20, with the arrival of summer. Ready or not, those perennial expectations, events, activities– and behaviors […]
Posted inCommentary
The obesity crisis is not a hopeless fight for Black America
By Benjamin F. Chavis, Ph.D Whether we accept it or not, obesity continues to be a complex, chronic disease that kills thousands of Black Americans every year. Indeed, nearly half of Black Americans live with obesity, so we cannot afford to ignore this national emergency any longer. The public discourse around weight loss that has […]